________________
Shraddha (Faith) Blind Faith - Ignorant Faith
A superintendent of a large farm once told me that he did not believe in blind faith (andha-shraddha). I made a mental note of what he said. Then while we were strolling in his farm, we came across a patch of land that was fifty feet wide, and covered with tall grass. As we crossed the patch, he leaped along with fourfoot long strides. I asked him, “You had no idea that there might be snakes or scorpions in the grass, so how come you put your feet in it?” What tremendous blind faith that is!
Without blind faith you cannot even eat, board a ship or sit in a taxi! With what sort of faith (shraddha) do you sit in a taxi? You do not have faith in the fact that there will not be an accident. When you drink water at home, do you ever check to see whether any lizards or insects have fallen into your tank or whether your neighbors have dumped germicides in it? Therefore, it is not possible to do anything without blind faith (andhashraddha).
What you understand or call blind faith, is not really blind faith. It is ignorant faith (agnya-shraddha). The entire world lies in ignorant faith. When children play with dolls and toys, it is with ignorant faith; likewise, there is ignorant faith in religion. Gnani Purush alone is without blind faith. His physical body however, is in blind faith. Shortly, even 'we' will go home and drink water without checking it, but 'we' do not have the ownership of this body.