July 24, 2025
The Difference Between Trust and Faith
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YouTube reference: Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Looking from Within, Chapter 5, Attitudes on the Path, pp. 133-134This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2025/07/22/the-difference-between-trust-and-faith/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are allavailable on the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871
More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at www.aurobindo.net
The US editions and links to e-book editions of SriAurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
1
00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:04,600
Trust is frequently built on the
basis of experience.
2
00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:09,160
We gain trust by confirmation of
a particular development or
3
00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:14,360
response from our interactions.
Trust is thus primarily based in
4
00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:18,000
the mental process, through a
process that develops
5
00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:22,600
credibility and individual gains
trust in the action and outcome.
6
00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:28,400
We view and analyse what takes
place and with repeated similar
7
00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:31,360
results a measure of trust is
built up.
8
00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:35,640
Sometimes trust is gained
through measures taken to
9
00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:41,120
provide support or protection as
a fail safe mechanism in the
10
00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:44,160
external world.
We gain trust in government
11
00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:48,080
guarantees, insurance companies
and their asset base and
12
00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:53,360
history, and in the existence of
collateral in case the promised
13
00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:57,480
result does not occur.
When we look at trust from the
14
00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:01,320
spiritual seekers viewpoint, we
acquire trust in the divine
15
00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:06,320
process through our cumulative
life experience, particularly if
16
00:01:06,320 --> 00:01:10,440
we reflect on situations where
we were unexpectedly supported
17
00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:14,840
or aided, and we attribute that
support to the action of the
18
00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:19,440
divine.
Faith does not arise primarily
19
00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:21,560
in the mind, but in the psychic
center.
20
00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,640
It is based on the knowledge of
the soul, of a reality that has
21
00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:29,120
not yet become fully evident and
palpable to the mind.
22
00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:33,560
Faith may be awakened or
reinforced through experiences
23
00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:38,280
that also can build trust, but
it can leap ahead of trust to
24
00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:42,520
become a certainty in the soul.
Many people have reported
25
00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:46,440
returning from a near death
experience and upon reawakening
26
00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:51,320
they suddenly had an entirely
new sense about the existence of
27
00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:55,720
the Divine, about the
significance of their lives and
28
00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:58,480
the purpose for which they had
been returned to life.
29
00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:03,800
In most of these cases, there is
not an externally palpable
30
00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,280
factual basis for the newly
acquired faith.
31
00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:12,520
It is something they simply know
through what Trioralbindo calls
32
00:02:12,920 --> 00:02:17,040
knowledge by identity, the
oneness of the soul with the
33
00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:22,200
Divine.
A disciple asks, what is the
34
00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:24,320
difference between faith and
trust?
35
00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:30,880
The Mother observes, Quote.
Faith is something much more
36
00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:34,720
integral than trust.
You see, you have trust in the
37
00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:38,240
divine in the sense that you are
convinced that all that comes
38
00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:40,480
from Him will always be the best
for you.
39
00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,800
Whatever his decision and
whatever the experience he sends
40
00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:49,240
you or the circumstances in
which He puts you, it will all
41
00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:55,800
be always what is best for you.
This is trust, but faith, that
42
00:02:55,800 --> 00:03:00,160
kind of unshakable certitude in
the very existence of God.
43
00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,720
Faith is something that seizes
the whole being.
44
00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:07,360
It is not only mental, psychic,
or vital.
45
00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,040
It is the whole being entirely
which has faith.
46
00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:16,200
Faith leads straight to
experience and quote.
47
00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:21,520
Reference for your window and
the Mother looking from within.
48
00:03:21,920 --> 00:03:26,800
Chapter 5.
Attitudes on the Path, pages 133
49
00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:27,960
to 134.
00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:04,600
Trust is frequently built on the
basis of experience.
2
00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:09,160
We gain trust by confirmation of
a particular development or
3
00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:14,360
response from our interactions.
Trust is thus primarily based in
4
00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:18,000
the mental process, through a
process that develops
5
00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:22,600
credibility and individual gains
trust in the action and outcome.
6
00:00:23,440 --> 00:00:28,400
We view and analyse what takes
place and with repeated similar
7
00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:31,360
results a measure of trust is
built up.
8
00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:35,640
Sometimes trust is gained
through measures taken to
9
00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:41,120
provide support or protection as
a fail safe mechanism in the
10
00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:44,160
external world.
We gain trust in government
11
00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:48,080
guarantees, insurance companies
and their asset base and
12
00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:53,360
history, and in the existence of
collateral in case the promised
13
00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:57,480
result does not occur.
When we look at trust from the
14
00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:01,320
spiritual seekers viewpoint, we
acquire trust in the divine
15
00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:06,320
process through our cumulative
life experience, particularly if
16
00:01:06,320 --> 00:01:10,440
we reflect on situations where
we were unexpectedly supported
17
00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:14,840
or aided, and we attribute that
support to the action of the
18
00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:19,440
divine.
Faith does not arise primarily
19
00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:21,560
in the mind, but in the psychic
center.
20
00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,640
It is based on the knowledge of
the soul, of a reality that has
21
00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:29,120
not yet become fully evident and
palpable to the mind.
22
00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:33,560
Faith may be awakened or
reinforced through experiences
23
00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:38,280
that also can build trust, but
it can leap ahead of trust to
24
00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:42,520
become a certainty in the soul.
Many people have reported
25
00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:46,440
returning from a near death
experience and upon reawakening
26
00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:51,320
they suddenly had an entirely
new sense about the existence of
27
00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:55,720
the Divine, about the
significance of their lives and
28
00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:58,480
the purpose for which they had
been returned to life.
29
00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:03,800
In most of these cases, there is
not an externally palpable
30
00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,280
factual basis for the newly
acquired faith.
31
00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:12,520
It is something they simply know
through what Trioralbindo calls
32
00:02:12,920 --> 00:02:17,040
knowledge by identity, the
oneness of the soul with the
33
00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:22,200
Divine.
A disciple asks, what is the
34
00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:24,320
difference between faith and
trust?
35
00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:30,880
The Mother observes, Quote.
Faith is something much more
36
00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:34,720
integral than trust.
You see, you have trust in the
37
00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:38,240
divine in the sense that you are
convinced that all that comes
38
00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:40,480
from Him will always be the best
for you.
39
00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,800
Whatever his decision and
whatever the experience he sends
40
00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:49,240
you or the circumstances in
which He puts you, it will all
41
00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:55,800
be always what is best for you.
This is trust, but faith, that
42
00:02:55,800 --> 00:03:00,160
kind of unshakable certitude in
the very existence of God.
43
00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:03,720
Faith is something that seizes
the whole being.
44
00:03:04,280 --> 00:03:07,360
It is not only mental, psychic,
or vital.
45
00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,040
It is the whole being entirely
which has faith.
46
00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:16,200
Faith leads straight to
experience and quote.
47
00:03:17,160 --> 00:03:21,520
Reference for your window and
the Mother looking from within.
48
00:03:21,920 --> 00:03:26,800
Chapter 5.
Attitudes on the Path, pages 133
49
00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:27,960
to 134.