Building faith through sadhu-sanga

Despite occasional circumstances that make it difficult to complete one's spiritual practice, the main problem with regularizing our sadhana is not our situation, but our sraddha, or faith. If we had trust in the glories of the holy name, we would not neglect it under any circumstance. If we had unquestioned faith that chanting gave us long life and unlimited wealth, and we cherished those attainments, we would make time for it at all costs. The holy name of Krishna gives so much more, but because our faith and knowledge of the Bhagavat-which proclaims the glories of the holy name-is weak, our practices unforunately become slack.

Faith means faith in sastra. Faith comes from sadha-sanga. Sadhu-sanga means to hear sastra from advanced devotees. We must make every effort to get sadhu-sanga and increase our faith in devotional service. It is the basis of spiritual life. -H.H. Dhanurdhara Swami