On the path of bhakti, two pillars or supports are essential for the mind: faith and trust. In the Ramacharitamanas faith and trust have been acknowledged as the foundation of bhakti (Balakanda, sloka 2):
Bhavaaneeshankarau vande shraddhaavishwaasroopinau;
Yaabhyaam vinaa na pashyanti siddhaah svaantasthameeshvaram.
I bow down to Parvati and Shiva, Who are embodiments of faith and trust.
Without them, even the adept cannot perceive God, Although He dwells within all alike.
Without faith and trust, even an adept cannot see the Spirit within, cannot understand, know or recognize that. Therefore, faith and trust are considered to be the foundation of bhakti – faith in the higher power and trust in oneself. Have faith in God and trust in yourself.
Usually people do not believe in themselves, they think they are weak and powerless, and they question their ability and capacity to do something in life. Even before beginning a task they feel defeated by it. There is a lack of sankalpa shakti, power of resolve; iccha shakti, power of will; and kriya shakti, power of action in life. If one is determined, one can accomplish anything in life. Resolve comes with trust – trust in one’s own capacity and capability. God has not sent anyone into this world with anything less than the next person. The same power and energy in Rama or Buddha, Mahavira, Krishna, Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed are also within everyone. The difference is that they have realized it and people have not been able to realize it.
From a psychological point of view, God is an expression and experience of the evolution of consciousness; that is all. When a child goes to school he learns and acquires knowledge of the alphabet. In the process of intellectual development, gradually many things are learnt, the understanding grows, the consciousness grows. The child who could not even write ‘ABC’ can grow up to become the head of a country, a great scientist or even a great saint. For that, the consciousness needs to undergo the process of development whereby the child expands his consciousness, mind, intellect and emotions. From this viewpoint, God is an experience of the maturity of the mind. Maturity of the mind results in attraction to God, knowledge of God, belief in God and attaining a vision of God.
Trust and faith are the foundation of bhakti. Trust that one is capable of acquiring joy, comfort and competence in life. Faith that one is not alone in the world, that there is someone who is one’s intimate friend, closer than the husband or wife, closer even than the children – someone who is truly inherent.
In ancient Sparta new-born babies were left outside the house all night, regardless of snow, rain or heat. The baby faced the natural conditions outside all night long. If it lived until the morning, it was brought back inside the house. There was another custom followed there. When a boy reached the age of sixteen, he was blindfolded and left in the dense forest. There would be wild, ferocious animals all around. The blindfolded boy would be petrified. In the morning he was brought home and said to have become a man.
Once, after having gone through this process, a boy asked his father, “Tell me, when a child is left in the forest to become a man, don’t the parents worry that some ferocious animal will kill the child and eat him?” The father said, “Son, since you have passed the test I will tell you the secret. When you were blindfolded and left in the jungle, you were never alone. You thought that you were alone, but ten steps away from you I stood well-armed to protect you from dangerous animals.”
It is the same in life. People think they are alone; however, they are never alone. Once, a devotee who was a dear friend of God said to Him, “Let us go for a walk.” God said, “Fine. You walk in front, I will walk behind you.” The devotee asked, “How will I know that you are walking behind me?” God replied, “Whenever you turn around you will find two sets of footprints: one set will be mine, the other set yours. By that you will know that I have been walking with you.” Happily, the devotee started to walk. He crossed a river, a jungle, a mountain. Many times he felt that God was walking behind him; he could hear the sound of footsteps. Many times he felt he was alone and upon turning around he would see only a single set of footprints. Finally, he felt dejected and said, “God, you are not keeping your word. You said that you would always be with me, yet many times when I turn around to look, you are not with me and I see only a single set of footprints on the ground. Why do you disappear?”
God said, “I do not disappear. When the path is difficult, I carry you in my arms. That is why you see only one set of footprints. When the path is easy, I put you down, we walk together again and you see two sets of footprints.” When the path is easy God leaves one to stand on one’s own feet, and says, “Child, walk. There is no problem here, keep walking.” The moment the going gets tough, God picks up His devotee in His arms and carries him.
The great saints in history, no matter which culture or religion they belonged to, experienced God constantly in their lives, and the basis of that realization was faith and trust.