Originally posted by casino_king:
I note 2 things.
Why do you say Faith in the Dhamma? Why Faith?
Don't you think that when people start to become spiritual, like
yourself, you tend to end up "wanting" or "wishing" or "expecting"
a supernatural being:
[b]inviting the Buddha to come into my life and to renew the
inspiration his Teachings has in my life. Is like the Buddha
sitting right in front of you at your home and you present to him
all those beautiful things as mentioned above.
[/b]
The 'faith' in Buddhism means more of confidence and that
confidence we derive not just simply believing... but by
investigation and discernment and having being convince it is
beneficial, we accept it with goodwill and confidence. Ehi-passiko.
Or read Kalama Sutta. Faith is also an essential part in Buddhism,
read Alavaka Sutta. Faith is impt in religion, in freinds and even
in the medicine we take!
Sure sometimes the respect people have for the Buddha may became
twisted into seeing him as a omnipotent supernatural being that can
grant you things. But for me, it has never been this way. Being
brought up in the Therevadan way, I have always view thre Buddha as
ateacher who guides and teaches us the way. Whatever result we want
to achieve, only we ourselves can do so...
The Buddha said so already in the Dhammapda:
By ourselves is evil done
by ourselves we pain endure
by ourselves become we pure
no one can and no one may
Buddha merely show the way....
