Question & Answer sessions with HH Sri Datta Vijayananda Teertha Swamiji – 2015
Faith in Sadguru is not Blind Belief
Question :
If a non-believer says my belief in Sadguru is blind, and that any belief must be based on scientifically proven facts, should I try to convince that person by expressing my feelings for my Guru, and explain His true nature? Or, should I keep quiet, assuming that no argument will satisfy such persons?
Answer :
A cultured person will be receptive, but one lacking spiritual merit will not. It is not good not to give any information at all. One should always praise Guru and describe His glories. But do not expect to convince others by force.
Ours is not blind belief. Some experiences mentioned in the Guru Gita, we have experienced. We consider Sadguru as God and as Lord Dattatreya.
What is total devotion? The moment we see Him, we feel peace, happiness wells up, anxieties vanish, we forget troubles, hair stands on end and we shed tears of joy involuntarily. When these experiences occur, how can it be called blind belief? It certainly is not. This is complete faith. We must acknowledge our own faith. Since we have benefited by our association with Sadguru, we wish others also to gain. Those who believe our words will do so. Don’t be concerned about those who disbelieve. Do not reduce your involvement with Guru to please such people.
“Someone somewhere will be born, someone will come who will think like me, understand me, trust me, and realize who I am. I will keep teaching. Those who listen, will learn. I am unconcerned about those who reject my words. I neither rejoice about those who come, nor regret about those who leave. If you come, you gain.” This was written in the great scripture.
No need to argue with non-believers. In the Guru Gita, an instruction is given. If anyone verbally abuses Guru, make them shut up, or leave their association. Without allowing your own devotion to get diminished, try to inculcate devotion in others. That is true piety. Without losing faith, continue spiritual practice. That is true loyalty towards Guru. If we can practice this attitude, that is sufficient. We will get closer to Sadguru.
Leave the rest to Him. He knows how to handle. It seems Appaji told Mr. Narayana Rao, “One Jaya Guru Datta for those who are present, and ten Jaya Guru Dattas for those who are absent.” This is good to remember. Say Jaya Guru Datta to those who are present. For those who are absent, chant ten times Jaya Guru Datta. Then you will be happy.
There is no scale to measure total faith. Who can measure a person’s level of faith? It is a matter of personal experience. You saw a stone. You saw God’s presence in that stone. That is your faith. Then you follow. You cannot convince others. A launderer in Maharashtra called Bhallala, saw Ganapati in the rock he used for washing clothes. Since then he stopped washing clothes. He applied sandal paste to the rock and began worshiping it. At first, everyone ridiculed and persecuted him. But he did not try to convince others. Later, strangely, many people saw the figure of Ganapati in that rock. Today from the world over people are thronging to see it. When your faith is strong, there is no need to convince others. Others will come on their own. If they don’t, it does not matter. Such faith is endorsed by the scriptures.
Is it scientific for a washerman to see Ganapati in a rock? Why not? The Rudra Mantra addresses Lord Siva as sand, river, ocean, soil, sand dunes, and rocks. Prostrations are offered to the Lord in all His forms in the Universe. Since Rudra Upanishad declares it, it is certainly scientific. The belief must be total, but not blind.
Jaya Guru Datta
Sri Guru Datta