One cannot embark on a long journey without sufficient provisions{1} prepared beforehand. It is the same with learning Buddhism, if one wishes to travel the path to buddhahood{2}, one needs to be equipped with sufficient provision in order to complete the journey.

What are the provisions for learning Buddhism According to the Pureland{3} practices, faith{4}, will{5} and action{6} are the three major provi-sions for rebirth in the Western Pureland.

1.Faith (Wraddha):

Faith, being wise faith, not blind faith, enables pure intentions to arise in the mind. Wise faith is the cause of the purification of the mind, elimi-nation of defilements{7}, and the accomplish-ment of bodhi wisdom or buddhahood. Blind faith, on the other hand, causes only distraction and chaos, obstructs wisdom from arising, and continues the existence of confusion which leads one further away from the path to liberation.

Faith can be further divided into righteous faith{8} and erroneous faith{9}. Anything that conforms to principle{10} and reality, and is of true paradigm instead of mere legend to this world is considered righteous faith. Therefore, a righteous religious belief has its own criteria, that is, it must have a founder, and a set of doctrines. In particular, this founder or teacher must be a real person in history, who possesses morality and pure practices, and whose teachings serves the purpose of helping sentient beings liberate them-selves from the cycle of birth and death, as well as the traps of defilement. Take Sakyamuni Bud-dha for example, he was the prince of Kapilavastu{11} in India, one who had pure conducts and morality, and possesses the amazing power of liberating sentient beings.{12} Thus he is worthy of respect and belief to sentient beings.

Religions are founded on the word ‘faith,’ and their ultimate goal is also based on ‘faith.’ Therefore, the first step to entering the path of buddhahood is ‘faith.’ The Avatamsaka Sutra{13} says, “Faith is the basis for the Way and merits. It nourishes all good roots,” and that “The buddhadharma{14} is a vast ocean, only with faith can we enter it.” When confronted with the vast ocean of Dharma, only sufficient faith will allow us to find our way into it.

Key Words

1 provisions 資糧
2 buddhahood 佛道
3 Pureland 淨土
4 faith 信
5 will 願
6 action 行
7 defilements 煩惱
8 righteous faith 正信
9 erroneous faith 邪信
10 principle 理
11 Kapilavastu 迦毘羅衛國
12 sentient beings 眾生
13 Avatamsaka Sutra 華嚴經
14 buddhadharma 佛法