Firm Faith - an essential subject: Difference between revisions

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INTRODUCTION TEXT TO BE WRITTEN
Whenever we believe in a cause or have faith in it, we do our best to help move it forward. This is much more so if we have strong faith in it. Progressing spiritually is not an easy journey and as like anything else, to be able to achieve success in this, we need to have strong faith in the scriptures, in a bona fide spiritual master and in the Supreme Lord. Conviction and firm faith will gradually elevate us to the stage of becoming first-class devotees (also known as an uttama-adhikari).


Srila Prabhupada's books, lectures, conversations and letters offer a comprehensive presentation of this essential subject as seen in the Vaniquotes '''[[Vaniquotes:Category:Firm Faith|Firm Faith]]''' category. An introduction from his books is given below in the following NUMBER quotes.  
Srila Prabhupada's books, lectures, conversations and letters offer a comprehensive presentation of this essential subject as seen in the Vaniquotes '''[[Vaniquotes:Category:Firm Faith|Firm Faith]]''' category. An introduction from his books is given below in the following 8 quotes.  
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== Quotes from Srila Prabhupada's books ==  
== Quotes from Srila Prabhupada's books ==  


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{{VaniQuotebox|VANIQUOTESPAGETITLE|QUOTESEENBYTHEREADER. '''(REFERENCE)'''}}  
{{VaniQuotebox|A neophyte may fall down by associating with nondevotees because he is not firmly convinced and strongly situated|A neophyte may fall down by associating with nondevotees because he is not firmly convinced and strongly situated. The second-class devotee, even though he cannot support his position with śāstric reference, can gradually become a first-class devotee by studying the śāstras and associating with a first-class devotee. However, if the second-class devotee does not advance himself by associating with a first-class devotee, he makes no progress. There is no possibility that a first-class devotee will fall down, even though he may mix with nondevotees to preach. '''(Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.71)'''}}  


{{VaniQuotebox|VANIQUOTESPAGETITLE|QUOTESEENBYTHEREADER. '''(REFERENCE)'''}}  
{{VaniQuotebox|A person who has attained firm faith is a real candidate for advancing in Krsna consciousness|A person who has attained firm faith is a real candidate for advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. According to the faith, there are first-class, second-class and neophyte devotees. One who has preliminary faith is called a kaniṣṭha-adhikārī, or a neophyte. The neophyte, however, can become an advanced devotee if he strictly follows the regulative principles set down by the spiritual master. '''(Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.106)'''}}  


{{VaniQuotebox|VANIQUOTESPAGETITLE|QUOTESEENBYTHEREADER. '''(REFERENCE)'''}}  
{{VaniQuotebox|A pure devotee who has firm faith in the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is to be considered a most learned scholar, the topmost aristocrat and the richest man in the whole world|A pure devotee who has firm faith in the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is to be considered a most learned scholar, the topmost aristocrat and the richest man in the whole world. All godly qualities automatically exist in such a devotee. In the preaching work of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, we, as the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, fully believe in the words of Kṛṣṇa and His servants, the disciplic succession (CC Madhya 13.80). In this way we are presenting the words of Kṛṣṇa throughout the world. '''(Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 5.76)'''}}  


{{VaniQuotebox|VANIQUOTESPAGETITLE|QUOTESEENBYTHEREADER. '''(REFERENCE)'''}}  
{{VaniQuotebox|By rendering transcendental loving service to Krsna, one automatically performs all subsidiary activities. This confident, firm faith, favorable to the discharge of devotional service, is called sraddha|Śraddhā, or faith, is the first prerequisite in spiritual life and is described as synonymous with neophyte devotion. Thus Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (CC Madhya 22.62) says; By rendering transcendental loving service to Kṛṣṇa, one automatically performs all subsidiary activities. This confident, firm faith, favorable to the discharge of devotional service, is called śraddhā. '''(Renunciation Through Wisdom, Chapter 1)'''}}  


{{VaniQuotebox|VANIQUOTESPAGETITLE|QUOTESEENBYTHEREADER. '''(REFERENCE)'''}}  
{{VaniQuotebox|As the Vedas are eternal, so this truth of Krsna consciousness is also eternal. One should have firm faith in this injunction, without envying the Lord|The injunction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is the essence of all Vedic wisdom and therefore is eternally true without exception. As the Vedas are eternal, so this truth of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is also eternal. One should have firm faith in this injunction, without envying the Lord. There are many philosophers who write comments on the Bhagavad-gītā but have no faith in Kṛṣṇa. They will never be liberated from the bondage of fruitive action. '''(Bhagavad-gītā 3.31)'''}}  


{{VaniQuotebox|VANIQUOTESPAGETITLE|QUOTESEENBYTHEREADER. '''(REFERENCE)'''}}  
{{VaniQuotebox|One who has firm faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes fixed, and his attraction for association with the Lord and the devotees increases. Association with devotees means association with the Lord|One who has firm faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes fixed, and his attraction for association with the Lord and the devotees increases. Association with devotees means association with the Lord. The devotee who makes this association develops the consciousness for rendering service to the Lord, and then, being situated in the transcendental position of devotional service, he gradually becomes perfect. '''(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.25.25)'''}}  


