Bhagavad Gita 17

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sattvAnurUpA sarvasya SraddhA bhavati bhArata |

SraddhAmayo'yam purusho yo yacchraddhah sa eva sah ||

(17.3) 17

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The faith of every man is in accordance with his character, O Bharata.

Man consists of faith, as his faith is, so is he.

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'Faith, which is the means to Self-realisation, is developing a genuine

conviction of the essential truth of the scriptures and the guru¹s words.'

(Vivekachudamani)

Superficial faith in the efficacy of vichara is of no avail. One must have pure

faith. It is insufficient to superficially think or talk of vichara. There must

be faith in action. This is pure faith. This is real practice.

'I shall tell you the rationale of reaching the Supreme Goal by means of faith.

Be attentive. People will not gain anything, either during their lifetime or

after death, by endless discussions or blind acceptance. Of the two however,

there is hope for the latter and there is none for the former.' (Tripura

Rahasya)

Want of faith is betrayed by one's doubts regarding the truth of the statements

of the Guru and by failure to implement these truths. Doubts arise when the

mind of the doubter takes free reign. Doubts dissipate when the doubter is

found and firmly held. Take to enquiry and/or surrender (vichara or prapatti)

and dispel these doubts.

'When I asked Sri Ramani Ammal whether she had ever put a question directly to

Bhagavan, she said: 'Doubts vanished in Bhagavan's presence. When doubts came

to mind, they were dissolved, even before the question could be formulated.

Sometimes a discussion would begin among the devotees on the very topic and

Bhagavan's remarks would solve the doubt! So, the opportunity of putting a

question verbally to Bhagavan did not arise at all.'' (from Moments Remembered,

Ganesan; 1994)