How to get faith?
True faith is found in the company of the faithful. If faith
is a valuable way of knowing, indeed the most valuable of epistemologies, then
it is important to see how to get faith. Śrīdhara Mahārāja explains the nature of give
and take in the association of saints:
"So, awaken your consciousness. Find the real person within – the soul. Search him out and try to help him. That is possible only with help from the sadhu.The day in which we do not find any saint or have any
discussion about the real purpose of life – the inner life, the inner substance
– that day we are the loser. Be conscious of that. In all respects, in any way
possible, mind your own lesson – mind your own interest.
"Find your own self-interest. Be unmindful towards the
external world and circumstances dive deep into reality, the inner world. Find
your inner self, the inner world where you really live where your inner self is
living. Try to find your Home, go back to God, back to Home. Your energy must
be utilized for going Home not for wandering in this land of death.
"Try to avoid the land of death at any cost. Always try to
find the eternal soil, that soil to which you belong. Try to understand what is
your home, why it is your home. Home comfort – what does it mean? It means our
birthplace, the place where you are born. In Srimad Bhagavatam we find this
verse:
satam prasangan mama
virya-samvido
bhavanti
hrt-karana-rasayanah kathah
taj-josanad asv
apavarga-varmani
sraddha ratir bhaktir
anukramisyati
(Srimad Bhagavatam
3.25.25)
“Krishna says, ‘In the association of pure devotees,
discussions about Me are very pleasing and satisfying to the ear and the heart.
Such talks, which are full of spiritual potency, are a source of sweetness, and
by such cultivation, the path of liberation from worldly life quickly opens.
Then gradually one attains firm faith which, in due course, develops into taste
and then real love for Me.’
“In the progress of our contact with faith, when we come to
take benefit from devotees and have faith in them, we are more safe and our
progress is also tangible - it comes to reality. From a vague, abstract
position, faith becomes deeper within us. We can then recognize many others
with the same objective in life, and the journey becomes easier. It becomes
conceivable. It comes into measurement. When we have faith in the real
devotees, we can come into contact with such a tangible thing.
“Thus, the position of the devotees is very important in our
journey, especially in the middle stage. In the primary stage, not much
importance is given to the devotees. With only a vague conception from the
scriptures and with the help of previous accumulated merits (sukrti), the
journey is begun. But gradually, the beginners find that to journey onwards in
the infinite is not an easy thing: "We thought that with a little progress
we could attain the desired end, but now we find that it is not so." When
we come to consider the real position of devotion, of what is God - He is
universal, He is the ultimate goal - we may gradually become disappointed. But
if along the way we take help from the devotees of similar objective, we shall
feel much relief by their company, even though the destination may be far away.
The difficulties of the journey are more prominent in the second stage. In the
primary stage, we are not very exclusive in our objective, and so, we do not
experience much difficulty. Real difficulties begin when we enter into the
journey exclusively, with no other objective than to engage our whole energy
towards that high and elevated path. And if we actually achieve a touch of the
highest stage, the maha-bhagavata stage, the journey again becomes easier. But
the middle portion is difficult, and at that stage the devotees are very
important to save us. This is the period of both tangible acquisition and
difficulty; our failings on the path to realization are to be rectified in this
middle stage.
“The association of devotees is of ultimate importance: When
we enter into war, in the beginning we have much hope. We feel confident. But
the real test is when the fighting begins. And when we finally conquer, we
again become very satisfied. But the middle - when the war is being conducted -
that is the difficult period. At that time, our co-workers, our comrades who
fight along-side us, are very, very important to us. "I am not alone, but
there are many others battling alongside me in that middle fighting period of
war.“ Those companions are important. Some may disappear from the field but
there will be others to encourage me.
“Similarly, on this journey, we may see that many stalwarts
are falling. It may discourage us to see such respected persons -going away -
falling in the middle path. Nonetheless, in the midst of those unfavorable
circumstances there are others who are bravely making progress with unflinching
faith, and they will help us. To stick it out to the end is difficult - but
important and valuable. The test comes and shows how much faith we have.
Nothing comes in vain, and we must take everything that happens in that way.
“There may be so many stalwarts, like Bhisma and Drona, who
fall flat in the battlefield, but still we must go on (karmany evadhikaras te, ma phalesu kadacana, Bg. 2.47). We are out
to fight to the end. We must achieve our end of life, and we can imbibe such
firmness from the character of the devotees. The sastra will also offer helpful
advice, but the association of the devotees is nonetheless of ultimate
importance.
The Success of Faith
“Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, sakala chadiya bhai sraddhadevi guna gai yanra krpa bhakti dite pare[i]
"Giving up everything, let us sing in praise of Sraddha-devi - faith -
whose grace can take us to Krsna." Śraddha, faith, is the most subtle
thing, and it is also the most tangible. It is not imaginary. We must realize
that it is reality, it is concrete, and not merely an abstract sentiment of
mere individual consciousness. Faith is universal as the most fundamental
element that can connect us with the finest objective.
“Through radio we can establish communication over a long
distance. The science is very subtle, and not known to everyone, yet, we cannot
deny its existence; it has its tangible position. But faith is much more subtle
than radio waves, and through it one can establish both higher contact and
reciprocation. This subtle faith is not approachable by everyone; it has its
tangible existence and it may function in any circumstance if we have its
peculiar contact. We cannot give false statements that we possess it; our power
and grandeur are not necessarily any proof of its presence in us. Despite great
pomp and show, all we personify may be falsehood. We should be very cautious to
maintain our contact with genuine
faith.
“Of course, sincerity is the main requirement for faith's
connection. No price, however valuable in this world, can purchase it. The
qualification is laulyam - our
sincere and earnest desire for the thing. No one can purchase the Absolute, and
no price can purchase Him. The absolute necessity is our sincere desire and
earnestness. With insincerity, we cannot make trade with Him; He is not so foolish
as to become an object of trade for anybody! Sincere desire for Him is
required, and that will awaken the conception to serve Him. We want Him,
sincerely - through affection. We love Him, so we desire Him. And to love means
to sacrifice for the object of our love.
“Srila Jiva Goswami Prabhu has given a beautiful definition
of the word 'Bhagavan': bhajaniya
sarva-sad-guna-visista - "The Supreme Lord, Bhagavan is of such a
nature that everyone who comes in contact with Him will want to serve Him and
to sacrifice themselves for His satisfaction." This is the result of faith
in its developed form. He is so noble, we shall think that if we die to satisfy
Him, our life's objective will be fulfilled. His noble quality is such that it
draws so much sacrificing spirit for Him; it draws everything towards Him.
"Die to live." Faith is such.
“We are in the ocean of faith, and the devotees are the
essential agents. Each helps the other. We are much relieved from the fatigue
and trials of a long journey if we have a companion or the association of a
group. Similarly, in this ocean, if we obtain the help of devotees of similar
nature to ours, that will be most conducive. Even our Guru Maharaja, in a
speech he delivered on Vyāsa- pūja, his Holy Appearance Day, addressed his
disciples, "Vipada uddharana
bandhu-gana[ii]: Oh my friends, who can give me relief from
danger. To me, you are my deliverers from danger! In the ocean of faith, it is
very difficult to journey onward alone, so you have come to help me in my
dangerous, ambitious journey in the infinite. You have come, and you are
engaging me in talking about only Him, and so, you have given me some
engagement. Otherwise, to live and move alone in the infinite is very
difficult, troublesome and dangerous. You have all come to hear something, and
in this exchange of talks about Him the situation has been made very safe and
easy to journey so far toward Vaikuntha."
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