Faith (Śraddhā): This category covers quotes and excerpts by Swami B.G. Narasingha Maharaja that focus on the importance of having faith (Śraddhā) in God and guru as a foundation for spiritual growth. These are quotes and excerpts that have been extracted from articles, lectures and letters by Swami B.G. Narasingha.
WHAT IS ŚRADDHĀ?
Generally, śraddhā is translated as belief. Somebody may ask, Do you believe in Kṛṣṇa? We may reply that we believe in Kṛṣṇa, but belief is in the brain – it is a mental process of accepting and rejecting. Śraddhā is on a subtler plane than that and it takes place as a confirmation in the heart or the soul that reality exists and that reality is Kṛṣṇa. It is a confirmation of that which is beyond matter and that which itself is not material. Matter cannot confirm what is beyond matter. Only spiritual substance can confirm Kṛṣṇa
ONLY ŚRADDHĀ FULFILS OUR HEART’S HANKERING
Śraddhā, faith proper, is the instrument to understand and to know the higher subjective realm. Knowledge (jñāna) is useful only in as much as it destroys ignorance and increases our śraddhā. Only śraddhā, which takes us to surrender, śaraṇāgati, can fulfil the heart’s innermost hankering and aspiration.
ŚRADDHĀ TAKES US TO ŚARAṆĀGATI
Śraddhā, faith proper, is the instrument to understand and to know the higher subjective realm. Knowledge (jnana) is useful only in as much as it destroys ignorance and increases our śraddhā. Only śraddhā which takes us to surrender, śaranṇāgati, can fulfil the hearts innermost hankering and aspiration.
FAITH – THE INVESTMENT OF RĀDHĀRĀṆĪ
Knowledge can save us from misconceptions, because if misconceptions are there, then bhakti goes on in the wrong way. We may go on with bhakti for a long time, but in the end it doesn’t produce the fruit of prema. Knowledge is there to eliminate misconceptions and guide us on the right path so that our śraddhā (faith) increases. That faith is the investment of Rādhārāṇī in the jīva, therefore She is called Śraddhā Devī.
