People suffer because of their desires, for there is no end to desires and they will never be fulfilled. Desires are like the waves of the ocean which arise incessantly, one after another. When suffering becomes unbearable and there is no way out, people turn to God. Intense faith develops and then the crisis slowly goes away. But it is when one is in the middle of the crisis that one should transform one’s entire life totally. When a situation occurs in which God is experienced as the helper, then and there the aspirant should transform his life and give it a totally new direction. He should leave everything, surrender everything to God, and tread the path to God. Many people experience their prayers being answered, but still they do not see the depth of their own faith. To develop faith, in the beginning effort is necessary. One has to keep one’s inner awareness of faith awake continuously, whether talking, meeting, arguing or explaining something to someone. If this objective is forgotten a few times in the beginning, there should be no frustration. The effort must be persistent. One must try to understand what one is doing.
In order to keep the spiritual awareness awake, one must be forever alert, optimistic and self-assured. One should have faith in the name and power of one’s ishta, chosen deity. One must have confidence and conviction in the reality of one’s inner essence; only then will this spiritual power work. However, it is quite certain that in the beginning a determined effort must be made. One must be full of determination. “It must and it shall happen!” should be the mantra.
When one takes the path of the spirit, that other element begins to rouse. One should now refer to that other element and not look upon oneself as a physical body. What is there in the world that one cannot accomplish? One should let go of doubts, let go of the intellectual question, “What if it does not happen?” Instead revel in the greatness that exists within. Each form of behaviour, each principle, each habit that under mines one’s faith should be carefully extracted and removed. One should change one’s manner of speaking, ambitions, language and view point. One should change one’s self-created convictions and thoughts. Only then will the power of faith be seen manifesting in the depths of one’s life.
Any individual who searches for Him with love finds the jewel. Firm faith in God is the re ward of all spiritual effort. Whether one practises asana, pranayama, kundalini yoga, raja yoga or re birthing, the re ward has to be faith. However, nobody has ever acquired the jewel of faith without the help of saints. No matter what sadhana one does, ultimately one has to come to a saint. Who so ever bears this in mind and communes with the good, finds devotion to God an easy attainment. It is the saints who bring this wisdom to the world.
In order to protect faith, to increase and experience it more fully and intimately, the relationship between God and devotee, or guru and disciple, comes first. This relationship is a matter of total faith, living faith. One has to believe in the same way one believes in one’s mother. How does one know that one’s mother is really one’s mother? Through faith. There has to be the same faith in God and guru.