Can We Change Our Faith?

Whether to stay in our own faith is the question to be answered. Children get introduced to the ways of worshipping by their parents. They will be making frequent trips to worship places along with their parents. They do prayers every day at home and will be familiar with the photos and books related to one particular faith. With all these, a child’s belief is usually deep routed in that particular stream of faith

There is no question of changing the faith if the life goes on without much turbulence. Stressors and tragedies in life tempt the person to think about changing the faith in an effort to see whether things become alright again. People may shift from one faith to another for financial gain, because they feel empty inside or just for experimenting. When we were small children, our grandfather used to tell us a beautiful story about why we should stay in one faith throughout life.

Once upon a time there was a young man working as a wood cutter in a village. He had a meagre income to support his family which included his wife, two children and ailing mother. His financial constraints did not bother him. But even in the presence of his loving wife, children and mother, he used to feel empty inside. This bothered him so much that he prayed sincerely to God to give him a happy and contended life. After few days, he thought that God is very cruel and does not answer his prayers. So he decided to meet a priest for solace. This priest was a man of spiritual reputation and people in the village called him master.

One day he approached the master. The master welcomed him with great love and care and instructed him on some austerities. Master encouraged him to do all the austerities with utmost devotion. He did observe his masters instructions sincerely for about a year. His life did not change for good and he started to have doubts in his master’s instructions.

After few days he discussed his problems with one of his neighbours. Neighbour suggested him to meet another priest who may solve his problems. After few days, he started to have doubts about the second priest also. He repeated the same process with another five or six priests. Still he could not get mental peace. Now he was fed up and decided to go back to his first master. With reluctance, he approached his master and explained everything that has happened since he left him.

Master smilingly said; “My dear son, I am glad that you have come back. Did you understand where you went wrong? None of the priests whom you have approached are bad. None of their ways are wrong. Each one of them was trying to show you a different path towards the same goal. Let me explain to you with an example. Imagine a pond full of water. There are different flights of stairs built from different sides to fetch water from the same pond. From each flight of stairs different sects of people get down to fetch water. All of them have only one thought. They want water. So they gradually climb down the stairs one after another to touch water, to drink water, to quench their thirst. What did you do my dear son? You started climbing down from one flight of stairs. After reaching few steps, you decided that this is not good, may be the flight of stairs on the opposite side will be better. So you came back to the top and started climbing down through another flight of stairs. You repeated this process several times. So you are at the place where you have started your journey where as others are slowly progressing towards water”.

With tears in his eyes, the wood cutter bowed and touched his master’s feet and the master embraced him.