FAITH – AN ELIXIR OF LIFE

 

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase" (Martin Luther King) 

 

Can we imagine a person without faith? Faith is what keeps us alive. Faith is the mandatory fuel to keep our lives running. Faith could be in yourself, others, ideologies, an institution, or God. 

 

What is Faith? Swami Chinmayanandji said: "Faith is to believe what you do not see. The reward of Faith is to see what you believe." 

 

Our minds cannot grasp Faith, but our hearts are sure of – 'Heart's Wisdom'. Faith is the strong trust and confidence in something or someone without apparent evidence. It is a powerful force that can guide us through difficult times and provide us with hope and inspiration. 

 

Though often used interchangeably, Faith and trust have different contexts. Faith has a spiritual connotation, whereas Trust is used for relationships. Faith comes from our belief system inculcated within. Trust, however, is built through relationships with individuals over a while. 

 

Swami Vivekanand said: "Faith is not belief; it is the grasp on the Ultimate, an illumination".

 

It would be apt to pay attention to discerning words on Faith from Napoleon Hill.

 

·       FAITH is the element, the "chemical", which, when mixed with prayer, gives one direct communication with Infinite Intelligence.

·       FAITH is the element which transforms the ordinary vibration of thought, created by the finite mind of man, into the spiritual equivalent.

 

·       FAITH is the only agency through which the cosmic force of Infinite Intelligence can be harnessed and used by man.

 

We have heard many stories about the power and rewards of strong Faith. Several such stories (known and unknown) strengthen our resolve in Faith. Legendary poet Shri Narsinh Mehta's unflinching Faith in God, rescued him from crisis several times.

 

Mahatma Gandhi's words on Faith are heart-touching.

"We cannot perceive God by the senses or apprehend Him by the intellect, just as we cannot hear with the eyes. The intellect can be misled every moment, as we know to our cost. A different faculty is needed to realize God, and that faculty is unshakable Faith. But real Faith can never be led astray."

 

There exists a subtle difference between Faith and belief. Belief in religion may imply that we believe the concepts taught in that particular religion are actual; we may also believe in the existence of God (in the case of theistic religions), but Faith has much stronger conviction than belief.

 

The first vital step is to have 'faith in self'. We need it to expect to accomplish anything. How can we develop Faith in others when we have none in ourselves? Some even have gone to the extent of calling such individual atheists! Self-doubt, lack of confidence, and low self-esteem are some of the factors responsible. 

 

Faith & Science: With the juggernaut of science making ultra-rapid strides, Faith in God is taking a big hit. Richard Dawkins – a famous scientist and author of several books, dismisses thoughts of God. Yuval Harari rubbishes the idea of a human soul. Richard Dawkins poses the question in his book – The God Delusion – "if the world is a great design created by God, then who designed the designer ?". The debate is on and will always be on.

 

The scientist's natural question is, "How can you prove the existence of God?" The believer's innate retort is, "How can you deny the existence of God?" This polarity arises from the fact that everything the scientist perceives is matter, and everything a believer sees is God.

 

Let us explore what Bhagwat Geeta says about Faith.

 

सत्त्वानुरूपा सर्वस्य श्रद्धा भवति भारत |

श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्ध: स एव स: ||

 

(The Faith of all humans conforms to the nature of their mind. All people possess Faith, and whatever their Faith's nature, that is unquestionably what they are.)

 

Where we decide to place our Faith and what we believe in practically shapes the direction of our lives.

 

I leave you with two posers to which I subscribe; -

• To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.
• I believe everything till it is disproved.

 The choice is yours.