I guess when one first encounters Buddhism's somewhat paradoxical nature, it tends to go against the grain...(one's conditioned state AKA our ingrained ignorance) where much of what we may have once held true, ( this is how it is and how it's always been) now becomes an obstacle on the Path...However, when practicing the Buddha Dharma it seems to have a knack of gently persuading us to see things differently/approach things from a different angle...
When we finally buck up the courage to let go of ignorance's comfort blanket..we don't fall..because there was never really anything to hold on to in the first place
How's your Dharma trust hanging ?
Are you developing more trust in the Buddha Dharma ?
Comments
When one comes from a religion where snakes talk and an ark can hold two animals of each species, Buddhism is not so much about trust, but rather about noticing facts fall logically into place.
Take up Buddhadharma, and rather than groping your way about life through blind faith, lie back and watch reality add up on its own.
It is the certainty of pragmatic knowing, first-hand, through one's own mental and intuitive exertion against simply believing.
In a nutshell, I don't trust, but experience Buddha Dharma improving the quality of my life every single day.
Very good point... it's all about seeing for oneself ...
So I guess one builds confidence in the Buddha Dharma as one's experiential understanding/knowledge grows...
Hmm or perhaps it's out of 'curiosity' that one kills the cat ignorance
The first time I encountered the Dhamma, it hit me between the eyes like a sledgehammer. Everything fell into place, and I mean everything.
Naturally, I had questions, but they were innocent, newbie questions, and they fell by the wayside because I rapidly came to the conclusion that if I had any confusion or bewilderment, it was not the Dhamma that was unclear, it was I who could not see.
Nothing went against the grain for me. On the contrary, the more I absorbed, the smoother it got.
But I can see how everyone would encounter the Dhamma differently, and as you say, it may not be 'plane' sailing for everyone...
I remember explaining it like so (many, many years ago): It was like someone had written the Dhamma on my heart, in a font just beyond my ability to make out more than the occasional letter but once it was blown up to Times New Roman font number twelve by the Buddha, I could see that it was identical.
Like @federica, I concluded very early on that my confusion was in my inability to see clearly through all the beliefs I had accumulated, rather than the Dhamma being unclear.
P.S. For some reason, the Buddha has been using a smaller font as I age.
Only the trustworthy and trusted teachings and my experience. It is like the ground. I trust it. Not much dharma quicksand ... Hurrah!
Fortunately I only have cushion addiction to contend with ...
https://oneminddharma.com/refuge-recovery/