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How does faith work in Buddhism?
pauliwago
Explorer
I was drawn into Buddhism primarily from science - I saw the many scientific findings and Buddhist teachings parallel. I was never satisfied with the Christian reliance on faith alone. I understand that some Christians experience something supernatural and for them, it's proof enough that the supernatural exists. I never could buy into that though...there are so many alternate explanations for their experiences.
However, I really like the idea that Buddhism allows the individual to think and test things for himself. I've begun to appreciate the value of meditation, compassion, etc. etc. that Buddhism teaches because I can see real-world consequences for them. However, when it comes to "re-birth", "nirvana", etc. it requires a leap of faith (from where I can see it). I really like the concepts (and would like to believe), but I'm puzzled as to how you guys have come to accept it as truth. Many Christians will tell you that they "experienced" God and therefore they believe He exists. For the Buddhist, I'm not sure if some divine revelation is part of the experience at all. Is it something that you take face-value, or is there a particular experience that gives you some sort of certainty?
Thanks guys.
However, I really like the idea that Buddhism allows the individual to think and test things for himself. I've begun to appreciate the value of meditation, compassion, etc. etc. that Buddhism teaches because I can see real-world consequences for them. However, when it comes to "re-birth", "nirvana", etc. it requires a leap of faith (from where I can see it). I really like the concepts (and would like to believe), but I'm puzzled as to how you guys have come to accept it as truth. Many Christians will tell you that they "experienced" God and therefore they believe He exists. For the Buddhist, I'm not sure if some divine revelation is part of the experience at all. Is it something that you take face-value, or is there a particular experience that gives you some sort of certainty?
Thanks guys.
0
Comments
I'm pretty sure that if you can find the truth of karma and meditation, you're off to a good start.
I'm sure there are those with orthodox beliefs who say you must believe in nirvana and rebirth though. The Buddha did believe in rebirth and nirvana, but he also offered us to investigate his teachings. Therefore, we should do just that if we truly want to know.
But my shot at it is:
Don’t take the leap. There’s no need.
Always just don’t know.
Prajna means the intellect basicly. Receiving information about things. sradda is how you bring your understanding into an embodiment. For example in a social situation prajna would be picking up the vibes and sradda would be taking those in and embodying that intelligence in the social mandala. Putting into practice.
Other than that in buddhism you don't have to take a leap of faith though you should be openminded to things outside of a narrow vision.
Samadhi - concentration
So if having faith can be perceived as confidence in the Tathagata and remembering the teachings then faith is not the blind conviction we recognize in the Judeo/Christian ethic....
As for rebirth, I do not accept this as "truth". I do not recall the Buddha describing post mortem rebirth as "truth". But I have not read all of his teachings. However, the Buddha certainly described the undeceptive happiness of Nibbana as the highest truth (MN 140).
Rebirth means the arising of the results of one's action. One's actions are "born again" or "reappear". For example, you rob a bank. This action reappears in court and then reappears in your mind as you rot in prison.
This is rebirth. It is the results of your actions. They will reappear in this life. If you choose to believe, with blind faith, then they may also reappear in another life.
Kind regards
Don't worry about trying to believe the unverified.... when we put the instruction into practice we don't need belief. There just is what we've experienced and its enough.
Metta,
Guy
Faith means to trust. When we say doubt everything, we mean test the Dharma against your own experience. Faith and doubt do not conflict. The Dharma can stand up to your doubt, your questioning and testing.
In Buddhism, you must begin with faith in yourself. There is no higher power that is going to rescue you from Samsara, from your suffering and need to find meaning in your life. We don't start with the teaching that you are helpless, flawed, at the mercy of gods or prisoner of past life karma. We start by saying you can do what Buddha did, and be Buddha. Here's how. To put your steps on the path of Buddha takes a leap of faith in yourself.
And we will hand you a guide, a map that Buddha spoke and other monks wrote and the guides of today will explain. It's created for your benefit. While there is an end to the journey, the guide has to tell you where to put your feet today. You use the teachings, and they work, and you get the results we say you will get. You're not finished with the journey, but you must begin to have faith in the map we call the Dharma. To continue to walk the path of Buddha requires a leap of faith in the Teachings.
And there is a final leap of faith. Eventually you look around, and realize you're not alone in your journey. First, you see all the Buddhists that are stumbling along with you, our Sangha, and you learn from their success and failure. You begin to work as a team. Then you notice that everyone, in their own way, is only trying to find a way out of the forest of Samsara. Some do this by hurting others, but inside everyone is a suffering human being. This has to be taken on faith, because many people are such assholes that we can't see this directly. We all have the potential to be Buddha, but sadly most of us will never realize that. This final leap of faith, faith in our fellow human beings, is the hardest one to take. But, it's the key to unlocking Buddha's compassion for everyone.
Another member summed it up quite nicely on another thread IMO: If you do this several thousand times and the answer to the question "are you still suffering", is always no, then one starts to "believe" that "Yes, this is possible"
Spiny