Story 17 - Wonders of True Faith

At one time a great Pandit, a great sage was reading out the sacred texts to some people. It so happened that the village milk-maids passed by the Pandit or sage who was reading out the sacred texts to the people. The maids heard from the lips of the sage these words, "The sacred name of God, the Holy Being, is the great ship which makes us cross the ocean, as if the ocean were simply a small pool." Nothing at all. A statement of that kind they heard. These maids took that statement literally. They put implicit faith in that saying. They had to cross the river every day to sell their milk. Milk-maids they were. They reflected in their minds. It is a sacred text, it cannot be wrong, it must be right. They said, "Why should we give a four anna piece to the boat-man every day? Why not cross the river by taking the holy name of God and chanting OM? Why should we pay four annas every day?" Their faith was strong as adamant. The next day they came and simply chanted OM, paid nothing to the boat-man, they began to wade the river, they crossed the river and were not drowned. Day after day they began to cross the river, they paid no money to the boatman. After about a month or so they felt very grateful to the teacher who had recited the texts which saved their annas, saved their money. They asked the sage to be kind enough to dine at their house. Well, the request was granted the sage had to go to their house on the appointed day. One of those maids came to fetch him. While this maid was conducting the sage to their village, they came to the river, and there in a trice the maid went up to the opposite shore and the sage remained on the other bank, could not follow her. In a short while the maid came back and asked the reason of his delay. He said that he was waiting for the boatman. The boatman ought to take him to the opposite shore. The maid replied "Sir, we are so thankful to you. You have been so kind as to save us full one rupee, and not only this one rupee but all our lifelong we shall spend no money to pay the boatman. Why don't you yourself save the money and come to the opposite bank with us? We go to the opposite bank uninjured, unharmed through your advice and teaching. You yourself also can go to the opposite shore." The sage asked what piece of advice was it that saved their money. The maid reminded him of the text he once gave. That God's name was a ship that carried us across the ocean of this world. He said, alright, alright, he too must practise it. There were other companions. There was a long, long rope. He fastened that rope to his waist and asked companions to keep the remaining part of the rope to themselves, and said he would jump into the river, he would launch into the river and take the name of God and would venture to cross the river on faith, but if they felt that he was being drowned, they should draw him back. The sage jumped into the river, went on for a few steps and was found to be drowning. They drew him out. So just mark. The kind of faith, that Pandit had, this faith which gives credence to it, this is not the saving principle. This is the crookedness in your hearts. When you begin to chant OM or when you begin to take the name of God, and say "I am health, health, health," there in your heart of hearts you tremble, in your heart of hearts you have that little quaking, quivering "I". "If" I sink, draw me out, you have that small faltering "if" in your mind, there is no conviction on faith. This is a fact that all differences, all the circumstances in this world are my creation, my doing, nothing else. You are the Divinity, the Lord of lords you are; feel that. Realize in this moment.

MORAL: Faith full of conviction and devoid of the least doubt is true faith and works wonders.

Vol. 2 (123-125)