Bill!,
Oh, yes, and don't get me wrong. I understand that, and you are very clear.
When I say that faith can emerge and be helpful even more than once, I also
speak from experience. Just a heads up (not necessarily to you, but to anyone)
that this is a possibility, because it has happened.
But I also want to mention that, before one's awakening, our idea of faith is
really very much like an idea (even if we apply it). After awakening, we can
view faith more as if from the inside, and can see how it really functions.
It's not miraculous, but wonderful. And not "merely" wonderful, because it is
in fact an actual wonder.
I resist the temptation to use any more exact or extensive language than this,
and in fact I let it go at that, and at this.
With best greetings!,
--Joe
> "Bill!" <BillSmart@...> wrote:
>
> Joe,
>
> I stated in recent previous post that faith does/may have a place in the
> beginning of zen practice before realization of Buddha Nature. It did in my
> practice. Before the realization of Buddha Nature I believed what my
> teachers were saying about Buddha Nature and my ability to realize it was
> true. That kept me going, among other things. This was a belief not founded
> on experience. It was faith. After realizing Buddha Nature that belief
> based on faith was replaced with experience.
>
> ...Bill!
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