Doubts
Tokyo Government Buildings; Shinjuku Tokyo Japan
When we talk about faith in Buddhism some may contrast the idea of faith against doubting. I think that actually in some ways the two are very closely related and perhaps even two sides of the same concept.
Faith is a hope or a wish, even if relatively certain, that something will occur or that something is known or knowable. Yet that faith can hardly exist without a corresponding healthy doubt.
“You once said to me: “You are the most excellent Sravaka.” With all my wisdom, however, I now doubt. I do not understand whether the Truth I attained is final or not, whether the teachings I practiced are true or not.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter II)
This is one of the Buddha’s foremost disciples responding to the Buddha’s revelation of the Single Buddha Vehicle which ties together and makes whole the various other vehicles the Buddha previously expounded. I wonder how many times each of us may have thought, I am not sure that what I am doing is really correct.
The Buddha even had doubts about whether the people were prepared for this revelation which is the ultimate of the purpose of all Buddhas.
“They will doubt my teaching, and not receive it.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter II)
The really neat thing about Buddhism is that in order for it to work actually you almost need to have doubts that cause you to try it to experiment with it to discover its truth. Faith isn’t required in order for you to benefit. And yet in the midst of doubting its truth there is a hope and a desire for it to be true and this is faith.
Eventually over time, as we practice Buddhism we continue to prove the efficacy of the teachings in our own lives and our doubts and uncertainties are able to be transformed in to even stronger faith, but a faith that actually takes root in doubt.
“Any Sravaka or Bodhisattva who hears even a gatha of this sutra which I am to expound will undoubtedly become a Buddha.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter II)
But how do we know this? We may wish it is true even while holding reasonable uncertainty that it may not be. Faith, or hope resides in that very same moment as doubting.
“The Bodhisattvas who hear the Dharma will be able to remove the mesh of doubts.” (Lotus Sutra, Chapter II)
The mesh of doubts is a given it is a fact it is the reality from which our Buddhist practice can take root in. It isn’t necessary to have no doubts, but the doubts will eventually be cast aside.
Continue to practice, even while remaining a skeptic. Faith in Buddhism is not blind, nor is it unrealistic, nor is it without substance.
