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“The concentration of the true spiritual aspirant is attained through faith,
energy, recollectedness, absorption and illumination.” Patanjali Yoga Sutra, #20
"Just a little knowledge of philosophy can lead to atheism." Francis Bacon
"The only problem for man is establishing union with God. Whatever happiness or pain is experienced depends
upon what one believes and how one views whatever happens. If one wishes to go beyond beliefs,
and points of view, one must have faith in the Almighty." Sri Anandamayi Ma in Matri Vani
“The quality of soul that makes it possible for man to rise to spirit life is purity...
that which one wills to do, he has the power to do. Knowledge of that power is faith;
and when faith moves, the soul begins its flight.” Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ
Faith, from East to West, the cause and the Way to union with God
When the soul in the course of its behaviour walks in the way of faith, this improves it much. When it then turns to the means of knowledge, it becomes alienated to faith at once. And it is removed from that intelligible force of faith which reveals itself by different acts of help in the serene soul that simply, without inquiry, uses all that belongs to it.
The soul that at once, in faith, entrusted itself to God and, under many temptations, has received the taste of faith's help, no longer thinks of itself, but is made speechless by ecstasy and silence, nor is it allowed to return unto the means of its knowledge or to make use of them, lest it also be bereft, on the contrary, of the Divine care which visits it incessantly and provides for it and clings to it everywhere. For the soul would consider it a despicable thought to deem itself sufficient to guide itself by the power of its knowledge. For those in whose hearts the light of faith has dawned, do not venture to pray in their own behalf, they do not even venture to ask God: Give me this, or: Take from us that, nor do they think of themselves in any way. For by the initiated eyes of their faith they always see the paternal care which protects them on the part of that Father whose strong and immeasurable love surpasses the love of all fleshly fathers and who has power to supply us with all things above what we ask and think.
For knowledge is opposed to faith, and faith with all its means destroys the laws of knowledge. I do not mean spiritual laws. For the circumscription of the domain of knowledge is this, that a man is allowed to do anything without inquiry or examination, but he must investigate, so as to comply, if possible, with what befalls him.
But as to faith, what is it? If yes and no approach unto it equally, faith does not consent to remain in that position. That knowledge cannot be used without methods and means, that it even does not exist without them, is known. And this is the token of its skeptical attitude regarding truth. Faith on the other hand requires a serene and simple mind, far from any cunning or need of means. Behold, how knowledge and faith are each other's opposites.
The mansion of faith is a childlike mind and a pure heart. For in the purity of their heart people have praised God. For ( 'except ye be converted [metanoia] and become as little children' Matt. 18:3) and so on. Knowledge, however is the persecutor and opposite of these two. Knowledge adheres to the domain of nature, in all its ways. Faith makes its course above nature. Knowledge does not admit unto itself anything which is in disharmony with nature, not even for the sake of trial; but it lets these things dwell at a distance. Faith on the other hand orders with authority and says: 'Thou shall tread upon the serpent and the lion: the young lion and the dragon thou shall trample under feet.' Is. 91:13.
Knowledge is accompanied by fear, faith by trust. As long as a man uses the means of knowledge, he is not free from fear, it is not even possible that he is deemed worthy of freedom. But as soon as he clings to faith, at once a free man and a king of his soul and a son of God, he will use freedom in all things, with authority. A man that has found the keys of faith will use all the species of nature, as God.
He whose heart is supported by the trust of faith, will never experience want of anything. And though he does not possess anything, he dominates all things through faith.
From the Mystic Treatises of Saint Isaac of Nineveh
