Saddha Meaning: Faith and Confidence in Buddhism

In short: Saddha is confidence or trust built on experience: trust in the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha that grows as you test the teaching. It is the first of the five spiritual faculties.

In the Buddha’s words

Please, Kālāmas, don’t go by oral transmission, don’t go by lineage, don’t go by testament, don’t go by canonical authority, don’t rely on logic, don’t rely on inference, don’t go by reasoned train of thought, don’t go by the acceptance of a view after deliberation, don’t go by the appearance of competence, and don’t think ‘The ascetic is our respected teacher.’
AN 3.65, translated by Bhikkhu Sujato (CC0)

Forms

• Confidence in the Buddha as a guide.
• Confidence in the Dhamma as a path.
• Confidence in the Sangha as support.

Practise

Test the teaching in practice rather than taking it on authority. See the Kalama Sutta, the three refuges and the three jewels.

Common misunderstandings

• Saddha is not blind belief. It is confidence that grows as you test the teaching.
• It does not replace questions. The Buddha invited them.
• It is a faculty, like energy. You strengthen it with practice and good company.

Try this: try one practice for a week and note honestly what changes.

Glossary: Buddhist terms · Pali pronunciation