What is Saddha? Understanding Faith vs. Blind Belief in Buddhism

Is Buddhist faith "blind," or is it based on reason? In this episode, we explore Saddhā (Sanskrit: Śraddhā), the fundamental concept of confidence and trust in the Triple Gem: The Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha.

Many practitioners struggle with doubt. We discuss why Saddhā is not blind belief, but a "reasoned faith" that acts as the seed for all spiritual growth. You’ll learn how to balance faith with Wisdom (Paññā) and how to cultivate the Five Spiritual Faculties to deepen your meditation practice and path to enlightenment.

Key topics covered:

• The Triple Gem: Placing trust in the Buddha, his teachings, and the community.

• Faith vs. Wisdom: Why you need both "wheels of the chariot" to progress.

• The Five Spiritual Powers: Saddhā, Viriyā (Effort), Sati (Mindfulness), Samādhi (Concentration), and Paññā (Wisdom).

• Verifying the Dhamma: Moving from provisional acceptance to personal realization.

Timestamps: Introduction to Saddhā and Śraddhā Why Buddhist faith isn't "blind belief" The Triple Gem: Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha Balancing the Chariot: Faith and Wisdom The Five Spiritual Faculties (Indriya) explained Moving from trust to unshakeable conviction