I have a problem w/ faith.

I need to strengthen my faith in Buddhism.  If it is not one thing, then there is another hindrance popping up.  I was always interested in Zen Buddhism.  I never thought that worshipping Buddhas was part of the process.  I thought that Shakyamuni Buddha didn't want this statue being worshipped.  He told people to practice instead of doing that.  Finally I came across Tibetan Buddhism 3 yrs ago and took refuge without knowing what it was all about.  and I admit i had doubts about it.  Finally realized that you gotta have faith in your Guru, Buddhas, Dharma or you would get into trouble.  I didn't seriously practice until 3 months ago, because when I first practiced a lot of mental hindances came up.  I was scared of the thoughts I was having.  Now I felt I was a long way from the state I was in, but now a new hindrance came up.  I am still doubting, but it took a different form.  I think that the dharma makes sense. The Four Noble Truths makes sense.  But now I am doubting the Buddhas.  Like what are their motives for helping us.  I realize that a lot of people have gained enlightenment in the past and I am assuming they realized the truth through meditation and through  Buddhism or Taoism.  But I can't shake this feeling.  Please help asap.  I feel that once I gain great faith, nothing else can hinder me.  So I need it badly.  Much thanks.

maybe if i really knew how compassionate the Buddhas are i wouldn't have these doubts, but i never met a Buddha before.  Well, I met Grandmaster, but i don't know him.  I never engaged in conversation w/ him nor hung out w/ him.  i have this thought.  what would happen to me if i did gain enlightenment and something bad happened to me?  laughable thought, but stupidity knows no bounds.  Can someone help me get rid of this doubt?  thanks.

your Guru, Buddhas, Dharma or you would get into trouble.  i didn't seriously practice until 3 months ago, because when i first practiced alot of mental hindances came up.  i was scared of the thoughts i was having.  now i felt i was a long way from the state i was in, but now a new hindrance came up.  i am still doubting, but it took a different form.  i think that the dharma makes sense.  4 noble truthsmakes sense.  but now i am doubting the buddhas.  like

##Raychin, I had been there before, and even up to today, I sometimes still
doubt Buddha's wisdom and compassion.

When I first took refuge, I didnt believe in GM, just like you. When people told me that "you must have faith in GM otherwise there is no blessing power"
I said HOW!! Faith can not be forced!!! Besides, I am an educated person,
I dont want to believe in something because I have to!!

sound familiar?

Raychin, life is a long path of looking for truth. Through different ups and downs, we understand ourselves better and understand Buddhas better. Buddhism
is not about miracle, but to find and explore the potentials in ourselves.

You need to read more books. With a better understanding in Buddhism, you will see things from different aspects. YOu also need to engage yourself in practice, without the practice, you will not feel the blessing.

Meanwhile, dont force yourself to be enlightened! Let's nature take its course!
Before long, you will enjoy the blessing of Buddhas that everyone of us has :-)

Also, when I said "practice", I dont mean that do it once a week and stop for
2 years. Truthfully, if you do that, you are not going to feel much difference. Be diligent in your practice! Try to do it at least 4 times a week!

As far as bad things come when you do your practice. I had the same experience. When I took refuge, I had horrible spiritual experiences; ghosts came to suck my energy every night; people treated me bad.... What did I do? I practiced harder to prove to the ghosts that I am more formidable than they are! Hahah  I no longer have ghost problems, instead, they are my good friends. Sometimes they inform me something that will happen in advance.


Life is a long journey of seeking yourself. It is not a lonely path, we are
always here for you!

Mimosa

Hey.  thanks mimosa.  that helped alot.

when i first took refuge, i didn't know about faith. to me, GM is someone far away...

i somehow laze around, not doing anything about my faith, until things happened to me and i was hurt real bad.

then i started asking: what is the point of life anyway? Then i went to read more of GM's books. I also went to read on Shakyamuni...I realise i have been wrong my whole life about love, about relationships, about people...

What i know now, as i tell u:
1) everyone around you could have been your sis or brother in a previous life. Treat them as if they are family members. When you see them suffer, ask urself: my sis/brother is suffering. When that compassion arise, you will realise that Buddha and Bodhissatva's compassion is so great that the sufferings you observe is only a small fraction of that seen by Buddhas and Boddhissatva. The compassion you felt is only a fraction of the compassion that Buddha and Boddhisattva felt.

Why did Golden Mother cry when she said she observed that people are constantly in the wheel of trasnmigration because of love, greed, etc? That is compassion at the highest.

With that compassion comes impt ways to detach oneself from the suffering of reincarnation. These ways materialised as a result of compassion by all Buddhas and Bodhissattvas...If you read the vows of Kwanyin or the vows of Kshitigarbha, you would be so astounded by their compassion...I rememberd reading Kwanyin "Pu-men-pin" and i was so touched that i nearly cried...

GM's vows are just as great. He also gave us TRue Buddha Tantric Practice. He always reminded us to practice. The reason: his compassion for all of us...He also said in an article that he would be heartbroken if people dun value TBS practice -- that is the greatest compassion, as he wants everyone to leave the cycle and achieve...

so much compassion by GM to the point that when people attacked him, he still continues with his dharma work...

with compassion for frens adn then the world (that is why you have the four unmeasurables, remember?), comes faith and gratefulness. that is how one should approach cultivation.

My humble opinion

Hi guys...
     Hey Jessie i also use to have a huge problem with faith... but for me i put faith at the bottom of the list or actually to explain it better, faith is the first step to the ladder for any kind of spiritual or even sometimes physcial endevers... there is a point where faith fills in the gap where understanding or wisdom should be... if you only have faith then you arnt working hard enough... your goal is to replace all your faith with wisdom... when you have no faith left and theres only wisdom then you are Buddha...
      So what are the motives of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas? they deffinately dont have minds like most people... there are multiple reasons but three major ones i think are important to remember so you can extinguish your doubts...

        1. Buddhas and Bodhisattva's understand what the true self is... so selfish tendicies of only thinking of one's self no longer applies and so if you no longer consider acting only on your own behalf naturally your attention can now be placed else where... so there is no "motivation" because they seek no self gain, because self gain leads to suffering... ect...

        2. Imagine if everyone were locked inside small cages... and at the same time theres a huge world that could be experienced but since everyone is locked up they arnt able to... A Buddha or Bodhisattva is one who knows a way to excape the cage and is completely free now... Knowing this kind of freedom and seeing all those others still trapped inside their cages you cant help but want to help them so they can be free too...

        3. All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas were exactly like you are now... spiritually seeking truth... they had good times and bad just like you... since they are just like you and everyone around you its as if you could already say... in due time everyone i see before me will be buddhas... and since i have great admiration and respect for the buddhas and bodhisattvas why dont i give everyone else that same repect? after all if not now but later is the same in the end... if you can see everyone in this light you are a great being...

         do you offer flowers to the buddhas? do you offer them to your friends or better yet, enimies?

       om mani padme hum

         
 

i agree with u, Lyciss...

i am still trying to forgive "my enemy", and i believe one day, i will do so. now i am trying very hard...

i believe when the day comes, i would truly understand what true nature is...

it took me a long time to realise my faith (regrettably only after bad things happen). Now, i treasure this faith very much cos' it makes me realise a lot of things. And i treasure this life's connection with GM!