Buddhist Faith
The Buddhist faith
In the Buddhist point of view, faith is not the belief in the unknown, unintelligible or the impossible; it is an inner confidence that emphasizes reason and understanding through actual experience and seeing. Confidence is not blind faith; it is confirmed in everyday experience. By seeing more clearly, we open and entrust ourselves to the universe. We let go of our illusory control of our lives, and see ourselves fully integrated and interdependent in the cosmic web. Life is accepted unconditionally with all its blessings and challenges.
The Three Jewels Of Faith
The central focal point of Buddhist faith lies in the Three Jewels: the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha.
The Buddha: Buddhists take refuge or entrust themselves in the Buddha because he is their spiritual teacher who showed the way to liberation. They pay homage to him out of respect and gratitude. Also, it means to take refuge in our own potential to be enlightened. Some Buddhist schools revere the Cosmic Buddha or the Universal Force of Life and Light.
The Dharma: The Dharma is the second jewel, which is the Buddha's teachings which guide us along the path to Enlightenment. Also, the Dharma means Ultimate Reality or Universal Law of the cosmos; therefore, by taking refuge in the Dharma, Buddhists entrust themselves fully to their inner nature which is the nature of all things.
The Sangha: Buddhists take refuge in the Sangha because it is the community of Buddhist teachers and practitioners who guide each other along the path to Nirvana. By learning from one another, Buddhists gain the confidence and skill to realize the path.
The foundation of Buddhist teachings is the Four Noble Truths. To realize these Truths is to eventually penetrate the very ground nature of the universe and thus attain liberation from the suffering of this world. They are called "Noble" because they lift our hearts and mind to a higher level of humanity.
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