Some scriptures say it is the attainment of a body; others, that intelligence makes us unique from other life forms.
There are diverse opinions as to what the greatest attainment of human life is, and maybe from their particular perspective all are correct. However, from another perspective the greatest attainment one can have in life is faith, because faith keeps the mind and emotions balanced. Faith does not allow one to undergo either emotional or intellectual infidelity. This is one of the most important points about faith.
Faith is the original expression of the human heart. When a person is born, he functions through the heart, not the mind. When he starts formal education, the mind takes over and the heart component is relegated to the background, so that in the course of his life he functions through the intellect, through logic. The questions, “Why?”, “How?” relate to intellectual expressions and understanding. Certain things, however, cannot be understood or even analysed by the faculty of intelligence, and that is the strength of the heart. The mind can think about and aspire for good things, yet it is always diverted from them. The desire remains a desire, the thought remains a thought and the aspirations can never be implemented. The heart is always looking for support, security, compassion, love and affection – all the goodness and beauty in life.
There are different mentalities, different samskaras, impressions, belonging to each civilization, each group in society. The mentality of each society depends on the social environment. If the social environment has no balance between the material drive and the spiritual aspirations, then one disconnects from the heart forces and energies. When there is disconnection from the heart forces, the mind transforms itself, becoming more gross, materialistic and sensual, more full of cravings and desires. These cravings, desires and ambitions lead one to seek fulfilment outside. When one is unable to find pleasure, happiness and fulfilment in the world, one goes into a depressive cycle or an insecure cycle, an aggressive cycle or a fearful cycle, which then controls one’s behaviour. Psychological and emotional imbalances disturb the family and then society becomes disturbed. To avoid that frustration, one becomes addicted to something, which takes the mind away from that depression.
This is where faith comes in. Faith is the quality that balances the psychological and emotional disturbances. For example, there is a big psychological difference between a beggar and a thief who has a knife or a gun to rob people of their valuables, and, if they resist, will possibly harm them. If a beggar in India does not receive five rupees and goes hungry, at night before going to sleep he will say, “God didn’t want me to eat today. I accept God’s will. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.” He will remain content with that feeling. Faith will give some peace, solace, comfort and security, an awareness that he is being guided by his creator. For a thief, however, personal fulfilment is more important than another’s life.
Shraddha, faith, does not need much elaboration. Belief is a quality of the mind and faith is a quality of the spirit. One can believe through the mind, one can disbelieve due to the mind, yet once faith arises, that fire, that force cannot be extinguished by the mind. Faith becomes the strength of human character. Shraddha is associated with a positive feeling or emotion. When a feeling is established in positivity, jealousy, repulsion and revulsion are reduced and love and compassion are increased. This leads to the spontaneous expression of shraddha flourishing within.
Faith is not associated with God or guru; they become the points of focus upon which shraddha rests. Faith is the connection between the individual and the transcendental Self. Without this feeling being established within, one cannot experience the divinity that resides in the heart. Tulsidas says that without faith even a siddha, an enlightened one, cannot see the divinity residing within his own heart. In this way, faith is the fruit or attainment of positive feelings and emotions, which not only join one with the divinity of the inner self, but also ensure that one is never separated from this divinity residing within. Faith is a mobile phone. It always keeps one in touch with the person one loves.