Sharon Salzberg is a frequent visitor to these pages. She is one of the original founders of the Insight Meditation Center in Barre, Massachusetts, along with Joseph Goldstein and Jack Kornfield. I think her major contribution to Buddhism in the West is the way she writes about and teachs metta (loving kindness) practices.
In these words of wisdom from Tricycle Daily Dharma, she talks about the importance of faith in Buddhism.
Normally, we speak of faith in God, or faith in Jesus Christ, or faith in Mohammad, or faith in Krishna, or being faithful to our spouse.
In the case of Buddhism and this particular quote, we are talking about faith in ourselves and our possibility to awaken. Faith in ourselves is far more constructive than faith something external to us.
The Buddha taught that everyone has “bodichitta” or “buddha nature” – that is, everyone has the innate ability to awaken, become enlightened, and experience the reality that we have only begun to understand about Buddha’s experience 2600 years ago.
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Faith in Buddhism | August 13, 2014
It is a great turning point in our spiritual lives when we go from an intellectual appreciation of a path to the heartfelt confidence that says, ‘Yes, it is possible to awaken. I can, too.’ A tremendous joy accompanies this confidence. When we place our hearts upon the practice, the teachings come alive. That turning point, which transforms an abstract concept of a spiritual path into our own personal path, is faith. Sharon Salzberg, “How Important is Faith?”
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What do you have faith in? Do you have faith in yourself to become awakened? Or is your faith in something external? Please share.
These two books are representative of Sharon’s teachings. Enjoy!
Books by Sharon Salzberg
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Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness (Shambhala Classics)by Throughout our lives we long to love ourselves more deeply and find a greater sense of connection with others. Our fear of intimacy—both with others and with ourselves—creates feelings of pain and longing. But these feelings can also awaken in us the desire for freedom and the willingness to tak… [Read More…] |
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Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experienceby In this beautifully written work, one of America’s most beloved meditation teachers offers discerning wisdom on understanding faith as a healing quality. Through the teachings of Buddha and insight gained from her lifelong spiritual quest, Salzberg provides us with a road map for cultivating… [Read More…] |
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