Pujya Ramsukhdasji Maharaj

[Guest guest]

Faith versus Inquiry

 

Whether Paramaatma (God) exists or not, this point is not one of

belief, it is one of inquiry. Whether Paramaatma (God, Supreme

Consciousness) is or not - this doubt exists both in an embodied

soul (jeevaatma) and in the world. There is no doubt in " I am " ,

but " what am I " in that, there is a doubt. In other words, quest

(inquiry) for knowledge arises, when there is existence of doubt.

The knowledge of the Self and of the World, comes from inquiry. You

are entirely independent, in believing or disbelieving in Paramaatma

(Supreme Consciousness), because regarding Paramaatma (God), we know

absolutely nothing, and that which we know nothing about, in that

only faith is the driver. And that which we have faith in, there

remains no doubt in it at all - such an extraordinary point this

is !

 

Just like when we consider the wife, son etc. to be our very own,

then there is no doubt remaining whether this wife is my own or

not? Son is mine or not ? These worldly beliefs do not last;

because belief is in things that are perishable. But Paramaatmaa

(Supreme Consciousness) is Imperishable (Eternal); therefore belief

in Paramaatma lasts; and when this belief is firmed up, then

Paramaatmaa is realized. We have heard from the saints, that when

one believes in Bhagwaan (God), then the responsibility of him

understanding his true Nature(Self) lies with Bhagwaan (God)! What

an amazing point this is! How Bhagwaan (God) is, how Bhagwaan (God)

is not? such knowledge does not have to be attained by him self.

He simply accepts that " Bhagwaan (God) IS ! How is Bhagwaan and how

He is not, such questions / doubts do not arise in him at all.

 

At first if we simply accept the existence of Bhagwaan - Bhagwaan

(God) IS, then we will have faith in Bhagwaan. Faith in worldly

matters, does not last; because objects and people etc. were not

there in the beginning, and will not remain in the end, and at this

moment are moving towards destruction (perishing). But on the

subject of Bhagwaan, it does not happen so; because from the

scriptures, the saints, and the believers, we have heard, that

Bhagwaan (God) was there in the beginning, will remain later, and is

there at present, as well. Once faith is established in Bhagwaan

(God), then there is a sense of belonging, that Bhagwaan (God) is

mine.

 

This embodied soul is a part of Bhagwaan (God) - " Mamevaansho

Jeevaloke " (Gita 15:7) i.e Bhagwaan is ours. Therefore those that

have an inner feeling of the existence of Bhagwaan must accept that

Bhagwaan (God) IS and He is mine. On having this firm belief, one

cannot stay thereafter without meeting Bhagwaan (God). Just like

when a child experiences sorrow, then he longs to be with his

mother, and he wonders why mother is not taking him in her lap? In

the child's mind there is no thought whether he is deserving or not,

whether he is the proper recepient of her love or not.

 

Just as one has faith in Bhagwaan (God), similarly there is also

faith in the relationship with Bhagwaan (God) - " He is mine " . In

this type of faith, there is no talk of how is God, and how am I ?

etc. Simply one must have a firm belief in that - " God is mine, "

therefore I will definitely attain Him. This feeling of " mine-ness "

is greater than many other important spiritual practices. However

many other spiritual practices there are, such as, Sacrifice,

austerities, fasting, worship, forebearance, etc., the highest among

them is this feeling of my very own with God. In this " mine-ness "

there is never any ambiguity. Those who are going to do certain

actions, will according to the action receive the appropriate fruit,

but he who believes God to be His very own, will attain God entirely

and completely for free. The doers will receive only as much fruit,

as the action bares. But on having sense of mine-ness with Bhagwaan

(God), they will receive complete right and entitlement over

Bhagwaan (God).

 

Just like a child believes he has complete rights over his mother.

He knows full well that the mother is mine, and he will be able to

get whatever work he want done out of his mother. He knows he will

take whatever he wants from her. What strength does the child

really have? All he can do is cry - that is the extent of his

strength. Even the weakest of the weakest man has only the strength

of crying. How much effort is required in crying ? When child

begins to cry, the mother has to listen to him. In the same manner,

if we begin to cry saying - Bhagwaan is mine, then why will He not

give His appearance (viewing, seeing)?

 

When sadhak has intense quest and longs to know, why does Bhagwaan

not show Himself to me ? When there is an intense longing within,

when there is such a tormenting desire that why is God not meeting

me ! then in this intense longing, in this tormenting desire, there

is so much strength that sins of infinite years can be wiped out.

No faults will remain, and faultlessness will ensue. One who

becomes restless for God, their faultlessness happens entirely and

they attain the essential element (tattva).

 

As long as there remains the feeling that " I am an seeker

(inquirer) " - this sense of I-ness remains and it prevents one from

attaining that essence (tattva). When this I-ness does not remain,

then that essence is realized. Whether it is quest for knowledge or

whether it be faith, if among the two, if only one point becomes

firm, then that essense will be realized. Duties will be fulfilled

on their own; even from inquiry, one's duties are fulfilled and

through deep faith also duties are fulfilled. Both an inquirer and

a man of faith will be able to fulfill their obligations quickly.

 

A man of faith will not fulfill his obligations from the perspective

of duties; but instead he cries due to his separation from Bhagwaan

(God). His duties are exhausted, simply by crying. There remains

in him, an intense longing for God Realization. He only remembers

God and only God. Besides God, nothing else is attractive - " Ab

kuch bhi nahin suhaave, ek tu hi mana bhaave. " During day there is

no hunger, at night there is no sleep, time and time again there is

that intense longing - " Din nahin bhookh, raine nahin nidraa, chin

chin vyaakul hot hiyaa. " In this longing there is immense

strength. Engaging in worship and rememberance, doing austerities

and sacrifices, visiting holy places and fasting etc, these are all

good, but these get rid of sins gradually; But on having intense

longing for God, it is like catching on fire, where all sins are

burned away and turned to ashes immediately.