Belief (Buddhism, Yoga)

In Hindu thought, a state of faith is necessary for the search of the individual for God, an utter trust in the scriptures and the teaching of one's guru which is fulfilled and superseded when union is achieved and Brahman realized. As an activity of the soul, belief is the means of achieving discrimination of pure spirit and, according to yogic tradition, is the first stage on the path to samadhi. The further steps on this path: energy; memory (or right mindfulness); a high order of meditation; and right perception, may be compared, together with belief, with the five determining mental factors of Buddhist teaching. As one of these latter factors, belief is that which keeps the mind from being side-tracked by another view of what has been already ascertained. It is a conviction of the truth of the teaching, based upon experience and not blind acceptance.

In Hinayana Buddhism, that by which one believes, or which believes, or is merely believing, is faith. It has the characteristic of trust or having faith; its function is to purify or to enter into. It manifests as resolution and clarity (non-fogginess). As proximate cause are things to gave faith in or those things, commencing with the hearing of good dhamma (saddhamma), which constitute stream entry (association with good people, wise attention, conduct according to dhamma).

One of the five determining mental factors of Tibetan Buddhist teaching. One of the formations aggregate (mental coefficients) of Hinayana Buddhism, being listed among the constant states which appear in their true nature, and as profitable primary (always present in profitable or profitable-resultant consciousness). One of the six great virtues – saktasampatti – as set out by Shankara.