Knowledge is Based on Faith
Tue, 01/29/2008 - 20:38 — admin
TEACHER: Of course, faith must be there. But that is not very solid ground for criticism. Receiving knowledge through any channel is an act of faith. When you read a book and accept its conclusion, or even a part of its conclusion, you do so because you have faith in the words of the author. Reason may also play a part, of course, in that you may first objectively weigh up what you’ve read and then come to accept it if it seems logical enough.
So regardless of what books one may read, shastric or otherwise, it is based on an act of faith. Faith is inherently neither good nor bad. It is the object of one’s faith that makes it such. Also, faith doesn’t have to be blind, as it often is. Faith built upon reason is solid and productive.
Faith in a teacher or figure of authority is also a process by which the materialists derive information; therefore, it is hypocritical of them to criticize the devotees for faith in guru or shastra.
Have you ever been to Hong Kong, Michael?
MICHAEL: No-I’ve never been outside the United States.
TEACHER: Then how do you know that Hong Kong or any other place outside the United States actually exists?
MICHAEL: I’ve read about Hong Kong in books and magazines, and I’ve also seen it on the map. Also, I have met several people who have been to Hong Kong. One of my classmates was born there.
TEACHER: In other words, your belief in the existence of Hong Kong is an act of faith. When someone tells you they have been to a place called Hong Kong, if you believe in what they say, you also believe in the existence of Hong Kong.
To criticize someone because they have faith in something they read or something they hear, as a criticism in itself, is not valid since these processes are universally accepted. It is not reading and hearing from authorities per se that should be criticized, but rather the type of authorities that one hears from and the type of books that he reads.
MICHAEL: Some philosophers have gone as far as saying that we can’t rely at all on this method; we can only rely on what we directly perceive.
TEACHER: Where have you gotten this information?
BRAHMA AND NARADA – BONAFIDE GURU, BONAFIDE DISCIPLEKnowledge is Based on Faith
Mystic yogis, by the practice of mystic or psychic powers, can do things that ordinary people consider very wonderful and miraculous. Such yogis then exploit the people, claiming that they are God Himself. And millions of foolish people believe such charlatans and blindly follow them. This is very unfortunate.
Science of Identity Foundation – Chris Butler Speaks
TEACHER: Of course, faith must be there. But that is not very solid ground for criticism. Receiving knowledge through any channel is an act of faith. When you read a book and accept its conclusion, or even a part of its conclusion, you do so because you have faith in the words of the author. Reason may also play a part, of course, in that you may first objectively weigh up what you’ve read and then come to accept it if it seems logical enough.
So regardless of what books one may read, shastric or otherwise, it is based on an act of faith. Faith is inherently neither good nor bad. It is the object of one’s faith that makes it such. Also, faith doesn’t have to be blind, as it often is. Faith built upon reason is solid and productive.
Faith in a teacher or figure of authority is also a process by which the materialists derive information; therefore, it is hypocritical of them to criticize the devotees for faith in guru or shastra.
Have you ever been to Hong Kong, Michael?
MICHAEL: No-I’ve never been outside the United States.
TEACHER: Then how do you know that Hong Kong or any other place outside the United States actually exists?
MICHAEL: I’ve read about Hong Kong in books and magazines, and I’ve also seen it on the map. Also, I have met several people who have been to Hong Kong. One of my classmates was born there.
TEACHER: In other words, your belief in the existence of Hong Kong is an act of faith. When someone tells you they have been to a place called Hong Kong, if you believe in what they say, you also believe in the existence of Hong Kong.
To criticize someone because they have faith in something they read or something they hear, as a criticism in itself, is not valid since these processes are universally accepted. It is not reading and hearing from authorities per se that should be criticized, but rather the type of authorities that one hears from and the type of books that he reads.
MICHAEL: Some philosophers have gone as far as saying that we can’t rely at all on this method; we can only rely on what we directly perceive.
TEACHER: Where have you gotten this information?