Faith and Self Confidence
3 x OMs
“So Ham” Meditation to Calm the Mind | In the Voice of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba
Self Confidence – Small s and Big S and Practice
(Start with Self Confidence – 55:57 and end with Practice on this video – 1:00:31)
Discussion questions
- From a spiritual point of view, what am I confident about?
- Is my child more confident than me ? What are your observations that lead you to your conclusion?
- Is there room to grow my confidence? If yes, how should I develop it?
- Is Spiritual progress possible without self–confidence?
- Can we have confidence in God without confidence in ourselves?
- How did your faith in God evolve?
- Does faith conflict with reason?
- Why do Avatars not change dire situations immediately by use of their powers?
- Why do some people receive experiences that strengthen their faith while others do not? Why do miracles happen to some but not to others?
- How is self–confidence related to self–realization?
Self-con·fi·dence ( आत्म विश्वास )
A feeling of trust in one’s abilities, qualities, and judgment.
Faith
Complete trust or confidence in someone or something, strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof, a system of religious belief.
Excerpts from Sathya Sai Speaks
- Life is impossible without breath. Life is also impossible without faith (page 4). All of you who have come to this gathering came here in the faith that you can return home. If that faith was absent, you would not have come at all. Some declare, “Experience first, faith next.” This is similar to the declaration, “Swim first, water next.” Have faith enough to practice the advice; learn to revere the directives. Then you attain the experience. How can the stomach be full without eating the meal? So, take up the effort. Plunge into action. Do not hesitate or doubt. Action, that is the Divine Task. That is the reason why the very first section of the Vedhas is the Karma Kaanda, the “Stage of Action.”
- I do not call upon you to cultivate faith in Me or to worship Me. I want only that you should cultivate faith in yourselves (page 3), and worship the Lord who is utilizing you as His instrument.
- “Everyone has the fight to earn Grace (Page 3),” but those, like Raamakrishna, who have faith in themselves, will earn it soon and plentifully. God loves those who have the self confidence and the courage of conviction and who seize every opportunity to improve their spiritual status.
- Once Krishna and Arjuna were going together along the open road (page 2). Seeing a bird in the sky, Krishna asked Arjuna, “Is that a dove?” He replied, “Yes, it is a dove.” He asked Arjuna, “Is it an eagle?’ Arjuna replied promptly, “Yes, it is an eagle.” “No, Arjuna, it looks like a crow to Me. Is it not a crow?” asked Krishna. Arjuna replied, “I am sorry, it is a crow beyond a doubt.” Krishna laughed and chided him for agreeing to whatever suggestion was given. But Arjuna said, “For me, Your Words are far more weighty than the evidence of my eyes; You can make it a crow, a dove, or an eagle, and when you say it is a crow, it must be one.” Implicit faith is the secret of spiritual success.
- A lock opens when the key (Page 13) is turned to the right, and it closes when the key is turned to the left. Thus, the same key performs both locking and unlocking functions. In man, the heart is the lock, and the mind is the key. When the mind is turned Godward, the heart develops detachment. When the mind is turned toward the world, the heart develops attachment.
- One can attain divinity only when one has steady faith. First of all, one should have faith in one’s own Self. Develop Self-confidence, which will lead to Self-satisfaction. When you have Self-satisfaction, you will be prepared for self-sacrifice. Only through self-sacrifice, can one attain Self-realization.
- Self-realization means to realize that you are everything. Self-confidence is the foundation, Self-satisfaction is the wall, self-sacrifice is the roof and Self-realization is life. No one can live in a building without a roof. The roof cannot be laid without walls and walls cannot be raised without foundation. So, Self-confidence, Self-satisfaction, self-sacrifice are very essential for Self-realization (page 6).
- Students should develop self-confidence. Many of you might have read the story of Abraham Lincoln, who lived in penury during his student days. While other boys went to school in costly clothes, Lincoln could not afford even a proper dress when he went to school. One day, his friends made fun of him and humiliated him. He came home crying and told his mother how he was being insulted and humiliated. His mother consoled him, saying, “My dear son, do not get affected by praise or blame. Develop self-confidence. Have firm faith in God. Then everything will become good for you.” These words made a lasting impression on the tender heart of Lincoln. He acquired self-confidence with the encouragement of his mother. Ultimately, he rose to the position of President of America. He expressed his deep gratitude to his mother when he became the President of America because it was due to her teachings that he rose to such a high position. Nothing is impossible in this world for a person who has self-confidence and courage. One can accomplish anything and everything. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen self-confidence. Do not bother about what others say. Do not be afraid even if they make fun of you. Why should you have any fear when God is with you? He is the resident of your heart. He is none other than your Atma. Call it God, call it Atma, call it Consciousness – all are different names of the same reality. If you take gold to the goldsmith and ask him to make a ring, he will make a ring out of it. The same gold can be melted and made into a bangle or a chain. The ring, the bangle, and the chain are made of the same gold. Likewise, the same is present in everyone though it takes various forms. It is not possible to divide the Atma.
