The First Step

Sunahu Sadhak Pyare - Part 14

So first you need 100% faith or “Shraddha”. What is “Shraddha”?

गुरु वेदान्त वाक्येषु दृढ़ विश्वास श्रद्धा ।
चैतन्य देव

guru vedānta vākyeṣu dṛढ़ viśvāsa śraddhā ।
caitanya deva

"Having firm faith on the words of Guru and Vedas is Shraddha".

I have already explained it through the story of Maharishi Valmiki, who could not even pronounce the word “Rama”. Of the 6 billion human beings currently on this earth, you will not be able to find one person who can speak; can say “Ra” and “Ma” but cannot say “Rama”. Valmiki was such a big sinner that his sins prevented him from pronouncing the Holy name of Lord Rama. But he had firm faith in the words of his Guru. His Guru said keep repeating “Mara” “Mara” until I return. Valmiki accepted his Guru’s instructions. He did not ask any questions such as “when will you return”, “how long should I keep repeating these words” etc. He kept repeating the words, sitting in the same position for years. He did not move from his place at all. His body was eaten by termites, yet he did not move. It was only by virtue of his firm faith in the words of his Guru that he attained God realization in the same life.

So “Shraddha” means having 100% faith on the statements of Veda-Shastra and the Guru.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said

श्रद्धा शब्दे कहे विश्वास तो दृढ़ निश्चय ।

śraddhā śabde kahe viśvāsa to dṛढ़ niścaya ।

The limit of faith differs from person to person. Some people have 20% faith, some have 90% faith. To some extent you use your logic and also listen to your guru to some extent. The day your faith reaches 100%, you will not have to do anything further. You don’t need to practice anymore. By merely surrendering you will achieve everything. But without practice, your mind will not get cleansed off the material attachments and without cleansing the mind your faith won’t be 100%. That is why practise and faith both are needed.

See how you will attain knowledge.Tulidas Ji gave the answer

गुरु बिनु होइ कि ज्ञान

guru binu hoi ki jñāna

but

यदि गुरु मिलहिं विरंचि सम

guru binu hoi ki jñāna

on one hand, He says Guru can give you the necessary wisdom, and on the other hand, He says even a most competent Guru, equivalent a Brahma, cannot give you wisdom.

ज्ञान कि होइ विराग बिनु

jñāna ki hoi virāga binu

Guru can give you wisdom only if you have renounced the world to some extent. If you renounce the world then you will have faith in God. There have been some politicians in India who used to say, don’t tell me anything about God. Hearing about him will spoil my political career. So, without renunciation you won’t have faith and without faith what can a Guru do. Thus to attain knowledge, both renunciation and the guidance of a Guru are a MUST.