The Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana Doctrine – The New Buddhism

The main text is arranged in five chapters. Chapter I, “Reasons for Writing the Book,” explains that the treatise is composed to lead living beings away from sorrow, clarify the fundamental truth of awakening, guide mature practitioners into the Mahāyāna faith, strengthen those with weaker roots of goodness, remove error, and show the benefits of faith. Chapter II, “The Fundamental Doctrine of the New Buddhism—the Mahayana Faith,” presents the doctrinal foundation of the work, especially the nature and attributes of the ultimate spiritual reality. Chapter III, “Exposition of the Faith,” is the doctrinal core, explaining the transcendent and immanent aspects of reality, acquired knowledge, error, false perception, purifying influences, the relation between the eternal and the conditioned, the correction of heresies, and the stages by which faith develops. Chapter IV, “The Practice of the Faith,” sets out the practical disciplines of charity, ethical conduct, endurance, perseverance, control of vain thought, reflection on impermanence and sorrow, compassion for all beings, and the vow to save others. Chapter V, “The Advantages of the Faith,” concludes by presenting faith as the means to attain the highest doctrine, progress toward Buddhahood, and participate in the path followed by Buddhas and bodhisattvas.