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अद्वैत बोध शिविर - अवलोकन सत्र 2 || आचार्य प्रशांत (2014)
2.7K views
5 years ago
Faith
Surrender
Objectless Faith
Judgment
Self-Knowledge
Kabir Saheb
Uncertainty
Action
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that both doubt and trust are directed towards an object. Similarly, as long as faith has an object, it is bound to fluctuate. Absolute faith is objectless. Even if you say you have faith in God, it is still an object-bound faith, which is just another form of trust that will increase or decrease. This kind of faith is not absolute. The speaker quotes Kabir Saheb, stating that the love of the wise (Sujan) continuously grows, while the love of the ignorant (Ajan) diminishes. This applies to faith as well; faith in an object, like an idol, will vary with experiences. For instance, people might say their faith in God increased after a particular incident, which means their faith is conditional and can also decrease. Responding to a question about complete surrender, Acharya Prashant advises against discussing 'complete' surrender when even a little surrender is not present. He defines surrender as being at ease with what is happening. For example, if it rains during a session, surrender is not about dramatically accepting the rain but simply moving indoors without complaining. It is not about being passive; if you get wet, you change your clothes when the opportunity arises. Surrender means not complaining about the situation. The speaker then connects this to knowing what is truly good for oneself. We often don't know what is genuinely beneficial for us. He gives the example of parents who, with the intention of doing good for their children, end up harming them because their understanding of 'good' is based on their own limited self-identity, such as seeing themselves only as ambitious beings. True well-being can only be understood through self-knowledge. Further, the speaker addresses the tendency to quickly judge people. He explains that not judging means having the courage to remain in uncertainty about a person. A fearful mind seeks certainty and rushes to label people. The phrase "don't be judgmental" is often used as an excuse by those who are aware of their wrongdoings to avoid facing the facts. Stating an obvious fact, like someone being afraid in a particular moment, is not a judgment. A judgment is when you create a permanent label based on a temporary state. The speaker advises to simply know what is happening without the need to label it. He concludes by saying that all our problems stem from one root: distance from the Truth.