I finished reading the book 'With One Heart Bowing to The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas' last month, it was a good read. It contains the writings of both DM Heng Sure and Heng Chau on their 3 steps one bow pilgrimage to CTTB. Very interesting. Especially the events that take place along the way. =)
Within this book Faith was mentioned many times. John, I promised to find out about the writings when i got home and here they are - i thought of posting it here so everyone could read them =) ohh and so sorry for the long delay!!
So what is Faith? The following verses are extracted from the above book.
"Faith is the source of the Path and the mother of merit and virtue. It nurtures and raises all wholesome dharmas. It cuts through the nets of doubts and leaves the flow of love. It opens up the highest road to Nirvana." - Avatamsaka Sutra, Chapter 12, Part 1
"Faith has no turbidity, no stain, it purifies the mind, it eradicates arrogance, it is the basis of respect...With faith one can give and the mind will not be stingy. With faith one can happily enter the Buddhadharma." - Avatamsaka Sutra, Chapter 12, Part 1
"Faith is strong and slowly it starts to thaw our frozen hearts and light up our cloudy minds. Faith's power is solid, nothing can destroy it."
Beautiful words. The Avatamsaka Sutra (Flower Adornment Sutra) contains 39 chapters and it explains everything about life and the universe. One of the chapters is on the formation/coming of the world while another is on how we come into this world. Can't wait to get a copy of this sutra! =D
2 comments:
Hi Nicole!
Thank you for posting those quotes, great stuff. I have read a lot about the Flower Garland sutra, I hear it's one of Thich Nhat Hanh's favorites. I found a link to it online here if you're interested:
http://www.buddhistinformation.com/ida_b_wells_memorial_sutra_library/avatamsaka_sutra.htm
Maybe you can print it out :)
Faith does indeed purify the mind. The mind wanders endlessly, searching, grasping. I don't think there is any easier way to rest the mind than by having faith, by letting go of self-power and leaving everything to other-power. Sometimes you can spend years trying to tame your mind, and yet in just a moment of faith we can let go of everything, and the truth emerges. :)
Thanks for posting. Hope all is well with you!
John
Wow..i like the way u describe faith! Couldnt agree more with u! =D Sometimes enlightenment and realisation emerge during the moment when we surrender ourselves to faith - just because we let go of everything we are attached to, and quoting ya, the truth emerges..=)
I'm doing fine here, just having tonnes of assignments piling on me for now lol! Hope everything's great for u there too! ;)
Btw, thanks loads for the link!! Now i can start with Book 1 of the Sutra! =D
Take care,
Nicole
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