One of the attractive aspects of Buddhism to many of us is that it does not require blind faith in a teacher or the teachings. However, in several suttas, the Buddha referred to faith as a type of wealth or treasure. And Bhikkhu Bodhi has said the significance of faith is that it “serves as a spur to practice.” There are at least three different types of faith described in our Buddhist tradition, including bright faith, verified faith, and unshakeable faith. We will take a look at these and other facets of faith.

When the generous lay supporter of the Buddha, Anathapindika, was ill near the end of his life, he was visited by the renowned monk Sariputta who offered him what was then considered an advanced training (for lay people anyway) on not clinging. In this talk, we will explore and discuss this teaching and compare it with some other teachings in a similar vein. You are welcome to read the sutta ahead of time (Majjhima Nikaya 143), although that is certainly not required.

Here are a few points that were mentioned in this talk:

• Detailed sutta for this talk: Majjhima Nikāya 19: Two Kinds of Thought
• The non-profit Buddhist Pathways Prison Project
• The book Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out
• The documentary The Abolitionists Series
• There are several reading lists if you search the internet, for example 10 Books About Race To Read …
• Shirley Weber’s (D-San Diego) AB3121 will establish a task force to develop reparations for African Americans.