{{VaniQuotebox|VANIQUOTESPAGETITLE|QUOTESEENBYTHEREADER. '''(REFERENCE)'''}}  
{{VaniQuotebox|We should have firm faith that the Lord is supreme and that if we surrender to Him, He will take charge of us and indicate how we can get out of material life and return home, back to Godhead|We should have firm faith that the Lord is supreme and that if we surrender to Him, He will take charge of us and indicate how we can get out of material life and return home, back to Godhead. Without such surrender, one is obliged to accept a certain type of body according to his karma, sometimes as an animal, sometimes a demigod and so on. '''(Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.2.41)'''}}  


{{VaniQuotebox|VANIQUOTESPAGETITLE|QUOTESEENBYTHEREADER. '''(REFERENCE)'''}}  
{{VaniQuotebox|By advancing in hearing and chanting, a devotee becomes more firmly fixed in his faith, and gradually his initial faith develops into a taste for devotional service, and that taste gradually develops into attachment|By advancing in hearing and chanting, a devotee becomes more firmly fixed in his faith, and gradually his initial faith develops into a taste for devotional service, and that taste gradually develops into attachment. When attachment becomes pure, it exhibits the two characteristics of bhāva and rati. When rati increases, it is called love of Godhead, and love of Godhead is the ultimate goal of human life. '''(Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 13)'''}}  
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Latest revision as of 16:22, 22 November 2020

Whenever we believe in a cause or have faith in it, we do our best to help move it forward. This is much more so if we have strong faith in it. Progressing spiritually is not an easy journey and as like anything else, to be able to achieve success in this, we need to have strong faith in the scriptures, in a bona fide spiritual master and in the Supreme Lord. Conviction and firm faith will gradually elevate us to the stage of becoming first-class devotees (also known as an uttama-adhikari).

Srila Prabhupada's books, lectures, conversations and letters offer a comprehensive presentation of this essential subject as seen in the Vaniquotes Firm Faith category. An introduction from his books is given below in the following 8 quotes.

Quotes from Srila Prabhupada's books


vanipedia.org 		A neophyte may fall down by associating with nondevotees because he is not firmly convinced and strongly situated. The second-class devotee, even though he cannot support his position with śāstric reference, can gradually become a first-class devotee by studying the śāstras and associating with a first-class devotee. However, if the second-class devotee does not advance himself by associating with a first-class devotee, he makes no progress. There is no possibility that a first-class devotee will fall down, even though he may mix with nondevotees to preach. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 22.71)



vanipedia.org 		A person who has attained firm faith is a real candidate for advancing in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. According to the faith, there are first-class, second-class and neophyte devotees. One who has preliminary faith is called a kaniṣṭha-adhikārī, or a neophyte. The neophyte, however, can become an advanced devotee if he strictly follows the regulative principles set down by the spiritual master. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 15.106)



vanipedia.org 		A pure devotee who has firm faith in the words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is to be considered a most learned scholar, the topmost aristocrat and the richest man in the whole world. All godly qualities automatically exist in such a devotee. In the preaching work of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, we, as the servant of the servant of the servant of the servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, fully believe in the words of Kṛṣṇa and His servants, the disciplic succession (CC Madhya 13.80). In this way we are presenting the words of Kṛṣṇa throughout the world. (Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 5.76)



vanipedia.org 		Śraddhā, or faith, is the first prerequisite in spiritual life and is described as synonymous with neophyte devotion. Thus Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta (CC Madhya 22.62) says; By rendering transcendental loving service to Kṛṣṇa, one automatically performs all subsidiary activities. This confident, firm faith, favorable to the discharge of devotional service, is called śraddhā. (Renunciation Through Wisdom, Chapter 1)



vanipedia.org 		The injunction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, is the essence of all Vedic wisdom and therefore is eternally true without exception. As the Vedas are eternal, so this truth of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is also eternal. One should have firm faith in this injunction, without envying the Lord. There are many philosophers who write comments on the Bhagavad-gītā but have no faith in Kṛṣṇa. They will never be liberated from the bondage of fruitive action. (Bhagavad-gītā 3.31)



vanipedia.org 		One who has firm faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes fixed, and his attraction for association with the Lord and the devotees increases. Association with devotees means association with the Lord. The devotee who makes this association develops the consciousness for rendering service to the Lord, and then, being situated in the transcendental position of devotional service, he gradually becomes perfect. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.25.25)



vanipedia.org 		We should have firm faith that the Lord is supreme and that if we surrender to Him, He will take charge of us and indicate how we can get out of material life and return home, back to Godhead. Without such surrender, one is obliged to accept a certain type of body according to his karma, sometimes as an animal, sometimes a demigod and so on. (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.2.41)



vanipedia.org 		By advancing in hearing and chanting, a devotee becomes more firmly fixed in his faith, and gradually his initial faith develops into a taste for devotional service, and that taste gradually develops into attachment. When attachment becomes pure, it exhibits the two characteristics of bhāva and rati. When rati increases, it is called love of Godhead, and love of Godhead is the ultimate goal of human life. (Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Chapter 13)


Firm Faith - explore more within this category.

Vanipedia has now over 903 introductory articles compiled from Srila Prabhupada's books under the series titled Essential Subjects. All these articles can be seen in the Table of Content on the right side of this article and also here in this Umbrella Category. Browse through them to relish the breadth and depth of Srila Prabhupada's teachings - There is a subject for everyone.


   
 

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