The title of this post seems outrageous. It may instead be more outrageous if we simply believe and that is the problem with many.
Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.
Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.
Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.
But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many.
Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.
Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.
Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.
But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.
Buddha.
In other words, we should never be rigid and dogmatic in approach. What matters is to do good, avoid evil and purify the mind. This Buddha said is the teaching of all Buddhas and all saints.
Gotama Buddha even said that there are three evil roots that give rise to bad or evil. They are false views, greed and ill-will.
There are corresponding three good roots that give rise to good. They are right views, good-will and moderation (non-greed and no self denial).
False views include false view of annihilation, no life after death. The other main false view is that there is eternity of life in Heaven or Hell after death. There are of course variations of the two.
False views can lead to threats rooted with ill-will for those who do not go along with the believers. What is wrong for those who know us when we have different beliefs or views of same beliefs. Why should they object or be unhappy with us? Won't that be bigotry?
The need for more to join the crowd so that one who coerces more to do so will gain favor of the leader has to do with selfishness. This is often due to self interests or greed.
This applies to beliefs in the two main false views - no life after death and eternity of life in Heaven or Hell after death. This applies to variations of such beliefs.
The Abhidharma or higher doctrine is one of the three baskets of teachings of the Buddha. It deals in great depth and details on the three roots but its translation to English leaves much to be desired.
Admittedly it may be due to the vagueness of the writers who are lacking in grasp of the topics and sub-topics. There is no need to know any or more of the very substance in the Abhidharma before one can be enlightened about life let alone be Buddha.
'Thou shall not belief' advice by Buddha is of great value to his followers. They often need only to know just a bit - the basics to cultivate the enlightened approach to life. Truth is life a raft to be used to cross to the other shore.
Even Lord Bo Tien said that there is no need to be upset if some who come to his temple or mission differ from what members believe. This does not mean men with doubts and differences are not with the temple or mission.
If because of doubts and differences, they understand more and also make the core members understand more, that would be beneficial and great for all. Believers and non-believers alike will be equally well regarded by the lord saint and be blessed.
There is no discrimination by the lord saint or for that matter by God and all heavenly saints. Men may be bigots but God and saints are not. Men must rise above bigotry and be a wee bit like God and saints.
Gotama Buddha even said that there are three evil roots that give rise to bad or evil. They are false views, greed and ill-will.
There are corresponding three good roots that give rise to good. They are right views, good-will and moderation (non-greed and no self denial).
False views include false view of annihilation, no life after death. The other main false view is that there is eternity of life in Heaven or Hell after death. There are of course variations of the two.
False views can lead to threats rooted with ill-will for those who do not go along with the believers. What is wrong for those who know us when we have different beliefs or views of same beliefs. Why should they object or be unhappy with us? Won't that be bigotry?
The need for more to join the crowd so that one who coerces more to do so will gain favor of the leader has to do with selfishness. This is often due to self interests or greed.
This applies to beliefs in the two main false views - no life after death and eternity of life in Heaven or Hell after death. This applies to variations of such beliefs.
The Abhidharma or higher doctrine is one of the three baskets of teachings of the Buddha. It deals in great depth and details on the three roots but its translation to English leaves much to be desired.
Admittedly it may be due to the vagueness of the writers who are lacking in grasp of the topics and sub-topics. There is no need to know any or more of the very substance in the Abhidharma before one can be enlightened about life let alone be Buddha.
'Thou shall not belief' advice by Buddha is of great value to his followers. They often need only to know just a bit - the basics to cultivate the enlightened approach to life. Truth is life a raft to be used to cross to the other shore.
Even Lord Bo Tien said that there is no need to be upset if some who come to his temple or mission differ from what members believe. This does not mean men with doubts and differences are not with the temple or mission.
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| Lord Bo Tien, never at all his intent to start a new religion or sect but to enable men to be better in their respective religion or sect more so in the basic or inner truth common to all religions and sects. |
If because of doubts and differences, they understand more and also make the core members understand more, that would be beneficial and great for all. Believers and non-believers alike will be equally well regarded by the lord saint and be blessed.
There is no discrimination by the lord saint or for that matter by God and all heavenly saints. Men may be bigots but God and saints are not. Men must rise above bigotry and be a wee bit like God and saints.
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Well in conclusion, God and saint speak through men but men should not speak for God and saint. Men should not just believe what God and saints say but must question. Lord Bo Tien did say that "it is alright to have doubts and this is the way for men to learn and be better off from the learning." 'Thou shall not believe' advice by Lord Buddha was delivered to the Kalamas in days of old and is sometimes referred to as the Kalama Sutra. We should always question to know better and not believe blindly or out of faith. That is why many think there is no religion behind Buddha and Tao culture and belief systems. We can believe what saints say but only after questioning, analysis and grasp. Dogmatic approach is no longer the way to go, except perhaps with young children. But children too keep asking 'why?' and it may be best that we leave things as be for now than risk confusing them further. |
