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ભગવાન સ્વામિનારાયણનાં

॥ વચનામૃત ॥

Loya-12: The Six Levels of Faith; Savikalp and Nirvikalp Faith

Summary

1. Savikalp faith:

1. Lowest level: His faith remains as long as God exhibits swabhāvs to the same extent as other humans, but if He were to display more so than others, his faith would be shattered.
2. Intermediate level: His faith remains firm even if God exhibits lust, anger, etc., to a double degree than that of humans.
3. Highest level: Because he understands God to be the all-doer, if God were to indulge in some degrading deed, it would not affect Him.

2. Nirvikalp faith:

1. Lowest level: No matter what pious or impious deeds he witnesses being performed by God, he understands that in all actions God performs, He is still a non-doer.
2. Intermediate level: One who becomes like the niranna-muktas of Shwetdwip - who are free from the six physical and emotional sensations - and worships Vāsudev.
3. Highest level: One who worships Purushottam realising oneself to be aksharrup.

3. Reasons for the distinctions of faith:

1. Association of a true or false guru.
2. Effect of favourable or unfavourable factors of influence.
3. Intensity of one’s shraddhā.

4. Means for developing highest level of faith from the lowest level:

1. Keeping extreme shraddhā.
2. Seeking favourable factors of influence.
3. Seeking a guru with the highest level of gnān.