Should we have doubt only initially while choosing a path and have full faith thereafter

 

Question: The spiritual path requires that we do serious discernment and analysis initially, and after that repose complete faith—because faith and doubt cannot exist simultaneously.
Answer: Yes, that’s true, but it depends on what we mean by “faith” and “doubt” in context.

In the article I wrote, I used faith and doubt as metaphors—resources for a journey. Faith is like the accelerator, and doubt is like the brake. The Srimad Bhagavatam actually presents doubt as a sign of intelligence. From that perspective, it’s vital to recognize that as long as we have intelligence, doubt will accompany it.

The term “doubt” often carries a negative connotation, but the doubting faculty is closely tied to our questioning faculty. And yes, we do need to question before choosing a path—discernment is essential to ensure we’re on the right path. However, just choosing the right path doesn’t guarantee that we’ll always follow it rightly. Misunderstandings can arise. Sometimes external circumstances change. Sometimes, even our spiritual teachers might give advice that turns out to be ill-founded.

We see that Bali Maharaj doubted the instructions of his spiritual teacher, and it was through that doubt that he surrendered to Lord Vamanadeva. As spiritual seekers, we might prefer never to be in a situation where we need to question or doubt our authorities. But the world is unpredictable and often distressing, and we must deal with it.

So, questioning—done not disrespectfully, but objectively and thoughtfully—is an integral part of intelligent spiritual practice. In fact, it’s this kind of inquiry that keeps us aligned with the right path. Even if we assume our spiritual guides are reliable, we ourselves can still go off track without realizing it. We may think, “I am doing what God wants me to do,” but we could be mistaken.

In today’s world, we often see religious authorities acting with extreme conviction—sometimes leading to fanaticism or violence. They’re sure they’re doing God’s work. A little doubt, or hesitancy, could have served as humility—helping prevent self-righteousness. That kind of doubt can be spiritually healthy.

So doubt, when equated with humility, helps keep our certainty from becoming arrogance. It enables self-reflection and course correction. Faith and doubt don’t have to be seen as absolute opposites. If we’re speaking in a strict moral sense, then yes, they seem opposed. But if we understand them functionally—as tools—then both can coexist and serve the path of devotion.

If everything can be used in Krishna’s service, as Yukta Vairagya teaches, then even doubt can be. The doubting faculty, which fuels the questioning mind, is something we need throughout our spiritual lives.

We see this in the Bhagavad Gita, where Arjuna asks questions even after hearing from the Supreme Lord. We see this in Srimad Bhagavatam, where Parikshit Maharaj inquires and seeks clarification. The word samsaya (doubt) is used, and they wanted those doubts resolved.

Had Parikshit Maharaj or Arjuna simply accepted everything passively without engaging their intelligence, the Gita or Bhagavatam would have ended far earlier. Because they thought and asked, we have these profound and expansive scriptures today.

So, it’s important to reframe doubt as a form of thoughtful inquiry. Saying that there should be no doubt at all is like trying to drive a car with only an accelerator and no brakes.

Should we then stop using our intelligence? Not at all. Reality is complex. Scripture is complex. When we encounter aspects of either that don’t make immediate sense, what should we do? We ask questions. Should we accept everything blindly? Sometimes, yes. But often, seeking clarification leads to deeper understanding—not just for ourselves, but for others too.

Thank you.