DOUBT, FAITH, AND TRUST🔗

Where you stand

One day, a disciple falls into the river and shouts out to his Master for help. The Master says, 'You are atman - soul, stand up!' The disciple says, 'Teach me Vedanta later on but now save my life! The Master shouts, 'Stand up!' and the disciple simply stands up to realize that the water is only knee deep! When you stand up, you always realize that the water is only up to the knee level. Whatever you may think as major problems, if you stand up, you will realize that they are only ankle deep, not even knee deep. But the thing is, how to stand up? The Master is the yoga danda or stick of support for you to stand up. Having his support, you can stand up. Be very clear: when the support of the Master is there, you can stand up as independent, or an individual.

One more thing: the faith or trust on God or the Master is actually called the yoga danda. Never think that you are doing them a favor by placing your trust on them. You are doing a favor to yourself.

When your intellect reaches its peak, it becomes intelligence. When your emotion reaches its peak, it becomes love. When your Being ripens and reaches its peak, it experiences the space called Trust. Trust is the space by creating which you are doing a favor to yourself. I am letting myself be used by you to stand up. You can trust a stone, a statue or a tree - anything you trust, you will reach the same goal.

When a small fire is created in the forest where you don't get anything to cook and eat, will you allow it to die? With all care, you will protect it, is it not? In the same way, if you get an inch of faith, keep it alive in your heart and work all possible ways for that to grow intensely and deeply. People tell me, 'I have doubt and faith, Swamiji. What do I do?' Tell your Master that he is the one who gives you both, and pray that both should leave you. Surrender both and relax.

Paramahamsa May 2005, Himalayas, India

People come and tell me a problem, but they don't want my intelligence to work on them, they only want my support. They tell me to give my shakti - energy; not a solution. They tell me, 'I am having a problem with my husband. Please make him come and stay with me!' I would have given a total solution or dissolved the problem. But they don't want to dissolve the problem. They want me to give the energy for what they want.