Faith vs. Trust

3        Faith vs. Trust

The heart sometimes opens like a lotus flower... and it is tremendously beautiful when it opens. But the heart can only be opened,  when we feel love or we have true faith.

Often faith is confused with trust but it is not.

Faith is a strong religious belief that there is GOD and He helps. In faith there is no scope for doubt. If there is doubt there is no faith. Faith and doubt cannot stay together.

Trust is a normal belief which we have on humans (not on God) that he/she will do or perform as we expect. Trust is very fragile (weak). It is broken easily. Trust and doubt stay together. If we have trust on somebody,soon we will have doubt on him or her. 

We should have faith on GOD. We should not have trust on GOD. Trust happens in mind. Doubts also happen in mind. Doubts do no happen in heart. Faith happens in heart. GOD lives in heart. To acquire help from GOD we should have faith in HIM; trust is not required to get help from HIM.  

To survive in this economic word or to deal with people, we need to trust others. However, The trust will be broken sooner or later. Man is not wrong, his circumstances force him to act wrong. So many people cheat us in this life. this forces us to doubt on every relations and relatives.

Doubt is not always wrong. Doubt may be perfectly right. They are must to survive in this world. If we do not doubt, we will have to face many cheating s. 

For example, we are hiring a stranger as home servant. we should have doubt,  whether he is a thief or not; unreliable or reliable. Is it okay to keep this man in the house?

Since we have become accustomed (habitual) to doubt, we show doubt even on the presence of GOD. Even if we come face to face with God, we will continue doubting, if we are meeting a man or GOD.

Doubt separates. Faith unites. Faith unites our small power with the infinite power of God. And when we are united, the heart flows well, in a rhythm indicating that either my trouble is already over or will be over soon. A heart full of faith does not receive heart attack. It blooms like flower. A heart full of trust may receive heart attack.

Faith should be blind. Faith should be unconditional. Then only we can access to infinite power. Faith is password to unlock infinite power.  Trust is an investment on human, faith is an investment on GOD.

Powerful and vital Faith depends on belief. Stronger the belief stronger the faith becomes. Belief can be stronger if doubts are kept to all worldly affairs and not on the Godly affairs.

Two men fell from a plane 4000 feet above the earth. Both of them were dead scared. Gravity of the earth was dragging them. They were falling down with a speed.  Both of them were very religious persons. They used to spent lot of time in the worship of their GOD.

They used to follow all religious doctrines and used to donate often to poor people on religious ceremonies. One of them was a Muslim and other was a Hindu.

The Muslim was praying consistently, “Allah, please save me; Allah, please save me”.  Hindu was devotee of Lord Shiva. He was also praying with folded hands “Lord Shankar, please save me; Lord Shankar, please save me”.

When they were down to 3000 feet, still in sky and falling, their fear grew.  Muslim kept on praying “Allah please save me, Allah please save me”  but  Hindu became more nervous and terrified.  Many doubts gripped his mind.  He was praying but his mind was caught in doubts.  He anticipated that lord Shiva might not come for his help.  So, He decided to change his prayer. He was also devotee of Maa Durga.  He started praying “Maa Durga, please save me, Maa Durga, please save me”.

When they were down to 2000 feet, still in sky and falling, their fear grew into panic. Still Muslim kept on praying “Allah please save me,  Allah please save me”  but  Hindu became more nervous and more terrified.  His mind which was full of doubts forced him to change his prayer once again.  This time he used a new logic that Lord Hnuman is more popular as a rescuer so he started praying “Lord Hnuman,  please save me,  Lord Hnuman, please save me”.

When they were down to 1000 feet, still in sky and falling, their panic grew further. Death appeared almost certain to them.  Still Muslim kept on praying “Allah please save me, Allah please save me” but Hindu became more desperate and more terrified.  His doubt full mind offered him another logic. He noticed that Muslim was consistently requesting Lord Allah. He thought Lord Allah might be better choice.

Consequently he changed his prayer once again. He started praying “Allah please save me, Allah please save me”

Muslim went into oblivion still believing that Allah would save him where as Hindu was still struggling with his beliefs. The Muslim was saved by the grace of the Lord but Hindu could not be. He died.

Hindu was taken to the court of justice to decide his place in the heaven or hell.  He was very annoyed with Lord Shiva, Maa Durga, Lord Hnuman, and Lord Allah.  He requested to meet them before the decision of  his place in the heaven or the hell.

He was taken to them. He saw lord Shiva and tears came to his eyes. With folded hands he cried out. Lord Shiva I devoted my whole life in your worship, I had complete faith on to you. I requested you to please save me and still I am dead. Why this partiality to me?

Lord Shiva smiled in compassion. He spoke in consoling tone. My son I agree you have worshiped me your whole life. I am happy to have a devotee like you. When I heard your pray to save you, I decided to save you. When I was coming to you and was in the way I heard your words. You started requesting Durga Ji. I had No choice but to go back and help others who had stronger faith on me. Listen son, same happened with Durga Ji,  she ran to save you but once she heard you were no more requesting her,  she went back. Then, Hnuman ji ran as you were requesting HIM. But you are you; before he could reach to you, you made you call to Lord Allah. Hnuman ji also had no choice but to come back. Finally Lord Allah ran towards you. But before He could reach you, you collided with the earth and you died. You are a good soul and a good devotee. We all wanted to save you. But your shifting Faith is responsible for everything.  No partiality has been done to you. The other man was saved because he kept his Faith intact.

This is the secret. Faith is a faith; it should not be treated as trust. If faith is converted into trust we are bound to be deceived. we will not get desirable help from GOD.

To be continued.....

