The Complementary Nature of Trust and Healthy Skepticism

The perceived tension between saddha (trust or confidence) and the Buddha’s advocacy for sincere doubt and free inquiry is largely a misunderstanding. Unlike the Abrahamic notion of faith, which often entails unquestioning belief, saddha in Buddhism embodies a thoughtful trust rooted in rational consideration, personal experience, and the teacher’s reputation.

From my own experience as a teacher, I can attest to the importance of social capital — credentials, experience, and reputation. Students naturally gravitate toward trusting a teacher based on this accumulated capital. However, this trust does not equate to uncritical acceptance of all teachings. Instead, it reflects the essence of saddha: it invites students to engage sincerely while employing their own judgment and reasoning.

The Buddha underscored this principle in the Kalama Sutta, where he urged his followers to critically examine teachings and rely on personal experience rather than mere authority, tradition, or even his own words. This call for inquiry complements the concept of saddha; trust in a teacher or teaching serves as a foundation for exploration, but true understanding arises only through personal investigation and verification.

To further clarify this relationship, consider the analogy of social capital and credit scores…