Right Faith in the Dharma – Venerable Thich Phap Hoa

Believing in the Buddha as a Teacher, Not a Deity

• Understanding Right Faith (short explain) in Buddhism

Right belief in the Buddha means seeing the Buddha as an enlightened teacher, not as a deity who can grant blessings or salvation.

• The Buddha shows the path, guides us, and helps us realize the truth, but He cannot do the work for us.
• If prayers are answered, it is because of our own karmic merit; if not, it means the right conditions haven’t been met, not because the Buddha is ineffective.
• Thinking that the Buddha is a deity who has the power to grant or deny blessings is to view the Buddha as a god.

For example:

• If you offer food to the Buddha and pray for a long list of desires, does that seem reasonable?
• If you pray but don’t take action, just sitting and waiting, are you deceiving yourself?

What Does True Prayer Mean?

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To pray means to wish, and to vow means to act.

• When we pray: “May the Buddha bless my business”, it means we wish for success.
• But to succeed in business, we must take action; we cannot just sit and wait.
• Prayer without action cannot bring results.

Applying the Dharma in Life

In life, words are as important as actions.

• Just as our mouths nourish our bodies, they should also speak beautiful words to nourish our hearts.
• When eating, the monastery teaches eating with mindfulness, with each bite connected to a vow:

1. May I bring joy to others.
2. May I alleviate the suffering of myself and others.
3. May I learn the practice of joy.
4. May I learn the practice of letting go.

These vows embody the Four Immeasurable Minds: loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity.

Anger or Clarity is Up to Our Mind

• When angry, our mind is clouded, leading to wrong speech, wrong thoughts, and wrong actions.
• When we understand the situation and discern right from wrong, our mind becomes clear, and we no longer feel anger.
• In reality, nothing is inherently right or wrong, it all depends on our perception.

For example:

• We may see a table placed incorrectly, but perhaps the other person has a reason for putting it there.
• Understanding this, we don’t get angry but learn to accept and adjust accordingly.

The Buddha is Wisdom, the Dharma is the Path

• Believing in the Buddha is believing in wisdom and clarity.
• Believing in the Dharma is believing in the teachings, the correct path to practice.
• Believing in the Sangha is believing in the community of practitioners.

If you encounter a practitioner who does not follow the teachings correctly, don’t lose faith in the Dharma.

• If a baker doesn’t follow the recipe properly and the bread turns out wrong, it doesn’t mean the recipe is wrong.
• If a teacher acts improperly, it doesn’t mean the Buddha’s teachings are wrong, it means the practitioner is at fault.

Six Things to Believe in Buddhism

1. Self-belief – Believing that we have the ability to change and practice.
2. Belief in others – Believing that there are good and truthful people in the world.
3. Belief in causes – Believing that everything has a cause.
4. Belief in effects – Believing that every action has a result.
5. Belief in the truth – Believing in the truths of the universe, the law of karma, and impermanence.
6. Belief in conditions – Believing in the workings of the world based on dependent origination.

Final Thought

1. Believing in the Buddha means believing in a teacher, not a deity.
2. Prayer is a wish, but action is necessary to fulfill it.
3. Live mindfully, speak beautiful words, just as we eat to nourish our bodies.
4. Anger is caused by our own mind, and practice helps clear the mind.
5. The Buddha is wisdom, the Dharma is the path, and the Sangha is the community – place your faith where it belongs.
6. Believe in karma, believe in yourself to go in the right direction.

Practice is not about waiting for blessings, but about changing ourselves, mastering our lives through wisdom and compassion.

This article is compiled based on a sermon by Venerable Thích Pháp Hoà

The Original Dharma Talk

Dharma talk: The Buddha is not a God, he is a teacher – Venerable Thich Phap Hoa

Below is his original lesson:

Pháp Thoại: Phật là người thầy, không phải thần thánh – Thầy Thích Pháp Hoà