Faith

I was recently privy to a conversation about Faith and what the participants believed Faith was. Is Faith something we are told to have when we have no scientific means to back up our beliefs? Perhaps Faith is trusting in someone because that person has never led us astray? What happens however when we place so much faith in what others tell us we later find contradictions to what we were told?

Whether our religious background is Christian, Muslim, Buddhism, etc. we are taught to believe and have faith in whatever doctrines we are given. We are told that these doctrines hold the truth of our existence. However, we can find truth by sitting quietly and focusing on our breath. In doing so, we learn to listen to the truth within – without external stimuli. By letting go of outside chatter, we are able to experience the beauty of the wisdom that lies within.

If you are uncertain about having faith in yourself, try sitting quietly for a bit, focusing on only your breath. Then tell yourself something you know to be true; I love so and so, or my cat is adorable, or the world is round. Listen to your body and feel what your body’s response is to your statement. Perhaps you felt warm, or happy. Now tell yourself something you believe to be false and again listen to your body’s response. Maybe this time you felt uneasy, or tense. Finish by emptying your thoughts once again. Now imagine a beautiful white light filling your body full of love and compassion. In doing so, we inadvertently extend this love and compassion without.

There’s a Native American philosophy which states “As within, so without.” If we experience faith, truth, love and compassion within, we will certainly experience these without. And the only way to truly find faith is by going within and the answers will appear without.

May you find faith and goodness in all you do.

Namaste,
WS