Having heard the Buddha speak the Lay Disciple exclaims:
Excellent, Lord, excellent! It is as if someone were to set
up right what had
been knocked, and turned upside-down, or it is as if someone
revealed what
was covered up and hidden, or it is as if someone pointed
out the way to one,
who had got lost by going astray, or it is as if someone
brought a lamp into a
dark place, so that those with eyes could see the forms
there! Exactly so has
the Blessed Buddha explained this true Dhamma in many
various clear ways.
Therefore do I, Venerable Sir, hereby take refuge in the
Blessed Buddha,
hereby take refuge in the true Dhamma, and hereby take
refuge in the
Noble Sangha... May the Blessed Buddha accept and know me as
a lay-follower
from this day on, and as long as this life shall last! So is
the faith of those who
after countless lives at last have accumulated
and now
possesses the right
ripe
conditions for attaining the advantageous state of
a lay
disciple of a Buddha...
This is the very first step towards the Bliss of Deathless
Nibbāna!
On
Faith, Confidence, Conviction (Saddhā):
Faith Summary,
Fruitful Faith,
Unwavering Faith,
Going Forth Faith,
The Buddha on Faith,
Rich Faith,
Analysis of Faith,
Dual Faith,
Fine Faith,
Highest Faith,
Leaping Faith,
Outstanding Faith,
Power of Faith,
Mutual_Faith,
Full_Faith_Frees,
Raining_Faith,
Hand_Wealth_&_Seed,
Devotion_is_Delight!
Source: DN 2 The
Fruits of Retreat: Sāmaññaphala Sutta I 85
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.02.0.than.html
