pilgrim
21-05-2008, 07:34 PM
Baradräj: So knowledge is not necessary for faith but faith is necessary for knowledge.
Prabhupäda: Yes. Therefore devotee, without any knowledge he becomes devotee. That faith, only faith. The devotee advances. Later on, they become automatically full of knowledge because they have strong faith. That is also stated in the Bhagavad-gitä. “Because he is faithful, therefore I help him how to get knowledge.” Again you come to that. Everything is there..
He shows me, “Prabhupäda, come this way.” So I have no faith. Why shall I go? Then I have stop here, finished, movement finished. So you have to keep faith blindly. And if the man who is giving direction, he is perfect, then your faith will make you advanced. But if you go to a rascal cheater and if you have faith, blind faith, then you are lost.
Paramahaàsa: Just like that little rock that I saw, that it’s from the moon. Now that is blind faith.
Prabhupäda: Yes, blind faith.
Paramahaàsa: In the wrong thing.
Bahuläçva: Socrates also, he was discussing epistemology, and he said that faith or belief is as good as knowledge for all practical purposes.
Prabhupäda: Yes. The same thing: the child has no knowledge, but he has faith in his parents, and he believes what his parents says. Then he is making progress.
Bahuläçva: This way.
Prabhupäda: I have faith in you. [break] Now, I give sometimes this example. Just like you go to a barber shop, and you put your neck like this, and he is with the razor. So unless you have faith, “No, he is good man. He will not cut my throat,” how can you do so? So faith is the beginning. If you have no... If you say, “No, I have no faith in you,” then you cannot be cleansed.
Baradräj: That example became very clear when we went to India. (Prabhupäda & devotees laugh) Because the barbers are so, they look like they could cut your throat.
Bahuläçva: You have to have a lot of faith.
Prabhupäda: He can do that, but you must have faith. Otherwise no shaving. So many... Suppose you are going to some unknown place. Now we are purchasing, paying two thousand dollars, ticket. But where is the guarantee that you will go there? You are paying first money, but there is no guarantee that you will go there. Then how do you get the ticket? How do you get on the plane unless, without faith? So faith, without faith you cannot move an inch. It must be there. [break] ...believe, “No, no, this ticket is issued by the Pan American. They are good company, and so many people are going. So I will go also.” That’s all. So faith. You never went there, neither you know whether it will be possible to go there. But still, you have to do. That is faith. [break]
Baradräj: The airplane may crash.
Prabhupäda: Yes, there are so many things. There is no guarantee that you will reach there. But still you have to purchase ticket. You have to get on the plane. That is faith.
Sudämä: And all the passengers have to have faith in the captain of the plane.
Prabhupäda: Whatever it may be, the faith must be there. Without faith, you cannot go.
Paramahaàsa: So actually that’s what scientific knowledge, at least the atheistic science, is based upon, that on one hand the theists believe in faith, that there is a Supreme. But the atheist believes that “Undoubtedly there cannot be because we have not seen one.”
Prabhupäda: That is their foolishness. The same example can be applied, that you have not gone there. How can I pay you? First of all let me go there. Then I shall pay,” he may say. But he will, “Get out. First of all pay. Then you come on.” (laughter) That’s it.
Prabhupäda: Yes. Therefore devotee, without any knowledge he becomes devotee. That faith, only faith. The devotee advances. Later on, they become automatically full of knowledge because they have strong faith. That is also stated in the Bhagavad-gitä. “Because he is faithful, therefore I help him how to get knowledge.” Again you come to that. Everything is there..
He shows me, “Prabhupäda, come this way.” So I have no faith. Why shall I go? Then I have stop here, finished, movement finished. So you have to keep faith blindly. And if the man who is giving direction, he is perfect, then your faith will make you advanced. But if you go to a rascal cheater and if you have faith, blind faith, then you are lost.
Paramahaàsa: Just like that little rock that I saw, that it’s from the moon. Now that is blind faith.
Prabhupäda: Yes, blind faith.
Paramahaàsa: In the wrong thing.
Bahuläçva: Socrates also, he was discussing epistemology, and he said that faith or belief is as good as knowledge for all practical purposes.
Prabhupäda: Yes. The same thing: the child has no knowledge, but he has faith in his parents, and he believes what his parents says. Then he is making progress.
Bahuläçva: This way.
Prabhupäda: I have faith in you. [break] Now, I give sometimes this example. Just like you go to a barber shop, and you put your neck like this, and he is with the razor. So unless you have faith, “No, he is good man. He will not cut my throat,” how can you do so? So faith is the beginning. If you have no... If you say, “No, I have no faith in you,” then you cannot be cleansed.
Baradräj: That example became very clear when we went to India. (Prabhupäda & devotees laugh) Because the barbers are so, they look like they could cut your throat.
Bahuläçva: You have to have a lot of faith.
Prabhupäda: He can do that, but you must have faith. Otherwise no shaving. So many... Suppose you are going to some unknown place. Now we are purchasing, paying two thousand dollars, ticket. But where is the guarantee that you will go there? You are paying first money, but there is no guarantee that you will go there. Then how do you get the ticket? How do you get on the plane unless, without faith? So faith, without faith you cannot move an inch. It must be there. [break] ...believe, “No, no, this ticket is issued by the Pan American. They are good company, and so many people are going. So I will go also.” That’s all. So faith. You never went there, neither you know whether it will be possible to go there. But still, you have to do. That is faith. [break]
Baradräj: The airplane may crash.
Prabhupäda: Yes, there are so many things. There is no guarantee that you will reach there. But still you have to purchase ticket. You have to get on the plane. That is faith.
Sudämä: And all the passengers have to have faith in the captain of the plane.
Prabhupäda: Whatever it may be, the faith must be there. Without faith, you cannot go.
Paramahaàsa: So actually that’s what scientific knowledge, at least the atheistic science, is based upon, that on one hand the theists believe in faith, that there is a Supreme. But the atheist believes that “Undoubtedly there cannot be because we have not seen one.”
Prabhupäda: That is their foolishness. The same example can be applied, that you have not gone there. How can I pay you? First of all let me go there. Then I shall pay,” he may say. But he will, “Get out. First of all pay. Then you come on.” (laughter) That’s it.