I came across this thought provoking piece of advice while I was reading today:
Do not simply believe what you hear just because you have heard it for a long time.
Do not follow tradition blindly merely because it has been practiced in that way for many generations.
Do not be quick to listen to rumors.
Do not confirm anything just because it agrees with your scriptures.
Do not foolishly make assumptions.
Do not abruptly draw conclusions by what you see and hear.
Do not be fooled by outward appearances.
Do not hold on tightly to any view or idea just because you are comfortable with it.
Do not accept as fact anything that you yourself find to be logical.
Do not be convinced of anything out of respect or deference to your spiritual teachers.
You should go beyond opinion and belief. You can rightly reject anything which when accepted, practiced, and perfected leads to more aversion, more craving and more delusion. They are not beneficial and to be avoided.
Conversely, you can rightly accept anything which when accepted and practiced leads to unconditional love, contentment and wisdom. These things allow you time and space to develop a happy and peaceful mind.
This should be your criteria on what is and what is not the truth; on what should be and what should not be the spiritual practice.
-From the Kalama Sutra, The Buddha
...Thoughts?
I came across these words in author Kelly Cutrone's book today... It was so compelling, I had to look it up and came across your site.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
I like "Do not follow tradition blindly merely because it has been practiced in that way for many generations," ... it speaks well to many religions.