________________
45
1. The Corner-stone of Sadhana-Shraddha
The first thing is that Shri Gulabchandbhai chanted the Navakara with the firm faith that he will most certainly win Sadgati by it. When the god of death-Yama-stands before one's eyes, the mind of man gets engrossed easily with natural faith. Even an atheist remembers god in order to be free from the jaws of death. In the case of Gulabchandbhai, death was in vicinity. At that time he remembered that Sadgati can be had by the chanting of the Navakara Mantra. As a consequence, he got engrossed in the Navakara by firm confidence.
In any Sadhana, faith constitutes an important power. In absence of faith, Sadhana cannot yield the reward. Start walking on the path leading one to Bombay. After fifty miles are crossed, if one feels doubtful about the path, his movements will come to a stop. Even if the mind is full of doubts and one continues to walk, there will be no speed in it, and one will give up the path at any time. Just the same way, if one does not nourish the faith that "Navakara positively leads to one's good" will not lead himself to the end in his Sadhana. He will run after something else before the Navakara has yielded reward. Thus, the Navakara devoid of faith does not lead one to the desired good due to its constant chanting.
Man has full confidence that if one takes food, his hunger will be satiated and the body will grow healthy. He is again confident that poison leads to death, while a small quantity of medicine puts an end to the disease. Confidence and faith lead him to take food and to avoid