COMPOSED BY   PATHAK SIR  @pathaksirbst ( at twitter) OR  avnishpathak18@gmail.com

Being Grateful

  1          Being Grateful

We are grateful for things that have been done positively in our favor. We feel grateful that somebody helped us.

Interestingly, we even feel grateful for things which could have been done negatively. We feel grateful that somebody has not harmed us; he could have; it was so kind of him.

Feeling grateful is actually a rare event. Often we say that we are grateful yet most of the times we say so as a formality. Often we say these words to please someone but we do not mean it. Feeling grateful at heart is actually a rare event.

Common belief is that feeling grateful is just a way to thanks to someone and it makes others happy. There is another secret which only a few knows. It also does good to the person who feels grateful to others from his heart.

The more grateful we are, the less complaining and grumbling we become. It is a fact. Try it. Complaining and grumbling eat no one but us. Complaining and grumbling at time is must and is unavoidable. They should be done if no choice has been left and when other measures have been failed. But Complaining and grumbling as routine or as habit brings misery. We have everything and still we are not happy with others and others are not happy with us. This is misery.

The trick is to stop Complaining and grumbling as much as possible; once in a few months; fine.

Misery exists with complaints. It is hooked with complaints and with the complaining mind. We think nothing else. At times we even do not like food. It ruins our joy opportunities.

Once complaining habit disappears, misery will disappear.  If misery disappears, joy will appear. But it is not easy. Adopting habit of complaining is easy. It comes naturally. It is a gift of living in a society. Political minds are masters of it. But letting go habit of complaining is not easy. We always have reasons to complain. However, we have to over look these reasons if not always than most of the times.

 What should we do then?

 We should develop the feeling of gratitude in us and allow it to sink deeply within us. We have to concentrate on small things where others helped us. We should be grateful for even the tiniest help we receive from who so ever. We have to ignore where they did not, though they could have. We should not only have feeling of gratitude we should express it to the person who helped; irrespective of the quantity or quality of help.

 This brings some joy to the other person as well. He feels a sense of achievement. There is possibility that in the future he may help others. Now the equation is complete. Someone helped us in something. We, by feeling and expressing gratitude, brought some joy to him.

As a result and in return, immediately, we start feeling much happy. If we feel more, happy, we feel less in conflict, more harmonious, together. Our conscious and subconscious minds work in unity.

 If we feel together, more harmonious, suddenly we feel a certain grace surrounding us. These things function like a chain reaction: one starts the other, the other starts another, and they go on spreading.

Once, ten lepers came to Jesus Christ. They had heard that Christ had great healing powers. They all requested him to cure them. HE was their last hope. They were pleading HIM with tears in eyes. They were tired of the suffering they were facing. They were living a very miserable life. They were deserted even by their families. No one would give them job because of their disease. For food they were dependent on begging; even then they would have to sleep without food many times. They were often chased away or stoned with an allegation that they might spread the disease. They had come to Jesus Christ with huge expectations. It was afternoon by now. Jesus Christ used his heeling power one by one on them. All of them felt warmth and light and as if some power has passed through them. It was a moment when there was peace, joy, and a sense of release. It was a sudden experience. When it was over they knew that the healing has occurred.

When Christ opened his eyes he noticed that only one of them was stood there to thank Him. He looked towards his disciples in surprise and asked: "Where are the other nine?" they had all run away. Disappeared without thanks!

What did Jesus do then, did HE get annoyed, or did HE do complaining and grumbling? He just smiled and got busy in others. Jesus is God. He immediately forgave their behavior of ingratitude and HE did not stop helping others. But what would be the reaction of a human in this condition if he would have healed them. He would have been full of rage. He would be hurt by their ingratitude. He would never help others for free. Have we become so poor that we cannot say thanks to someone who has helped us? Are we so week that we cannot hold a feeling of gratitude towards someone who has changed our life positively?

To be continued.....

COMPOSED BY   PATHAK SIR  @pathaksirbst ( at twitter) OR  avnishpathak18@gmail.com

Fear of 'Better'

2         Fear of Better

Children are very- very receptive. They learn new style gladly. They adjust with the circumstances as the water of the river adjusts with its terrain.

We cannot say the same thing about grownups. As we grow older we become rigid towards adopting new style, technique or habit. Then a time comes when we stick to old experiences and refuse to change. This stage normally comes when we are 50+.

It is because our experience acts as a resistance.

For some people experience becomes stepping stone of next success and for some it becomes a source of fear.

The very fear will not allow us to investigate new lifestyles, new channelization of energy, new directions, new lands; it will not allow us.

A woman was very active and agile in her youth. When she became 60+ her body had lot of stiffness in every limb. Her body had become a permanent home of many pains and diseases. Most part of her income was going in medical tests, medicines and to the doctors.

Most of the times, she would just sit or lie on the bed. A wise man suggested her to move her body around. If yoga or other forms of exercise is not possible then do some household work.

She refused. The reason she gave is very interesting. She said,” I have any how acquired a balance, if I do any physical work I fear my balance will go; I would suffer much.”

Fear is like the weeds in the garden. One has to go on continuously pulling them up and throwing them away, otherwise they tend to overrun the whole garden. If we allow the weeds, sooner or later roses will disappear, flowers will disappear and there will be weeds all over the garden.

The fear had robbed the woman of her money and pleasure. If she would allow some changes she would definitely be better than what she was. She let her fear to stop becoming better.

To get rid of fear of change, accept small change. If result is better, proceed; otherwise bring some other kind of change.  Never allow any amount of stagnancy. If fear is less, make it even lesser.

 Soon weeds will be out and roses will bloom again.

To be continued.....

COMPOSED BY   PATHAK SIR  @pathaksirbst ( at twitter) OR  avnishpathak18@gmail.com