覚る自信
Confidence to attain enlightenment
2024-03-19 18:00:00
Among practitioners of the Buddhist path, there may be those who have confidence in their own awakening and those who do not.
Even among those who are confident here,
is it absolute confidence?
When pressed strongly, there may not be a single practitioner who can assert that.
And it's a common perception that among practitioners of the Buddhist path, the actual attainment of awakening (= liberation) may involve certain elements of chance or good fortune.
On the other hand, if a person who has already attained enlightenment (= liberation) were to return to worldly existence without losing their memory and once again strive for awakening, they would undoubtedly have absolute confidence in their renewed awakening.
And they will actually show that they can accomplish it.
The basis of this confidence lies in the understanding that their enlightenment (= liberation) did not arise by chance, nor was it brought about by good fortune, but rather through the cultivation of merit and the firm karmic connections they have built.
In short, they have a firm conviction that their faith in Buddhism is absolute, and they understand the methods of accumulating merit. Therefore, they have a strong and unwavering confidence that diligent practice will inevitably lead them back to enlightenment (= liberation) before long.
And this applies equally to practitioners who have never attained enlightenment (or liberation). If such a practitioner were to possess the same unwavering faith, diligently accumulate merit, and earnestly seek the truth, it is likely that they too will attain enlightenment (= liberation) before long.
Furthermore, here, having unwavering faith, diligently accumulating merit, and earnestly seeking the truth essentially means 'convincing oneself that one can do/understand at the end and diligently practicing'.
The subtlety of this is akin to someone who, having solved one puzzle ring, approaches another without a shred of doubt that it will eventually be solved, earnestly believing that with sincere effort, they will eventually separate the pieces, eagerly anticipating the joy of solving it, and approaching it with unwavering determination.
By the way, there are admirable practitioners in the world who, without even knowing about the existence of Nirvana, faintly perceive its existence. They deeply believe that everyone can attain enlightenment (= liberation) and become a Buddha, and they likely have strong confidence in eventually becoming a Buddha themselves.
He will actually strive for Nirvana, gradually accumulating merit, and eventually attain enlightenment (= liberation).
He will actually strive for Nirvana, gradually accumulating merit, and eventually attain enlightenment (= liberation). This is always the case, namely, the emergence of such admirable practitioners and their eventual attainment of Buddhahood itself is nothing but the manifestation of the Dharma.
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