from my Guru Sri Sri Ravisankar

[Guest guest]

Weekly Knowledge #358 Bangalore

17 Jun 2002 India

 

 

FAITH AND ALERTNESS

 

Faith and alertness appear to be completely opposite in nature. When

you are alert, usually there is no faith and you feel restless and

insecure. When there is faith the mind is secure and rested and you

are not alert.

 

There are three types of faith:

 

Tamasic faith which is because of dullness. Like when you do not want

to take responsibility or action and you say, "Oh it doesn't matter,

anyway God will take care of all these things!" (laughter)

 

Rajasic faith which is brought on by intense compulsion of desires

and ambition. The ambition keeps the faith alive.

 

Satvic faith is innocent and is born out of fullness of consciousness.

 

 

Faith and alertness, though apparently opposite in nature, are

actually complementary to each other. In the absence of faith there

can be no growth, and without alertness there can be no correct

understanding. Faith can make you complacent. Alertness makes you

tense.

 

If there is no faith, there is fear. And when there is no alertness

one cannot perceive or express properly. A combination of both is

essential.

 

In Gyana (state of wisdom) there is alertness without tension and

faith without complacency. The purpose of education should be to

remove the element of dullness from faith and the element of fear

from alertness. This is a unique and rare combination. If you have

faith and alertness at the same time, then you will become a true

Gyani (the Wise One)!

 

News Flash:

 

The YLTP (Youth Leadership Training Program) trainer's meeting

concluded last week amidst great enthusiasm and celebration. A huge

contingent from Kerala came to the ashram for an Advanced Course with

Guruji. A teacher's training program for the teachers who will be

teaching in the SSRVM (Sri Sri Ravishankar Vidya Mandir) schools all

over the country is in progress.

 

 

Jai Guru Dev