Life is full of ups and downs.  We all know it.  What some of us may not know is that in the Bhagavad Gita 2.14 it is confirmed that there is nothing called happily ever-after in this material world:

matra-sparsas tu kaunteya sitosna-sukha-duhkha-dah 

(O son of Kunti, the nonpermanent appearance of happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. )

During times of difficulty, we hear people reassure others (or themselves)… “have faith in yourself”…”have faith in God..” .  So, what is this faith that we are talking about? Why is it the key to our advancement? And how does one retain it during testing times?  How indeed?!

First, we need to understand what faith is all about.  Many people confuse faith with their personal beliefs or with their religious systems.  But in reality, faith has very little to do with these things.   We live in a very vast creation, the dimensions of which we know not.  As mentioned in the Vedic scriptures, we are but minute sparks of life who are greedy to grasp with our finite perceptive powers, all that is there about this Infinite Grand creation of God and God Himself!!  What, I wonder, is the source of this conceit in us!!

Thinking that the creation and what lies beyond, revolves around us and is meant for our consumption is the most narrow-minded thing a human can come up with.  Accepting  our tiny position wholeheartedly is the seed of real faith – even if we don’t understand it fully.   Until then, we will never really savor the sublime nature of faith.  Here is the secret of having and relishing faith – it has to percolate down flawlessly to all layers of human life and relationships.  And that can happen only when it starts in Krsna, the Supreme Lord

Here are some generic definitions of faith as given by Srila Prabhupada.

Faith means unflinching trust in something sublime.  (Bhagavad Gita 2.41)

Faith means complete conviction.  (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.34 Lecture)

Faith means strong faith, not flickering faith. That faith means unflinching faith without any deviation, with full understanding.  (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.15.30 Lecture)

Faith means acceptance. When you accept, then your faith begins. If you have got hesitation, then the faith has not begun. Or it is in the hazy state. (Room Conversation, July 11, 1973)

Now let’s see how that faith should be spiritualized and rooted.  It begins with the process of investing our faith in God:

Faith means one who has got firm faith in the words of Krsna. (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.36, Lecture)

By rendering transcendental service to Krsna, one automatically performs all subsidiary activities. This confident, firm faith, favorable to the discharge of devotional service, is called sraddha.  (Nectar of Instruction, Text 5 Purport)

Faith means firm conviction that “If I become transcendentally engaged in the service of the Lord, then my life becomes successful.” This is called faith. And that conviction must be firm, not tottering faith.  (Initiation lecture, July 29, 1968)

Faith means to believe in the word of Krsna, that “Surrendering to Krsna I will get everything. Now, I am free. This is my perfection.” That is called faith.  (Conversation with Interviewer, Nov 10, 1971)

Faith…not that “So long God is my order supplier, I trust in Him, and as soon as He refuses to supply my order, I don’t trust Him,” that is not firm faith. “God is putting me in distress; still, I trust Him. Or God is putting me in happiness; still, I trust Him.” That is called firm faith. In any circumstances, the faith is not withdrawn. That is firm faith.   (Morning Walk conversation, Dec 19, 1973)

Faith means that you are meant for giving some service to Krsna. You should stick to that service, that path, in spite of all impediments. That is the passing of test.  (Morning Walk Conversation, Aug 11, 1976)

So faith is a very important ingredient of human character and the basis of every relationship.  Like it is said, Even in our daily affairs a certain amount of faith is required. When we buy a ticket, we have faith that the airline company will take us to our destination. Without faith we cannot even live in the material world, what to speak of making spiritual progress?  The beginning of faith is to place it in a proper authority.

‘Sraddha’ in Sanskrit actually means ‘respectful faith’.  So, how do we keep this faith?  By associating with people who have faith.  Just like one candle can light thousand others, one person with faith beginning in God, can inspire the same in many others.  When we see how such spiritually advanced and enlightened people behave in their day to day dealings, we can gradually increase our own faith.

So , the next time we are in a dire situation, let’s remember that faith in God is not a sentimental show.  It is the practical solution and the basis of intelligence to overcome those very troubles.

 

(image courtsey fanpop.com)