There was great expectancy in the air. A number of people were gathering around the forest hermitage, waiting for the master. Thinkers, practitioners, seekers and finders had flocked together, people bound to one another by the need to search for spiritual perfection. Elders of long experience and eager young people, the clever and those hungry to learn had come, and not only to hear the master's teaching: it was enough for them to see him. His radiance sometimes says more than any teaching.
At last he arrived, frail of build, slender of frame, commanding in presence. Everyone followed him with respect and mute attention as he passed through their midst. Without haste he settled comfortably on an ample cushion and let his gaze travel round his listeners. He greeted the familiar faces gladly and looked encouragingly at the newcomers.
– Please, read out the text we have chosen! – he said to one of his disciples, who sat beside him and looked at him with attention and loving expectation. He opened the book and spoke:
– ‘O Conqueror of the Foe, the man without faith in the law does not reach me, and must return to the cycle of mortal existence.’ – this is the word of God.
– Well then, let us talk about faith! For some, faith is accepting something they do not know, but that is closer to belief. I say that faith is a kind of spiritual seeing. Objectively faith is a duty, and at the same time, subjectively, it is man's greatest power. But I ask you all, how would you answer the question: what is faith?
At first there was utter silence, and no one dared to speak. Then a thin voice spoke up faintly:
– Faith is the measure of self-giving… – the master acknowledged the view with a satisfied nod. With only a glance he signalled to the previous speaker's neighbour, who went on:
– To do what one hopes for.
A satisfied murmur rose among those gathered, and the master nodded too. After all, idle faith is no true faith at all.
– Faith is when one has already put into practice the teaching one has heard – the next disciple carried the thought further. This view, too, met with approval. The master glanced at the next listener, who said:
– Faith is the capacity to distinguish between true and false.
A dry definition, admittedly, but true… without the skill of discernment let no one even set out on the path of spiritual search, for he will surely go astray. The next one spoke:
– Faith is conviction, steadfastness. It is not always visible, and it is not only outward, visible behaviour, but rather an inner bearing.
– Faith means living without fear, knowing that our lord will see to everything… – this was added by a newly arrived visitor, and the master sensed that he would have much work to do with this man yet.
– Faith depends on the measure of devotion – one of the trained disciples went on. – The degree of surrender measures faith. My faith grows as my sincerity grows. The greater the surrender an ideal demands, the more sublime the truth.
The master rejoiced when he heard the teachings echoed back to him, for at such times he himself examined them with keen attention and took them to heart, if they proved sound. Now it was the turn of one of the tender-hearted disciples:
– Faith is when one hears the voice of one's own heart, not when it weeps, but when it speaks and sings. And then it is no longer he who speaks…
– Faith is bare existence… – the master summed up, – …which I would like to give to God. – Then he rose and withdrew. The teaching, which in fact they had spoken themselves, touched everyone. Perhaps it was the master's inspiring company that drew it out of them?