Sadha is a Pali word often translated as faith. It can also mean trust or confidence and it refers to the quality of our heart/mind that has the power to open us to things greater than ourselves.  Faith is not the same as belief.  Belief—draws conclusions, fixes views and opinions and draws conflicts. Faith does not draw conclusions; rather it awakens us to a mystery of life that opens us to greater freedom.

Faith is part of our initial inspiration to practice.  We have strong seeds of faith or we wouldn’t be here on this path.  Just by coming to sits and other offerings at NYI, we are saying that we think there’s something other than what the world thinks is of value. Faced with pain, distress, confusion, uncertainty, we have two possibilities — get more bewildered and confused, or in the face of suffering, look for a way of understanding.  What is the meaning of this?  Is there a way to find freedom? This quality of faith enables us to make a commitment: to practice, to observe our experiences, to investigate our mind and to come to a deeper understanding of it all.

And it leads to the ultimate refuge of knowing that peace is within us.  Our confidence grows moment by moment in practice and as faith unfolds along our whole life’s journey of understanding, of growing in wisdom and compassion.