When we say "believe" something, usually limit this to
mean "we agree that it is true”.
But when we speak of "placing our faith" in someone or
something, we are saying we are relying upon them. So
"faith" is not "belief". "Belief" is agreement
that something is true. "Faith" starts there. When someone says “ this fruit is sweet we believe that the
fruit is sweet ;this is just we are agreeing to someone’s statement but when we
taste the fruit and find it is really sweet then we have faith in that agreement.
So "faith" is not "belief There is big difference
between faith and the “belief”."Belief" is agreement that
something is true. "Faith" starts there. Faith is to believe what one doesn’t see; reward
of this faith is to see what one believes. But then "faith" becomes reliance
and surrender to what I know is true.
Different religions have different ways to teach belief,
faith and surrender. School of Christian teaches to believe in Jesus. Followers
of Christianity believe that Christ, the son of God, walked the earth as
the incarnate form of God ("the Father"). Most Christians also
believe Christ will return at the end of the world. Islam also teaches to have
faith in one God Allah who is one,
unique, incomparable, who has neither son nor partner and that none, has the
right to be worshiped but him alone. He is the true god and every other deity
is false.
But Vedanta teaches differently. The Vedanta teaches to have
faith on oneself first, Vedanta says, a man who does not believe in himself is
an atheist , not believing in the glory of our own soul is what the Vedanta
calls atheism. Losing faith in one's self means losing faith in
God.
Next step, faith goes on to surrender to one that is true, and goes on to rely completely
upon Him. Thus, real faith carries with it action. One not only sees the Truth, agrees that ‘it is
the Truth’, and makes the choice to give himself to it. That is action or work.
Real faith always motivates us to action or work.
How to cultivate faith:
Swami Vivekananda says :”
Be not afraid of anything. You will do marvelous work. The moment you fear, you
are nobody. It is fear that is the great cause of misery in the world. It is
fear that is the greatest of all superstitions. It is fear that is the cause of
our woes, and it is fearlessness that brings heaven even in a moment”
This fearlessness motivates us to plunge into action with full
energy. Swami again inspires “we are the sparks of the infinite, divine fire.
How can you be nothings? We are everything, ready to do everything, we can do
everything, and man must do everything”.
When faith is embedded in a person he stars worshiping. The word
“worship” is of different types: ritualistic, meditative, selfless action of
good work.
For some people the worship means it is ritualistic ie
fasting, go to religious places like Mosque, Church, Temples, Gurudwara
with offerings or pray in their own
house.
For some others, worship means meditate and elevate own soul to higher planes.
There are some people who think work is worship. They are
motivated people, do selfless service to mankind.
Lastly in Geeta Lord Sri
Krishna said “whatever path you choose
you will reach me”. This reverberated by Paramhansa Sri Ramakrishna “Jato mat,tato path” Whatever path
you choose, you will reach one destination that is supreme almighty.
So whatever you believe, have faith in it and plunge into action
nothing can stop a fearless soul .Humanity always win whatever may be religion,
faith or belief.
[ALPANA GHOSE]
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