Do Not Mix Faith and Knowledge

There are many kinds of faith.

Blind faith for one – which is the most powerful of all.

There was an illiterate farmer. He was having a chest pain. He went to a doctor. First time ever in his life, he is seeing a doctor. The doctor examined him, put the stethoscope to his chest, and said, I will have to do some tests. In the meantime, take these tablets. You will feel better.

The man said - but my pain is gone. The moment you put that thing on my chest, my pain is gone.

Look at this. He has never seen a doctor before. He doesn’t know what diagnosis is, what medicines are. He felt a pain in the chest. Another illiterate friend told him, go there, there will be one fellow there, he will touch your chest with a black tube and that’s it. He knows everything. He will make your pain go away.

It worked.

That’s blind faith.

Not having child, go to Garbha Rakshambika temple. You will get child. It works.

Blind faith.

Not having job, chant this Ganesha stotra – you will get job. It works.

But the moment you say – what is the meaning of that stotra, let me see what is in it which can get me a job – it won’t work.

Who is Garbha Rakshambika, what is her story, how can she cure PCOD, PCOS – no, it won’t work.

Or, you should have the tenacity and resources to get to the bottom of it and understand what is really there. Which most people don’t have and they get stuck in between.

The jijñāsu bhakta, as Gita puts it.

Acharya Vinoba Bhave narrates an incident from his childhood.

His grandfather was a very pious and devout person. Would sit and do puja for two to three hours every day. One day, as he was about to sit in puja, he started shivering. He had fever.

What would a normal person do? Skip puja, go to doctor, take medicine, take rest.

You know what Vinobaji’s dadaji did?

Went to the nearby pond, jumped into it, stayed in water for ten minutes. Came out normal and continued the puja.

Because Veda says –
'apo vishvasya bhesajis ta te krnvantu bhesajam'
Every medicine is in water. Every medicine derives its healing power from water. Water is the medicine for the world.

'apsu me somo abravid antar vishvani bhesaja'
In water, every healing herb – the power of every healing herb – is there.

'apohishta mayo bhuvah'
Water gives comfort.

'ta na oorje dadhatana'
Water gives energy.

'apsu va antaramritam apsu bhesajam'
Amrita is in water. Medicines are in water.

This is the power of faith that comes out of knowledge.

So, don’t get stuck in between. Either have blind faith, as in sharanagati – innocent blind faith.

Or see whether you have a sharp brain and the right resources. Then you can go for the other one.

Still, I would strongly recommend blind faith.

Ramaswamy Sastry and Vighnesh Ghanapaathi