Bhagavad Gita 17.2 · Krishna
Three kinds of faith
त्रिविधा भवति श्रद्धा देहिनां सा स्वभावजा।
सात्त्विकी राजसी चैव तामसी चेति तां शृणु॥
śrībhagavānuvācatrividhā bhavati śraddhā dehināṃ sā svabhāvajāsāttvikī rājasī caiva tāmasī ceti tāṃ śṛṇu
Faith in embodied beings is of three kinds, born of their nature. Clear, restless and heavy. Hear about them.
Words
- śraddhā
- rajas
- tamas
What it means
Krishna answers by describing shraddha itself. Faith comes from our nature, so it takes three forms. Sattvic faith is clear and calm. Rajasic faith is restless, wanting results. Tamasic faith is heavy, fearful or confused. The question isn't only whether we believe, but how.
The story
Instead of ruling people in or out, Krishna gives Arjuna a lens. Look at the quality of someone's faith, including your own.
In your life
Think of two people praying in a hospital, one calmly trusting, one bargaining frantically. Both have faith, of different kinds. Notice the quality of your own trust this week.
How we believe matters too.