Today Swami explained the 39th shloka, 4th chapter; ‘shraddhavan labhate jnanam,’ one who has faith obtains Knowledge.’ This is a famous shloka. When our faith becomes so ingrained that it is spontaneous, then knowledge will shine from within. From shraddha comes wakefulness, from which Knowledge arises. Swami said that if we have true shraddha, then the Guru or scriptures are no longer needed. For example, in the scriptures, there is the story of Dattatreya. He took every creature to be his Guru; birds, animals, etc. This is the state of perfect shraddha; where we see the Guru everywhere.
If we lack this shraddha, we may fall from the spiritual path. But if our shraddha has become ingrained and spontaneous, we cannot fall from the path. Through lack of shraddha, we are unable to distinguish between right and wrong. That is what
happened to Arjuna. If one has true shraddha, then one will be able to know one’s inherent duty, without any external means.
Also, even in an ashram, one’s shraddha may not be complete. Some say, ‘let the Guru save me.’ When they experience a fall, they say it is the Guru’s fault. Otherwise, after some time, they are unsatisfied with their progress, so they think, ‘let me go to another Guru. Then I will get progress.’ All of this is lack
of shraddha. In this shloka, the Lord says three qualities; shraddha, or faith; tatpara, or spiritual inquisitiveness; and jitendriya, control over the
senses. Through these three, the sadhak attains param shantim, supreme Peace.
21, October, 2006
Piyush, USA