August 22, 2024
The Necessity of Confidence
Given
that one of Buddhism’s three marks of existence is the lack of any
unchanging, permanent self, it might seem contradictory that
self-confidence is such an important quality for Buddhist practice. But
an inner strength and stability is necessary to endure all of life’s ups
and downs—all the suffering inherent in existence. Trust in one’s own
ability is necessary for moving along the path of awakening—for
cultivating wholesome qualities and seeking wisdom.
One way to develop confidence is through direct experience, which the
Buddha emphasized as a requirement of clear seeing. Instead of
encouraging blind faith, the Buddha encouraged “coming and seeing for
oneself,” or ehipassiko, which both requires confidence and instills it.
Many of us, though, aren’t starting from neutral, and must first
overcome deeply-rooted self-doubt and lack of self-worth. Meditation
teacher Tara Brach, who calls this the “trance of unworthiness,” lays
out a four-step practice for separating ourselves from these unkind and
untrue thoughts, so that we may move beyond them to find spaciousness
and peace. After loosening our attachment to negative self conceptions,
we can go further to perceive the impermanent nature of reality and even
our own selves. As meditation teacher Ethan Nichtern points out,
although it sounds ironic, “You can’t develop self-confidence unless you
accept the truth that there is no solid self.” No longer so tightly
bound to our own images, we lose the urge to be defensive or
self-critical, and an inner assuredness arises.
This week’s Three Teachings delve into the need for confidence in ourselves, our practice, and our capacity to awaken.
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