Page 49 - Martial Science Magazine April 2017

would thereby final- This is the way a ma cannot really
The Unification of ly become anti-reli- Buddhist develops benefit them. Study-
Faith (s. sraddha) gious. Such perver- faith and respect ing Buddhism in this
and Wisdom (s. pra- sity would lead us toward Sakyamuni barren manner con-
jna) astray and prevent Buddha. Sakyamuni tradicts the teaching
us from establishing is understood ratio- of Buddhism because
People are of vary- truly moral behavior, nally to have exist- the Buddhist way of
ing natures and eventually threaten- ed in this world as a life necessarily con-
types and thus have ing the very fabric historical figure. He tains the element of
different tempera- of our society! Thus, has supreme wisdom faith. When we have
ments, worries, de- there is a saying in and great virtues confidence, we will
mands and passions. Buddhism, and he has bound- be able to purify our
In general, one who less compassion minds and free them
has stronger feel- “Faith without wis- working towards the from defilements i.e.
ing and sentiment dom will develop ig- liberation of sentient greed (s. raga), ha-
is more likely to be norance; beings. In Buddhism, tred (s. pratigha) and
compassionate and wisdom without faith faith is rooted in ego-conceptualiza-
is more capable of will develop a per- rational intellectu- tion (s. atmamana).
developing strong verted view.” al comprehension. Confidence is like an
faith in one’s belief; As faith is strength- alum; it purifies mud-
while an intellectual Buddhism advocates ened and sharpened dy water. Similarly, a
person tends to have the unification of by the assessment strong faith will pu-
greater powers of faith and wisdom. of the intellect, it is rify your mind. The
discernment and lu- How can we bring further confirmed by reality of life is full
cid comprehension. faith and wisdom the direct insight of of distress and mis-
The biased develop- together? Is it pos- wisdom. When un- ery, but faith can
ment of either faith sible to unify them? derstanding of the transform a mental
or intellect results In the first place, Buddha Dharma is state of emptiness
in protracted, cumu- we need to under- developed further, and anguish into
lative, negative and stand the Buddhist faith becomes more joy, peace, calm and
harmful effects. For perspective of faith intense. This faith contentment. This
example, if an emo- and wisdom. Faith will motivate us to is like an innocent
tional person has is characterized by elevate ourselves child who wanders
strong faith without the sentiments of and ground our lives around the streets,
counter-balancing respect and of inspi- in true morality. It lost, hungry, thirsty,
wisdom, he may sink ration by an ideal. will enable our lives, cold, worried and
into ignorance and Faith is a common guided by the ideals not knowing what to
superstition due to experience amongst to which we have do. While he is anx-
his fanatical faith. the followers of responded with faith. ious and filled with
The lop-sided atti- any religion. Faith Faith is not merely despair, he sudden-
tude of discriminat- without intellectu- an appreciation of ly finds his mother.
ing against ratio- al comprehension the ideal but a desire He will immediately
nality and wisdom and discrimination to move towards it. feel secure and hap-
is not acceptable in cannot be regarded py because he deeply
Buddhism. On the as a rational faith. Although some in- believes that he will
other hand, if we Faith in Buddhism is tellectuals possess obtain food, warm
over-emphasize ra- developed through a vast knowledge of clothes and the con-
tionality and doubt- contemplation and Buddhism, and have solation of his moth-
ing everything, we investigation so that strong reasoning er’s love. Similarly, a
will lose our faith the characteristics ability, they com- life of faith is filled
and belief. This in- of truthfulness, righ- monly lack faith in with joy, peace, se-
duces us to ignore teousness, and effi- Buddhism. Therefore, curity and content-
moral values and to cacy of the ideal in Dharma can not take ment.
deny the existence which one develops firm root and grow
of Universal Truth, faith, can be under- in their hearts. Be- If our faith is not
saints and sages. One stood and revealed. cause of this, Dhar- developed through

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