The goal of the spiritual life
The goal of the spiritual life is to bring our attention to a process in the universe that is not and will not be completely understood and yet is fundamental—a part of our everyday life. It is the process that makes all of these happen, that brought all of these, and yet is also hidden and made hidden by all the distraction and worries of modern life, which one could argue is also part of that process.
The self moves away from this process and through its thoughts and actions make it appear as if it is separate. But it isn't. And so the returning to one is the act of remembering and ministry is work to help us return to one easier. The work is to remember this every day and help others remember, too. The remembering, I think, involves faith and is faith.
Because to remember that there exists an incomprehensible process in the universe from where we were borne out of should, I think, naturally move one to trust in that process and to have faith in it. The faith unites the self with the process and collapses the self. And in Jōdo Shinshū, one doesn't have to meditate oneself into this. Pure recognition is enough: "I am one with this process."