user533: In many religions it is common to say: "Have faith in God" or Jesus or Allah...
In Buddhism we believe in Kamma, meaning that what happens to us is due to our past actions and it is usually not (or never) influenced by an external being. (It can change from school to school, some may pray and ask for things)
So if there is something I want, something I judge important, should I have faith that it will come true? Or should I just do what I think is right and forget about it? What is the best way for a Buddhist to act in this situation?
PS: Please ignore the fact that I want something, I know this could be questioned in Buddhism as the wrong way to happiness, but that would be a different question :)

user4722: Well, not to get too academic in one's understanding, but it would be advisable to check out The Five Strengths
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Strengths
Which are also known as The 5 Powers, The 5 Spiritual Powers.  Edward Conze calls them The Five Spiritual Faculties.  
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/conze/wheel065.html
This article by Sarah Doering from 1999 is really awesome from what I can tell so far

Such faith is born in experience. It can’t be given. It arises spontaneously, out of seeing and knowing for oneself. From it flow devotion and gratitude and commitment. It’s a natural self-giving. It stems from knowing the problematic nature of life, from realizing that human existence is very imperfect. Because of this one is sensitive to what else might be, to some other way of being. Faith may arise from hearing the Buddha’s words that say there’s a cause for suffering, a cause that can be removed so that suffering comes to an end. It may arise from seeing someone whose presence, whose manner or words, are so compelling, that they suggest possibilities not at all understood. It may come from reading something that suddenly reveals a meaning that speaks to the heart. It may dawn through music or art or, as happened to me, from a glimpse of something seen in nature.

more at http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma7/5powers.html
So, in a way, faith is very foundational to Buddhism.  Reasoned faith is stronger than blind faith, but both are good if they are genuine, because the path actually works.
People born in places where Buddhism is the norm might not have looked very much at the teachings at all and still be living a life very in accord with Dhamma.  For people where the teachings appear later (in life) it's natural and good to reason and weigh things.  Eventually confidence is born, and with great faith come great blessings.

user4816: In the Kalama Sutta, the Buddha is reported as saying that Buddhist principles should not be accepted without evidence, and that 'it is proper ... to doubt'. Confidence/trust (sraddha) in the teachings is important, but 'blind' faith is actively discouraged. Here's what he is reported as saying:

"It is proper for you, Kalamas, to doubt, to be uncertain; uncertainty has arisen in you about what is doubtful. Come, Kalamas. Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing; nor upon tradition; nor upon rumor; nor upon what is in a scripture; nor upon surmise; nor upon an axiom; nor upon specious reasoning; nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered over; nor upon another's seeming ability; nor upon the consideration, 'The monk is our teacher.' Kalamas, when you yourselves know: 'These things are bad; these things are blamable; these things are censured by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to harm and ill,' abandon them...
  Kalamas, when you yourselves know: "These things are good; these things are not blamable; these things are praised by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and happiness," enter on and abide in them.

Kalama Sutta: The Buddha's Charter of Free Inquiry

533: <p>In many religions it is common to say: "Have faith in God" or Jesus or Allah...</p>

<p>In Buddhism we believe in Kamma, meaning that what happens to us is due to our past actions and it is usually not (or never) influenced by an external being. (It can change from school to school, some may pray and ask for things)</p>

<p>So if there is something I want, something I judge important, should I have faith that it will come true? Or should I just do what I think is right and forget about it? What is the best way for a Buddhist to act in this situation?</p>

<p>PS: Please ignore the fact that I want something, I know this could be questioned in Buddhism as the wrong way to happiness, but that would be a different question :)</p>
 4722: <p>Well, not to get too academic in one's understanding, but it would be advisable to check out The Five Strengths<br>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Strengths" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Strengths</a></p>

<p>Which are also known as The 5 Powers, The 5 Spiritual Powers.  Edward Conze calls them The Five Spiritual Faculties.  </p>

<p><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/conze/wheel065.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/conze/wheel065.html</a></p>

<p>This article by Sarah Doering from 1999 is really awesome from what I can tell so far</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Such faith is born in experience. It can’t be given. It arises spontaneously, out of seeing and knowing for oneself. From it flow devotion and gratitude and commitment. It’s a natural self-giving. It stems from knowing the problematic nature of life, from realizing that human existence is very imperfect. Because of this one is sensitive to what else might be, to some other way of being. Faith may arise from hearing the Buddha’s words that say there’s a cause for suffering, a cause that can be removed so that suffering comes to an end. It may arise from seeing someone whose presence, whose manner or words, are so compelling, that they suggest possibilities not at all understood. It may come from reading something that suddenly reveals a meaning that speaks to the heart. It may dawn through music or art or, as happened to me, from a glimpse of something seen in nature.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>more at <a href="http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma7/5powers.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma7/5powers.html</a></p>

<p>So, in a way, faith is very foundational to Buddhism.  Reasoned faith is stronger than blind faith, but both are good if they are genuine, because the path actually works.</p>

<p>People born in places where Buddhism is the norm might not have looked very much at the teachings at all and still be living a life very in accord with Dhamma.  For people where the teachings appear later (in life) it's natural and good to reason and weigh things.  Eventually confidence is born, and with great faith come great blessings.</p>
 4816: <p>In the Kalama Sutta, the Buddha is reported as saying that Buddhist principles should not be accepted without evidence, and that 'it is proper ... to doubt'. Confidence/trust (sraddha) in the teachings is important, but 'blind' faith is actively discouraged. Here's what he is reported as saying:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"It is proper for you, Kalamas, to doubt, to be uncertain; uncertainty has arisen in you about what is doubtful. Come, Kalamas. Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing; nor upon tradition; nor upon rumor; nor upon what is in a scripture; nor upon surmise; nor upon an axiom; nor upon specious reasoning; nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered over; nor upon another's seeming ability; nor upon the consideration, 'The monk is our teacher.' Kalamas, when you yourselves know: 'These things are bad; these things are blamable; these things are censured by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to harm and ill,' abandon them...<br>
  Kalamas, when you yourselves know: "These things are good; these things are not blamable; these things are praised by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and happiness," enter on and abide in them.</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/soma/wheel008.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Kalama Sutta: The Buddha's Charter of Free Inquiry</a></p>
