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If we pick up a brush, we feel like writing; if we hold a musical instrument in our hands, we wish to play music. Lifting a wine cup makes us crave saké; taking up dice, we should like to play backgammon. The mind invariably reacts in this way to any stimulus. That is why we should not indulge even casually in improper amusements.
Even a perfunctory glance at one verse of some holy writing will somehow make us notice also the text that precedes and follows; it may happen then, quite suddenly, that we mend our errors of many years. Supposing we had not at that moment opened the sacred text, would we have realized our mistakes? This is a case of accidental contact producing a beneficial result. Though our hearts may not be in the least impelled by faith, if we sit before the Buddha, rosary in hand, and take up a sutra, we may (even in our indolence) be accumulating merit through the act itself; though our mind may be inattentive, if we sit in meditation on a rope seat, we may enter a state of calm and concentration, without even being aware of it.
Phenomenon and essence are fundamentally one. If the outward form is not at variance with the truth, an inward realization is certain to develop. We should not deny that this is true faith; we should respect and honor a conformity to truth.
Essays in Idleness: The Tsurezuregusa of Kenkõ
Donald Keene, tr. 139ff.
Now, no Catholic believes in salvation through works, or rather, only very uninformed ones; but through the ages the fundamental character of man has not changed, and from the patristic sources down to this day we are informed that actions become habits, habits become character. And a person of good character recognizes, accepts, and trusts in truth, more especially, Truth.
The formation of a good conscience and good character is essential to the formation of faith. Good actions beget good character, and faith is just as much an act of will as any good work is. Knowledge has no salvific power, but without it, without Truth informing behavior, how can salvation occur? ...erm, edit later.
6:40:25 AM 
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