Recently see in the news and in a new book has been the story about Mother Theresa questioning her faith all her life. Apparently she continually experienced what St. John of the Cross described as “Dark Night of the Soul.” She continually asked God why she didn’t feel his presence and/or a connection with him?

Of course faith in the monotheistic faiths means believing in a metaphysical God who is personally involved with our lives. Buddhism is different because it isn’t based upon such articles of faith. First the Buddha taught that our suffering is caused not by outside influences but by the clinging of our own mind - such as being attached to expectations of some kind of pay-off. We must even let go event of our attachment to enlightenment. And second in one of the famous sutras the Buddha said not to accept his teachings just because he says they are true. Not to accept them out of respect for him. But rather to examine them like a Goldsmith examines gold. And only when you know there is some value, some benefit to you, should you accept them. So the Buddha encouraged us to question - to actually be skeptical.

I remember a Rime member who was here every Sunday and then suddenly I noticed she had quit coming. Whenever I notice a member absent for a while I try to send them a note letting them know we have missed them and I sent such a note to her. She called me to say that she read in a Buddhist book that if you didn’t believe in karma & rebirth then you weren’t Buddhist and therefore she didn’t feel she should continue coming to the Rime Center. I told her I didn’t agree with what she had read. I told her that I thought you could be Buddhist without believing in karma and re-birth. After that she then started attending again.

I think an important question is what exactly do we mean by the term “faith?” In the Lam Rim Chemo teachings we are taught there are three kinds of faith:

  1. Clear faith

  2. Inspirational faith

  3. Trust confidence faith

  4. Clear faith is when you see images of the Buddha, that make you feel good, and they give you a clear mind and faith in your own Buddha-nature. An example of this type of faith is when you bow or prostrate coming into the shrine room or to images of the Buddha. As you know this is showing your faith in your own Buddha-nature.

  5. Inspirational faith motivates you to do spiritual practice. An example of this type of faith is when we meet great teachers such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama or one of our root teachers who visit the Rime Center regularly. When we actually see with our own eyes, their incredible compassion and bodhitchitta and witness the stability and balance of their mind, it inspires us that this is also possible for us.

  6. Trusting confidence faith is where you use your own intelligence to guide you in your practice. An example of this type of faith is when we experience the results of our daily practice. We see that through a daily practice of meditation it can actually transform our mind from the gross forms of clinging to calmer mind states.

We are also taught to examine all the Buddhist teachings from the Four Noble Truths to the esoterica of the Vajrayana and ask three questions:

  1. Does it work?

  2. Does it stand up to logic?

  3. What are the Consequences of seeing things differently?

Recently Mary told me that she thinks a better word for faith is “certainty.” In her hospice work she visits patients of all different kinds of faiths - other than Buddhism. She finds that those who are “certain” about their faith are happier and more at ease when facing their mortality.

On Thursday I was talking about this topic with the inmates at the USDB prison. One of the inmates by the name Jake at the USDB prison said he thought whatever doctrine you are talking about whether it is karma and re-birth or a belief in a supreme being - it is really just a belief. It doesn’t become “faith” until you let go of that belief. In other words until you have certainty in it (which is letting go) - before that it is still just a belief, or mental construct.

In an essay on faith by the well-known monk, Thanissaro Bhikkhu he said “that ultimately he doesn’t think it matters where faith is directed as long as it’s deeply felt and personally nourishing. Faith in Buddha’s Awakening means simply believing that he found what worked for himself. This carries no implications for what will work for you. If you find the teaching on karma and rebirth comforting, fine: Believe if not, don’t. If you want to include an all-powerful God or a Goddess in your worldview, the Buddha wouldn’t object. What’s important is that you relate to your faith in a way that’s emotionally healing, nourishing and empowering.”

So, I think Mother Theresa had faith - I think she had tremendous faith, because even though her expectation of feeling a connection was never realized she had certainty in what she believed to be true. She had faith. Despite her disappointments she continued (her entire life) serving the poor.

I think the message is very clear to us. The problem for Mother Theresa wasn’t her faith but it was her expectation of a pay-off. And the same is true for us Buddhists. The Buddha taught that whenever we have an expectation, such as wanting to feel a certain way, or attachment to an idea or a teaching, or how things are to go, or even wanting enlightenment - we continue to be trapped in suffering. The message is very clear - through the meditation practice we must learn to let go. We must let go of all expectations, let go of attachments and let go of our ego clinging.

It is only when we let go - that we have real certainty or faith.