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Chapter 17
A Vital Fact
A man is inclined towards the world by regarding it, as true, while he is inclined towards God, by having faith in Him. Without faith a man, cannot progress in the spiritual sphere, whether he follows the discipline of action, of knowledge or of devotion.
Faith, occupies an important place in a man's life. As a man's faith is, so is he[1]. He may not be so today, but in the course of time, he will become so.
Today, it is difficult for a striver, to recognize his natural faith, because there are innumerable sects and religions. Having read and heard, different opinions and principles, he finds himself in a fix. He cannot decide, what his aim is, and what he should do. In such circumstances, he should give a serious thought, to his internal feelings which are untainted by any external influences, of association, of a preceptor or scriptures. Thus he comes to know, of his natural inclination or faith.
Every being, has an inclination to be free from all sorrows, and to attain eternal bliss. This inclination, is aroused in human beings, because of their past influences, present education, environment and heredity. They make their decisions, according to their inclination or nature. This resolution, decides their faith. Sattvika faith, leads to spirituality, while the tamasa and rajasa ones lead to the mundane world. So, the sattvika faith is spiritual, while the tamasa and the rajasa faiths, are mundane i.e., the sattvika faith is divine nature, while the tamasa and the rajasa faiths, imply demoniac nature. The seventeenth chapter, has been started in order to enable people to renounce demoniac nature, and to reveal divine nature. The reason, is that those who want to attain salvation, should renounce the demoniac nature and should acquire divine one.
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