This week I meditate on faith. In the Abhidharma style, I see it as a "wholesome" meditation state. And it certainly feels wholesome.
What intrigues me is the difference between faith and expectation. Faith feels more like a state that alligns us with inner wellbeing. The more we experience the innate well being of presence, kindness and wisdom, the more these qualities manifest and the easier it is to have faith. Expectation, which in Vajrayana is something to be let go of, rather than cultivated, is perhaps more allied to external well being. It's true that when we expect external reward and we value those rewards we work harder for them.
But if we can manifest a stable sense of faith and work towards more intrinsic values, then the odds of true sustenance seem greater because we have more control of our inner life.
Faith nurtures diligence.
I remember that I used to refer often to "the procrastination equation." Motivation is the result of expectation multiplied by value (reduced by impulsivity multiplied by delay).
But if we replace expectation with faith, and replace external values with internal ones then our motivation will always be strong enough to support our diligence and effort. Impulsivity becomes spontaneity, and delay becomes a sustainining emptiness.
Let's test this out!
