In Zen Buddhism, the Three Pillars or Three Essentials of Practice are Great Faith, Great Doubt, and Great Determination (or Perseverance). They work in harmony like three legs of a stool providing balance on the path of awakening. Great Faith is having trust in this path, trust that awakening is possible and trust in your true nature – your Buddha nature. Great Doubt is the examination of reality and the nature of self which arises when faith is present. It is the deep inquiry into our assumptions while remaining curious and open to the mystery. Great Determination is the steadfast resolve to continue practice no matter what the obstacles or the doubt. It is tapping into our well of spiritual discipline, strength, and courage, meeting challenges with unwavering commitment.

Great Faith
by Emyo Darlene Tataryn

Great Faith is rooted in the great Not Knowing – not “I know” or “I don’t know.” Great Faith is both held and penetrated by the Not Knowing, which is fully, truly, and purely aware. It is upon and within Not Knowing, this suchness, that Great Faith draws its strength and stability. 

Be still and know or don’t know. It does not matter, literally. 

We must trust the peace and stability of this groundless ground. Over and over, we risk our trust; learning, testing, questioning, until we finally realize it is I who comes and goes, not the great suchness. Out of this, Great Faith has its birth. 

With this fearless surrender informed from the depths of empty luminous ground, and guided by the stream of all wisdom minds, we choose, in faith, the one next step in this existence. Great Faith recognizes empty, timeless, boundless, fearless peace, as well as the appearance of all “10,000 things.”

We will be still and patient with Great Faith until realization flashes its inexorable wisdom that all emergence is already liberated.

For further exploration

Faith: Its Role and Meaning in a Buddhist Wisdom Faith Tradition – Sharon Salzberg

Nothing to Be: Losing the Self in Faith to the Buddha – Francis Dojun Cook

Faith in Buddhism: Not Just a Mere Belief – Khenpo Sodargye

The Dalai Lama Reflects on Faith in Buddhism and Christianity

Faith and Doubt in the Buddhist Tradition – Barbara O’Brien

The Power of Faith – Leslie Booker

Five Requirements for Effective Practice with Any Issue – Zen Studies Podcast (36:43) – transcript available