Saturday, June 10, 2017

Introduction to Vedas and Vedanta - Part 28

SHRADDHA- FAITH

Shraddha is the faith in that which you are asking for. You should not go to God with a doubt whether He is, or He is not. “O God, if you are there, please come”. He is certainly there. “God is certainly there. It is certain that I am going to attain it. 

It is certain that the method I am adopting is correct. It is certain that I am progressing every day. I have symptoms and experiences which tell me that I am progressing every day”. 

Have faith in yourself, faith in the art of the progressive practice of sadhana, faith in God Himself, faith in the scripture which are your guides, and faith in the Guru also. Shraddha is faith in your own self first, faith in the method of practice which you are adopting, faith in your Guru who has initiated you, and faith in the existence of God.


Faith in God is the first step to God-realization. Not an iota of progress is ever possible in the path of spirituality without faith. The faith must be a living faith. It must be unwavering faith. Lack of faith is a stumbling block in the path of realization. 

Faith develops into Bhakti or devotion to God. Faith is the gateway to the Kingdom of God. It is the threshold to the Knowledge of God. Faith gives strength and removes anxieties and uneasiness of mind. Faith is therefore a powerful mental tonic.


Faith is one of the important items in the Shad-Sampat or six fold virtues of the four means of salvation or Sadhana Chatushtaya in the path of Jnana. 

Even Patanjali Maharshi, the exponent of Raja Yoga philosophy lays much stress on faith. 

He says: 

"Sraddha veerya smriti samadhi prajna - purvaka itaresham"

(To others (this Samadhi) comes through faith, energy, memory, concentration and discrimination of the real.)

He has placed Shraddha (faith) in the very beginning of this Sutra. He has given prominence to this. If a man has faith, then energy, memory etc., come by themselves. 

He will collect all his energies and remember the ultimate Tattva and will exert to realize the basic Reality. Let me repeat the words of the Gita here – “He who is full of faith obtaineth wisdom, and he also who hath mastery over his senses; and having obtained wisdom he goeth swiftly to the Supreme Peace. 

But the ignorant, faithless, doubting self goeth to destruction; nor this world, nor that beyond, nor happiness is there for the doubting self”. (IV, 39-40)


Faith can work miracles. Faith can work wonders. Faith can move mountains. Faith can reach a realm where reason dare not enter. There is nothing impossible under the sun for the man of faith to accomplish. 

Have therefore absolute and unshakable faith in God, in the power of RAMA NAM, in the Vedas and the scriptures and in the teachings of your Guru and, last but not the least, in your own self

In the path of wisdom, shraddha is faith in our srutis,faith in the need for acquiring the 4 qualifications itself, faith and surrender to the Guru who is to impart Brahma Jnana to you, Faith and conviction that Intense Sadhana is MUST for progress along the lines of Guru's instructions.... so on.....!!

Actually, there is no English translation for the  expression and for the experience of " Shraddha". 

As a disciple progresses in his sadhana, he actually experiences " shraddha" which he himself will not be able to explain.

This is the master-key for success in life and God-realization or attainment of Divine Consciousness.


Love.


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