FAITH MUST BE LIVING

[Ms Tercy Lonan]

89. FAITH MUST BE LIVING
Worshipful homage unto that supreme, eternal, all-pervading Reality, the beginningless and
endless, cosmic Spirit Divine—that is within and without, above, below and all around us, and
which is interpenetrating every cell of our very being!

Do you feel Its presence in every cell of your very being? Do you feel Its presence with you
always—to your right and to your left, in front of you and behind, above, below and all around you,
surrounding everyone you see? Do you see every tree and plant surrounded by the divine presence
of God? Do you see every creature, large and small, that you encounter from morning till night
surrounded by this Divine Presence?
The Supreme Being shining with the splendour of a million suns is shining here and now
over each and every one of you. Do you feel yourself in this light? Are you living in this light? Are
you walking in this light? If not, what is your belief?
Are you literally trying to evoke this feeling, this bhava, within you? Are you trying to live
in the light of this truth, the fact that our ancients realised—their living experience—in their own
deep inner lives and then proclaimed to others. Namostv-anantaya sahasra-murtaye
sahasra-padakshi-siroru-bahave (Salutations to the Infinite Lord of a thousand forms, who has a
thousand feet, eyes, heads and hands).
What are these words to you? Are they only svadhyaya or do they have some vital, living
meaning for you—a meaning that enters into your very life every day, that is with you when you sit,
stand, eat, sleep, walk and talk, when you are alone or amidst a hundred people? Are you trying to
recapture, trying to actually relive the experience of your ancient sages and seers?
If you are not doing it, what value is your spiritual life? It is a dead spiritual life with no
living flame of aspiration to enter into that experience. If the sages entered into glorious realisation,
what is that to you and me? In what way does it make even one whit of a change in your present state
or my present state unless and until it is actively imbibed, actively made a part of our own
consciousness?
Yajnavalkya may be a liberated soul, but what does it mean to us if we are bound by our
senses, if we are bound by our desires, urges, cravings, sentiments, emotions, imaginations and
memories? If we are creatures dominated by our lesser self, then what does the presence of the
higher Self mean to us? What value does it have?
You may not disbelieve it, but your belief and faith is not a living faith. It is not a faith that
transforms your being. It is not a faith that urges your every movement; it does not infil your
day-to-day life. A living faith is what is necessary. A painted picture of a blazing fire may look
absolutely realistic, but it will not keep you warm; it cannot dry your clothes; it cannot even light an
incense stick. What is to be our spirituality? A living fire or a painted picture?
These are points to ponder. These are things you should deeply consider every day. What
exactly is the status of your spirituality? Is it a realistic painted picture or is it a real living fire that
can revive you, bring circulation once again to your numbed body?
Consider these things that we chant every day: “I salute You, the infinite One who has
countless innumerable forms.” “You are my all-in-all.” “He is present inside and outside.” What are
these innumerable forms you mention in your chanting? What is God to you? Is He nearer than the


nearest? To utter slokas and chants is very good. It evokes bhava. But to enter deeply into their
meaning and imbibe their spirit, make it part of your life, is better. It is the one thing needful.
You should absorb all that you chant. It should bring a new vision to your eyes, your gaze. It
should pervade in your own being as a force that grants you a divine bhava and divine vision. It
should be a living factor in your life. That is the purpose, the objective, of remembering and
chanting these sublime spiritual utterances day after day. That is the main purpose.
They must enter into your bones, into your every cell and begin to transform your life, be
part of your life, become a force to take your life onward, forward and Godward unto realisation and
liberation. They are meant for it. That is how you should relate yourself to these scriptural
injunctions that in so many ways declare unto us that all this universe is infilled with the Lord.
Do it now! Time does not wait. Life ebbs away. Move towards the terminal point. Past time
does not return. Realise this now and invest in the future by utilising the present to the highest use.