Tattva Bodha - Post 10

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”. 

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/SELF is the first step to God/Self-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 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: 

"Shraddha 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. 

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.

In the path of wisdom, Shraddha is faith in our Srutis, faith in the need for acquiring the four qualifications itself, faith and surrender to the Guru who is to impart Brahma Jnana to you and faith in God without whose grace, nothing is possible at all. 

How a disciple/spiritual seeker expresses his Shraddha to Guru, Sruthis and God?

To the Guru: “O Guru, I trust your nobility; I see your nobility; I see your utter selflessness, the compassion with which you share your knowledge. I am eternally indebted to you, and forever I shall serve you. I do not know whether I deserve this or not – I don’t know... probably I don’t, but still, somehow, in your heart has come compassion for me. I know not why. I am eternally grateful to you, my Guru. I know that you will take me to the Supreme Truth. Please do use me forever.” 

Towards the Scriptures: “O Mother Sruti! How many people you have liberated by your blessed words! By your pure wisdom, how many saints have crossed the ocean of Samsara!

As my Guru remains yours, won’t you help me? Aren’t you my Mother? You protect those who follow you. Help me follow you implicitly. There are many things what you say that I don’t understand, but I know that a mother cooks food and gives it to her child, and the child takes that food without a doubt, feeling, “Yes, what my mother has given is good for me.” In the same way, let me take your words, relish them in my heart, live my life according to your dictates, and let me be blessed like how the saints of yore have been blessed.” 

Towards Easwara: “O Lord, the Master of the whole Universe! O Lord, the Governor of the whole Cosmos, whom I do not see, but, Lord, who in every instant of my life comes forward and guides me, helps me and takes me forward!

Forever clear my path that I may walk in peace. Show me my way. Give me faith in my Guru, and give me faith in the Shastras, for it is you who gives faith. Make my heart pure, so that I may receive the knowledge that my Guru gives. Make me adorned with Sadhana Chatushtaya. Please ensure that my Guru forgives my trespasses.” 

Love.