- Wisdom and Faith

Two Way Result

Buddhists always ask: “Two persons are the believers of Buddha, why does one have everything going well for him in his life whilst the other always meets with disasters?”

Of these two persons, the former will extol Buddha and regard Buddha as his Saviour while the latter will be full of complaints.

We should view this question from two different angles. Firstly, in the latter a pious believer of Buddha?  Sincerity towards faith is of utmost important. A person who is sincere to the Lord Buddha and His teachings will have strong faith in Buddha. Therefore, he gains merits from what he believes. Secondly, is the latter a strict observer of the precepts taught by the Buddha? A believer of Dhamma must integrate theory with practice, bring the teachings of Buddha into practice. We will not get any reward if we do not bring it into practice. When it comes to practice, we must differentiate between right and wrong. Wisdom and sincerity are interrelated. A person who is sincere will be able to distinguish between right and wrong.

People too was confronted with the same doubts when Buddha was alive. It is stated in one of the Buddha’s scriptures that once, Buddha told Ananda that not every follower could get the same blessings, some of them would get boundless blessings while some of them would only meet with disaster.

Ananda was puzzled and asked Buddha for the reasons. Buddha explained to him that, “The believer of Buddha must acquire knowledge as wisdom is the light to the path of enlightenment. With such knowledge, we will not be able to understand the Dhamma, we will not be able to know whether we are right or wrong.”

When we had acquired sufficient knowledge and be able to differentiate between right and wrong, we must deviate from the wrong path and advance to the right path. We must observe the precepts taught by the Buddha. Observing the precepts strictly will not enable you to exempt from the karma. You must repent before the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha and start anew.

The believer of Buddha will be blessed if he follows the precepts. But the blessings gained in the present life is not as important as the attainment of enlightenment. The believer of Buddha must strive for the attainment of enlightenment.

Why do some people, instead of getting blessing from Buddha, suffer misfortune?

Buddha told Ananda that this is because they do not have a good teacher to enlighten them. Hence they are unable to understand the teachings of Buddha and the meaning of having faith in Buddha. The believer of Buddha must have a firm faith in Buddha. We must firmly believe that Buddha is our Saviour. He will help the needy and relieve the distressed. The believer of Buddha will not benefit from the Dhamma if he is in doubt of Buddha’s extra-ordinary merits and virtues.

The Buddhists read scriptures and observes precepts in order to learn and practise the Buddha’s way towards enlightenment. However, there are Buddhists who regard their religion as a hobby and do not follow the teachings of the religion. Such “believer” will definitely not be able to get the blessings from Buddha.

Buddhism teaches us not to hurt or kill living beings, rather it teaches us to treasure and protect them. We will not be blessed if we kill any living things. Once we become a Buddhist, we should learn to get rid of all evil thoughts, speech and action. We could gain merits and virtues from practising Buddhism only if we are determined to erase all the mistakes committed in the past and become gentle, compassionate and friendly.

The Sutras are the records of what Buddha taught. We are the followers of Buddha, should treasure them, read with sincerity and put them into practice diligently. We gain merits and virtues from reading them and practising the teachings.

Buddhism teaches us not to crave for fame and wealth, rather, it teaches us to help those who need help. One who regards money as is life and would not offer any help even when he is begged to help, will certainly not get blessings from Buddha.

Whenever any extra-ordinary ability or virtue is found in another person or virtue is found in another person, we must approve it and rejoice over it. People who, because of jealousy, exert every effort to hinder those who are better than them from going further will not be blessed? The believer of Buddha is supposed to be modest and treat everyone equally. Of course, snobbish people will also not get the blessings from Buddha.

The believer of Buddha must have the right thoughts and believe in retribution. But some Buddhists read retribution as a gimmick and hence they do not stop their misdeeds and cultivate virtue. We will not be blessed if we do not believe in retribution.

The reasons for one who could not get the blessings from Buddha are countless. The factors mentioned above are only few but of a hundred. However, no matter what misfortune you encounter, you must not lose faith in Buddha. You must ask yourself whether you have followed the precepts. If you do not follow the precepts that the Buddha taught us, you will definitely obtain great blessings in the future.

Wisdom

To every Buddhist practitioner, the training in wisdom is indispensable and the most important part of spiritual cultivation. This training in wisdom is essential throughput the entire process of overcoming delusion for the attainment of Enlightenment.

With wisdom, one can penetrate and realise the profound truth of the Buddhist teachings, as well as benefit both oneself and others smoothly.

Therefore, Buddhist practitioners must not neglect the cultivation of wisdom.

A wise person not only has right understanding of things, but also experiences success in helping and benefiting other sentient beings.

Consider this: the natures of sentient beings are so diverse. If we lack wisdom, we would not be able to distinguish their individual spiritual capacities, as well as their likes and dislikes, then how could we help them skilfully?

Then consider further: we are so deeply entrenched in defilements and habitual tendencies. Our negativities and karmic obstacles are so heavy. If we lack wisdom, how could we eradicate our defilements and habitual tendencies? How could we overcome our negativities and karmic obstacles?

Wisdom is the foundation of all meritorious virtues. The perfection of spiritual practice depends upon wisdom. The accomplishment of the altruistic work of helping sentient beings also depend upon wisdom.

Wisdom is needed as a guide, whether for one’s own spiritual realisation or for helping others. The great importance of wisdom in Buddhist spiritual practice is thus clear.

Faith

One ought to have a religious faith to guide one’s life. Right faith is beneficial to human life. Wrong, heretical faith is not just unbeneficial, but also harmful to us.

What is the difference between right faith and wrong faith ?

The difference lies in whether one’s faith accords with wisdom. Faith that accords with wisdom is rational faith, that is right faith.

If one’s faith does not accord with wisdom, or simply swayed by

impulsive feelings, it does not constitute right faith – it is sheer superstition.

The Buddhist faith is rational, as Buddhism advocates the union of faith and wisdom. Faith and wisdom should not be separated. If wisdom is separated from faith, we will fall easily into wrong thinking which is very detrimental.

The special function of wisdom lies in the quest for Truth. Without wisdom, one cannot realise the Truth. It is with the guidance of wisdom that one’s faith can be pure, undefiled and wholesome, leading one to spiritual progress. So, in the same way, faith cannot be separated from wisdom. In the absence of wisdom, one’s faith will turn into superstition, which is wrong faith.

Therefore, faith and wisdom are related and should be integrated as one. Most people do not understand this. Thinking that wisdom is rational while faith is sentimental, they separate faith from wisdom, so they are unable to give full scope to their wisdom and faith.