Hari
Om
Each 'Choose-day' we will investigate the process by
which we can reassess our activity and interaction with the world of plurality
and become more congruent within our personality.
We
are reading the small booklet called "Not
Too Loose, Not Too tight - Just right!" This is written by Swamini
Vimalananda, and gives a very general overview of Vedanta for the beginner,
with emphasis on the sattvic, rajasic and tamasic approaches to life. Remember,
we are a mixture of all; use this as your mirror.
श्रद्धा /shraddhaa - faith
Faith
is acceptance of the greatness or nobility of an ideal, cause, object or person,
based on intellectual conviction. Out of that acceptance arises love and
respect for the ideal or cause. Thoughts like "I believe that the
scriptures are the best guides to life and its problems", or "I am
sure the government will try its best for the people" are examples of an
expression of faith. Of course there is a good deal more than this involved,
but at the basic level it is the acknowledgement of an ideal and the
determination to see it through. Of
course, our internal make-up according to the gunas will 'colour' how our faith
manifests.
Sattvic; this faith arises out of a clear and
firm intellectual conviction and therefore is unswerving, total and strong.
When questioned or tested by oneself or others, it only deepens; not doggedly -
the sattvic intellect permits the adaptation according to increased knowledge
but it also ensures the basic value, provided it was accurate and well defined,
remains solid. Sattvic spiritual faith is capable of moving mountains, of
manifesting the Lord, of making one realise the Truth and achieve goals.
Rajasic; since this faith is not based on total
intellectual conviction but also from an emotional base, it is partial, vague,
inconclusive and doubt-ridden. Doubts destroy faith and make one fearful and
unhappy. Doubt, or unanswered questions and unsatisfied desires, leave us open to manipulation and
making false starts. The minute a doubt creeps in it will work away at our
being in the same way water in the ceiling, though hidden, will cause damage
and eventually much more than if the drip had been properly attended at first.
When doubt builds up and is not handled well, cynicism and anger take hold.
Tamasic; this faith is based on sentimental
belief, emotional upsurges and virtually no logic (if any). It is therefore
superstitious, rather than genuine faith...though to have faith in superstition
is still counted as faith; however tamasic faith is thus uninformed. It is based on 'following the crowd', or repeating words of others without having given intellectual application as to their voracity and meaning. There will be dogma and defensiveness,
fanaticism, small-mindedness and a refusal to listen or attempt to understand
intellectual arguments and logical postulations. Such faith is worn like a suit
of armour and any questioning of that faith is not permitted, for the 'wearer'
will be very fearful of letting it go. It may not even occur to such a person
that they are permitted to question their faith.
Know What You Believe; Do Not Simply Believe What You 'Know'!
Have a Strong Mind - Don't be Bloody-Minded!
