Stories on Faith

[Guest guest]

Many people especially when confronted with

obstacles say, " I have a lot of faith and devotion on God.

Why then is this happening to me ?" If we really have

faith on the Lord would we feel that it is an obstacle,

or would we feel it is part of training ? If for

instance, a child asks for an ice cream when the child has

fever, and the mother refuses it, should the child

construe it as an obstacle posed by the mother in

procuring ice cream or should the child construe it as a

measure taken by the mother for the child's own good. If

there is faith, the latter will be construed, else

it'll be taken as an obstacle.<br><br>The following is

a story told by Ramakrishna Paramahamsa from the

Panchatantra on faith:<br>There was a guruji who lived in a

village. Everyday he used to give discourses. The main

economy of the village depended on the field produce and

milk. The milk maids had to cross the river to go to

other towns to sell the milk. <br>One day, a milk maid,

as she passed the guruji heard him say, "One must

have a lot of faith in the Lord. If one has a lot of

faith, one can do anything. One can even cross this

river by walking on water , if one chants "Guruve

thunai" (Salutations to Guru. - A Guru is considered

equal to God), with faith !"<br><br>That day, there was

a huge flood, and the ferrymen refused to take

their boats out. This milkmaid remembered what the

Guruji said, and chanted, "Guruve thunai", and walked on

the water, and crossed the river ! Such was her

faith.<br><br>The Guruji on hearing this, was astonished, and

couldn't believe what he heard. He was sceptical on the

power of faith and thought to himself, "May be I am so

great that enabled her to walk on water". Thinking so,

he said, " Naane thunai " (Salutations to my ownself

), and he took a step into the water. And lo ! he

fell into the water. <br><br>There is another story

that I wish to say on how much faith we actually

possess. I'll write that in my next post.<br><br>Hari Aum

!!!

[Guest guest]

Thanks svcs for your posts. Yes many people do

say that they have faith. But how many people have

true faith? There are instances in Puranas and other

stories where the devotee was tested to see how strong

the faith was. Even as Parvati had to prove her

devotion, by going severities.<br><br>Obstacles are a part

of spritual practices. Stories talk abt devotees

going through severe spiritual practices and they are

tested severely by the Gods who want to test the faith.