| CATEGORY | MIND CONTROL |
| SUB CATEGORY | FAITH |
| What is the root cause of good or evil in life? |
| The good or evil, the gains or losses, the renown or infamy experienced by people are not the outcome of the passage of years. They are the consequences of their own actions. Samvathsara (the year) is one of the names of God. Because God is associated with time. He is also known as Kalathmaka (Time-spirit). Hence, we should not consider the Lord, who is the spirit of Time, as likely to cause good or ill to us. Our actions, good or bad, bear fruits, according to their nature. Divine Discourse 7 April 1997 |
| What should I do when I sometimes lose faith in God? |
| The love of God should not depend on whether your prayers are fulfilled or not. Remember what ordeals the sages and saints passed through in their devotion to God. They braved all difficulties and earned lasting fame as great devotees. Life is a challenge- Meet it! Life is a game- Play it! Life is love- Enjoy it! Life is Awareness! The best way to love God is to love all, serve all. Divine Discourse 10 April 1997 |
| How to guard one’s faith from doubts? |
| Devotees are subject occasionally to doubts. Many declare their resolve to act according to the Divine will. But sometime or other they go back on their resolves. Those who are steadfast in their devotion to God at all times are very few indeed. You should, strive to develop steadfast faith in God. Only then, can the nature of the Divine be properly understood. Krishna demonstrated in His life not only many miraculous powers but also many profound truths. Krishna’s divinity is omnipresent, but it is experienced by devotees according to their spiritual condition. Persons who go to the Ganges for bringing the holy water can take with them only as much as their containers can hold. Hence, it is essential to broaden the spiritual container in you, namely, your heart. Divinity cannot be realised by various forms of worship. Divine Discourse 25 Aug 1997 |
| How do tests of life help us advance in the spiritual path? |
| There can be no spiritual advance without going through these rests. Students should be aware that for going to a higher class they have to pass the prescribed rests. In life, you are tested as to how much you are attached to the ephemeral things of the world and how much you yearn for the Divine. If your love for God is a tiny fraction of your love for mundane things, how do you expect God to shower His grace on you? How much more sacred it would be if men thought about God even for a few moments out of the many hours they waste on thinking about worldly things? People should develop their faith in this truth. Whatever faith they have in themselves that faith they should have in God. That is the mark of greatness. One who has no faith in himself, how can he have faith in God? Turn your faith away from the temporal and the transient to the unchanging eternal reality. Divine Discourse 7 Sep 1997 |
| What is the power of faith? |
| The power of faith is illustrated in an incident from the life of Christ. Once a blind man approached Jesus and prayed: “Lord! Restore my sight.” Jesus asked him: “Do you believe that I can restore your sight unhesitatingly: “Yes, Lord!” “If that is so, then open your eyes and see it,” said Jesus. The blind man opened his eyes and got his sight. Likewise, people pray to Swami to give something or other. Do you believe that I have the power to give what you seek? My response is dependent on your faith. Divine Discourse 7 Sep 1997 |
| How to accept dualistic qualities of life? |
| The existence of opposing qualities is part of the nature of life. For instance, pleasure and pain go together. Pain is often the means by which God tests human beings. They should welcome such tests, because they serve to promote one’s spiritual development. Students should welcome examinations because they are preliminary to promotions to a higher standard. Devotees at the present day do not relish “tests”. They forget that without overcoming tests they will remain where they are. Even students unfortunately are averse to examinations. This is foolish. Only through tests they can progress in life. You should welcome tests and difficulties. By overcoming them your divinity is revealed. The Pandavas realised their Divinity only when they faced many ordeals during their exile. Divine Discourse 14 Sep 1997 |
| Who is responsible for one’s misery? |
| Some devotees tend to blame Baba if their desires are not fulfilled. When devotees pray with pure hearts, their purity itself helps to bring them relief. But they are thankful to Baba for saving them. Baba is not involved in either of these results. They are the fruits of the devotees efforts and attitudes. In our college, there is a placard that carries the saying; “Dharma protects its protector. It destroys its destroyer.” Likewise, when your faith in the Divine is total, that faith will help you. Develop that confidence in the Self. Divine Discourse 9 Oct 1997 |
| What is the importance of developing unwavering faith? |
| Faith is thus essential for every activity in life. The ancient sages accomplished many great things by their faith. Their achievements are cherished by people today, even after thousands of years. Unfortunately, because of the influence of kali in the present age, faith is declining from moment to moment. People change their beliefs constantly. Such changes are mental aberrations. They do not pertain to the Spirit (which dwells in the heart). Divine Discourse 25 Dec 1997 |