Although our faults and weaknesses are neither fixed nor permanent, they do tend to have an aspect of confining us to the limitations and humanness of life! Perhaps that is the reason that so many religions are based on the aspect of Faith! Faith, as we have been told, is beyond reason and cultivated only through its practice. So it may be true that any attempts to understand Faith with the use of reason may be futile. However as human beings endowed with reason, we can definitely try to see deeper into the effects of practice of Faith and to understand whether it has any negative ramifications.
One thing is apparent that Faith gives us a justification wherein we can excuse ourselves of our faults and weaknesses. It gives us an illusory hope that Faith in itself is all "the effort" that is necessary to free us. We find in this perspective a sense of validation and a sense of unconditional acceptance.
In the west and in some religions of the East, there is the belief that some divine being or 'a Saviour' will absolve our weaknesses. Some other religions teach that mere good deeds and merits will make up for our "unresolved issues!". I do love the simplicity of these ideals. But unfortunately, these are conditioned beliefs and they stand in the way of realizing the truth of the matter for oneself.
In the west and in some religions of the East, there is the belief that some divine being or 'a Saviour' will absolve our weaknesses. Some other religions teach that mere good deeds and merits will make up for our "unresolved issues!". I do love the simplicity of these ideals. But unfortunately, these are conditioned beliefs and they stand in the way of realizing the truth of the matter for oneself.
In reality, to embrace something "Divine" or to rely on our "Faith" is to work towards freeing ourselves, to be our own 'Saviour!' This intention, however, is not based on making ourselves into something more than what one really is, at a personality or at a mental-emotional level. It is a letting go of all that one is not, but believes and identifies oneself with, and all that which one clings to relentlessly in the hope of finding the inner security.
"Let go and let....!" Our faults are no longer ours when we can let go of them! To me, that is the essence of the PRACTICE!
"Let go and let....!" Our faults are no longer ours when we can let go of them! To me, that is the essence of the PRACTICE!
It is a trust that is developed on one's own reason and experimentation that we can go on living, without our attachment to those behavior and actions that cause us, and others--pain and misery; that we no longer need to look for 'refuge' in anything or anyone outside of ourselves! This is Faith-in-action!
This is the means to the transformation of the defiled human nature into the pure divine being!
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