Virtual Dhamma-Vinaya Vihara
Open monastery, laity practice area- [Öffentliches Kloster, Laienpraxisbereich] (vata assama) => Down to earth - [Ganz bodenständig] manussaloko => Topic started by: Dhammañāṇa on April 08, 2017, 06:38:47 AM
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"Faith, faith,..." they say. But what is meant by "faith" What is a person of faith??
There is the case that a person has conviction that deeds by body, speech and mind make a different. Having convicion that his actions make a different, he thinks before he acts.
Furthermore there is the case that a person has conviction that things (all phenomenas), results have causes. Having conviction that results have causes, he thinks before he acts.
Forthermore there is the case that a person has conviction that beings are the owner, the heir of their actions. Having conviction that beings are the heirs of their actions, he thinks before he acts.
Forthermore there is the case that a person has conviction that liberation/awakening is possible and that liberated/awakened exist. Having conviction that awakining is possible and that liberated exist, he thinks before he acts.
Knowing that he does not forget and acts according to his faith, his mind is at peace.
Having experianced the peace of mind, his conviction naturally grows, and once having experianced the results of his deeds, how they arise, how they decay, he is no more able to fall away from conviction.
This is what is meant by a person of faith.
So was it said and for that reason was it said.
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Corbet raised a very good question here:
Samana Johann, I am interested in continuing to hear you. However I will probably find myself just scanning over lengthy, complex discourses -- not paying the attention your thoughts may properly deserve -- so I ask you please confine to the fewest, plainest words?
I am Christian, but that doesn't mean I have no knowledge of Buddhist/Hindu/Taoist/Sufi/Zorastrian/Jewish/Gnostic/Essene/Steiner, new age -- Kaballah, Upanishads, I Ching, Bhagavad-Gita, Hazrat Inayat Khan, Tarot, wicca --African ancestor religion -- lots of stuff, ok?
I find it all in Proverbs 3: 5-7 in the Bible:
'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the Lord and depart from evil.'
Faith.
Do you have anything to add to this passage? I am asking sincerely, and am interested in your interpretation?
:)
Just simply to weak, "struggling" a little with fever, it would be good if somebody else gives him a good answer, to know that the means are not different, not letting him wait to long, saddha is not permanent. Atma gave only some sort cuts here (http://www.interfaith.org/community/threads/18376/page-3#post-314274).