[Little bit about Abe Lincoln – Lincoln faced many challenges and setbacks throughout his life and career, and he was able to overcome them through perseverance and determination. He also had a strong sense of purpose and was committed to something greater than himself, which may have helped him maintain his confidence in the face of adversity.]
- I know also that you are worried about funds for the completion of your plans. Sunandamma even asked Me to show the way! Well, He who showed the way so long will do so hereafter also. This will be completed; otherwise, I would not have laid the foundation stone.
Good works never languish for want of funds; the Lord will come to their rescue. Only it may take some time, so do not lose heart. The orange is quite bitter when it is green, but time gradually sweetens it into a delicious fruit. Patience and strenuous effort will get rewarded.
I must tell you, however, that for such good causes as this, do not collect money in devious ways. Help
should come from pious hearts, from well-earned money, from persons who know and appreciate the purpose for which they give. That is why I oppose all benefit shows, where you tempt people with a dance or a drama or a film and collect money for your pet plan. I am also against lotteries, where the lure of getting a big prize for which one does not do anything, a prize collected out of other people’s earnings, is used for the collection of funds.
Let each one give out of the fullness of his heart, on their own initiative, whatever they can give gladly after studying well the present work and the future possibilities of the institution. Your duty is only to inform. Do not try even to persuade. Begging for the sake of work that is inherently good is an insult to human nature —the one who asks and the one who is asked are both demeaned.
I want to give you this courage and this confidence (Page 2). Carry on in a spirit of humility and fortitude, and you will succeed.
- In all effort, if you trust in a Higher Power, which is ready to come to your help, work is made easy. This comes out of devotion and reliance on the Lord, the source of all Power. When you travel by train, you have only to purchase the ticket, enter the proper train, and take a seat, (Page 1) leaving the rest to the engine. Why should you carry the bed and trunk on your head? So too, put your trust in the Lord and carry on to the best of your ability. Have faith in the Lord and His Grace. Try to earn it by using the intelligence and the conscience with which He has endowed you.
Chinna katha
In a forest stood a grand neem tree with sprawling branches that bore many smaller branches and leaves. This tree was home to many birds, including a little sparrow who perched on one of its offshoots. The sparrow sang sweetly, filling the air with its joyful melody.
Suddenly, a powerful gust of wind swept through the forest. At first, the offshoot where the sparrow sat began to shake and sway. As the wind grew stronger, the entire branch began to move uncontrollably and even the neem tree itself struggled against the storm. In an instant, the offshoot where the sparrow perched broke off and fell to the ground.
But nothing happened to the little sparrow because it simply flew away. As soon as the branch broke, it spread its wings and took flight. The sparrow was saved because it relied on its own strength rather than depending on the support of the tree’s leaves and branches.
In life, problems can arise like strong winds that threaten to uproot us. In these difficult times, it is important to rely on our own strength and not depend on external support that may prove unreliable. These strengths are our faith and self-confidence – our wings that will carry us through any storm.
So always believe in yourself and face challenges with courage – no problem is stronger than your determination.
Swami has said that self-confidence and faith in God always go hand in hand. One without the other is not only meaningless but also impossible – just as flight needs the bird and the wings; travel needs the feet and the way; sight needs the eyes and the form.
True success in life, likewise, needs both – Faith and Self-Confidence.
Some tips to practice and improve self confidence
- Be honest with yourself: look at your strengths and weaknesses and work on accepting them.
- Start working out: Exercise can be a huge boost to your self-confidence.
- Try things that make you uncomfortable: Stepping outside of your comfort zone.
- Spend time with people who lift you up and support you (Positive people)
- Stop comparing yourself to others
- Stop being sensitive and don’t worry whether you or your actions are cool to others or not (Abe Lincoln example)
- Standing up straight and maintaining good posture can help improve your confidence.
- Practice positive self-talk: Replace negative thoughts with positive affirmations.
- Love yourself
- Conditioning our mind both conscious and subconscious. Overcoming phobias, and bad habits , developing new good habits. Practice, Practice
Chapter 6 – Verse 5 from Bhagvad Gita
uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet |
ātmaiva hy ātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ || 5 ||
One should lift oneself by one’s own efforts and should not degrade oneself; for one’s own self is one’s friend, and one’s own self is one’s enemy.
Chapter 8 – Verse 8 from Bhagvad Gita
abhyāsa-yoga-yuktena chetasā nānya-gāminā |
paramaṁ puruṣhaṁ divyaṁ yāti pārthānuchintayan || 8 ||
With practice, O Parth, when you constantly engage the mind in remembering Me, the Supreme Divine Personality, without deviating, you will certainly attain Me.
To build faith
- Sravanam, Mananam and Nidhidhyasanam ( Who am I, Whose am I and what is my connection with the divine)
- Pray by yourself
- Pray with and be with people who have faith
- Serve others and fill your actions with love
- Spend time in nature and admire the creation around you