In Yoga and Buddhism - Part 1 - The Cultivation of
Faith

In the practice of Yoga and Buddhism it is not belief
that is the most important thing, but faith in the
teachings and practices that make them up.

This faith is something that has to be developed as
one experiences the benefits of them, not a blind
faith in the teachings as they are when one is
presented with them.

This means that individuals may have to put forth some
effort for a period of time while there is still a
great deal of doubt in their minds.

This period of time may last anywhere from a few days
to a few years.

The length of this period will be primarily determined
by three things.

These are the extent and depth of their conditioning,
the amount of time and effort they put into
understanding and applying the teachings and the
quality of the instruction that they receive.

It is not at all surprising that individuals would
experience and feel doubt about Yoga and Buddhism.

I fact, one would be surprised if they did not.

This doubt can be further intensified if they are made
to feel guilty or shamed by peers and other members of
their family and community because of their interest
in learning either Yoga or Buddhism.
We sometimes forget that many of our problems as
individuals and as a world are because of such
individuals, who we might sadly and may reluctantly
think of as being small – minded, who think that their
way and their reality is the reality of life, and in
such a perception, they demonize and ridicule those
who do not think, say or do the same as they.

Yoga and Buddhism do not claim to be cure-alls for all
the people in the world nor all the ills in the world.

They both offer us a set of teachings and practices
which can complement our current religion or can
provide us with a spiritual practice that incorporates
many of the values, morals, ethics and behaviors as
religions do already.

We can think of them as being paths to better health
and living, with a clearer mind and body, if the
perceived spiritual dimension of them disturbs us
somewhat.

With the cultivation of faith, based on the
experiences of learning and practicing them, we may
find that spirituality is not something that consists
of wearing white, retiring to a cave and uttering
words of wisdom throughout the day, but instead just
being more focused on what it is we are doing, and be
relaxed and mindful at the same time.

We may learn and find out that spirituality is
something that we can practice in our day to day
living, living and working as a mechanic, housewife,
lawyer or student.

We will need a bit of patience and at times guidance
and understanding from others in order to cultivate
this faith in the teachings.

We may want to give up, thinking that it is all a
waste of time and energy.

This may happen even to someone who has practiced for
some time already.

But if we drift away form the teachings and practices,
we may also find that we are returning to a more
stagnated way of being, attached to our thoughts and
feelings, and perhaps finding that we are getting
angry and anxious about life.

Life takes effort and even though we put forth this
effort, things do not always go our way or the way we
would like them to go or think they should go.

It is the same with Yoga and Buddhism.

But in both life and in Yoga and Buddhism, if we stick
with it, we get benefits and rewards that make the
effort a worthwhile one.

©2004 John C. Kimbrough

(John lives and teaches in Bangkok, Thailand. He can
be reached at johnckimbrough@yahoo.com)