Sraddha

The fifth among the virtues to be cultivated is Sraddha. Sraddha means unwavering faith in the sacred scriptures or sastras and in the moral codes they contain as well as in the Atma and the Guru. Faith is the sign of Sraddha. Gurus are worth worshipping. They show us the path of fulfilment, the Sreyomarga. The sastras are designed to ensure the peace and prosperity of the world and the spiritual perfection of mankind. They have before them this great aim. They show the way to its realisation. So, one must place faith in such holy sastras, Gurus, and elders. The Gurus, on their part, must instruct people only in the knowledge of the One Atma that is immanent in all Beings, [Sarva jivaat-maikya Jnana]. He who has Sraddha will achieve this Jnana. They must themselves have full faith in it and live according to that faith without the slightest deviation.