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”.
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.
