Faith and Understanding

[T]he Nirvana Sutra says it is not enough to just have faith in Buddhism by believing the teachings on an emotional level, because emotional belief will bring confusion and doubt in the future. Right faith requires understanding as well as a willingness to believe. It is not enough to just have faith in Buddhism by understanding the teachings without a willingness to believe, because without it, your understanding will emphasize a self-seeking view. Therefore, both a willingness to believe and a willingness to understand combine and dissolve into one, which will be an essential foundation for the faith of Buddhism.

In order to understand Buddhism more deeply, please open your mind. If you wish to have faith, please try to both understand and believe the teachings willingly. These are good practices to help you understand Buddhism, and to promote your understanding of the Lotus Sutra, which is the highest teaching of Buddhism.

Spring Writings