It is important for man to have confidence. A child without confidence in his mother, a husband without confidence in his wife, a pupil without confidence in his teacher, will lead a miserable life. In India there are many people who go on pilgrimages. They visit sacred centres and temples, but the question is with how much dedication and confidence do they set out on their pilgrimage?
The result of any action is dependent upon the amount of confidence with which it is done. We might not have confidence or faith in what we’re undertaking, yet we are asking God for great gifts. If a person wants to benefit in what he is doing, he must have a steady mind and vision that is not so easily shaken.
Today man has developed a disease in his hearing. Many people give their ears to all types of spiritual discourses, but that does not mean they’re seeking the maximum benefit from listening. Many satisfy themselves by saying that it is enough to merely listen. This sort of confidence, this kind of approach is not proper. We listen to Swami’s discourse for a long time and derive a great deal of happiness by merely listening. But the real question is-are we able to put into practice anything that we have heard? If not, then we can conclude that the sense of hearing is becoming diseased. In addition to hearing we have to develop the faculty of thinking of what we have heard and consider what is good and useful about it- and then putting into practice the good things that we have heard. Nothing will be achieved if we merely listen and don’t think about or and do. A small example, Let’s compare this to the preparation of food in the kitchen. Is our hunger satisfied by the preparation we do in this kitchen? That is like listening. Then we take the food to the dining table and put it on the table. But does just putting the food on the table satisfy our hunger? Preparing in the kitchen and transferring into the dining hall are the first two stages, like listening and thinking. But they do not satisfy the hunger. The eating and then the proper digestion in the body- the taking action- that’s what satisfies the hunger. So if you want to derive spiritual strength you must develop all three functions: hearing, constantly thinking about the merits and then putting into practice. Without these three aspects one can’t attain spiritual strength or the spiritual bliss which follows as a result. Take, for example, what is happening in this hall. We are all seated and listening to Swami. But after listening, You’ll leave the hall and forget. What kind of an attitude is this? If you immediately forget then what a waste of time it is for all of us! What an effort has been wasted on Swami’s part! Think of what you are asking of Swami, the kind of spiritual gift you wish to receive from me. Do you have the confidence- are you willing to give the kind of attention and practice needed to achieve your dream? Only when you think about what you have heard, and put it into practice- at least one or two of the items that Swami is talking about-only then will you be consecrating your life and finding some meaning in your life by coming here. (S&M, pp. 178-179)
You should never use demeaning descriptions of yourself, such as, I am a mean person; I am a weak person; I am a sinner; etc. You should never doubt your capacity to undertake a particular task. If you have firm faith in yourself, you can do anything. That is why Vedanta tells us that a person who doubts himself, can never realize the Atma. If you tell yourself that you do not have a particular attribute or skill, then that will psychologically affect you in a negative way. Develop the courageous feeling that you can accomplish many things, and then you will be able to do them....... The real devotee is one who makes an effort to develop confidence in the self and the Atma.... Whatever you undertake, do it with a divine, sacred feeling. (Thomas, LIC, p. 11)
You must have watched a bird sitting on a branch those waves in the wind. It is unafraid, because it has more confidence in its wings than on the branch; it knows that any moment, it can take to its wings and leave of the perch, the uncertain perch. The branch is Prakriti and the wings are the Anugraha of the Lord. Develop strength of wing and sit on any tree. You won’t come to harm. But, if you trust Prakriti and rely only upon the protection it gives, you fall. (SSS Vol.3, pp. 86-87)
For the survival and prosperity of an organisation there should be the perfect cooperation among employees. However, confidence or trust is an important aspect for such cooperation to be achieved among personnel of an organisation. It is also to be realised that for cooperation to be achieved, experience is required on the part of the managers in responsible positions. Similar confidence should be reposed in a manager by his subordinates. (M, pp. 35-36)