What say ye to this?

Question

:
"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."
-- The Buddha.

Answer 1

Thank You!

Answer 2

Buddha makes the assumption that the reader has enough synaptic vesicles operating in the brain to allow for effective "reasoning" and "observation."

Two people can look at the same event and both report different scenarios.

In this age of high speed communication, instant messaging, worldwide connectivity, 24/7 live coverage of any and all events happening in the world how can we observe and reason?

We have to "trust" those who best portray the information in a format that we can digest and understand what we "need" to know. We filter and reject most of what we hear, see and read. Even the information suppliers are becoming expert in "revising" their stories as they go, thus we have learned to be fluid as we process our information. Therefore we already do not believe everything we hear, see and read.

Buddha sat on a hill in meditation.... he never imagined the world we have to contend with today. If he had lived in this generation, I suspect he would have either gone insane or been a regular on the Jerry Springer Show with one of those signs that says "The End is Near!"



g-day!

Answer 3

For Kekionga - The principles of loving kindness, genuine compassion, tolerance and non-judgment, and respect for all being look the same whether seen from a hilltop in India or a street corner in New York City.

And for Sarge - You do not know whether this was written by the Buddha, and that is precisely why you should question it. It does not matter whether the Buddha said it, what matters is whether it is meaningful.

The Truth does not care who says it.

Answer 4

Living like that :D.

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For elementary006 .... can you explain YOUR meaning of the following?

"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"

In my view, it means believe and live up to it only after observation and analysis.

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For reconciled one : You do not need an imaginary icon to judge, you have your own conscience, that is a good way to judge. If you need this imaginary icon to judge good and evil, maybe the court rooms should be filled with god and goddess instead of judges.

Answer 5

I think it was very deep, and an excellent piece of profound writing which would be very good to use in ones daily life and to live by....and I'm not even a Buddhist, but I like the principles and try to live by them.

Answer 6

About time some one opens the window for some fresh air! Well done! The Truth

Answer 7

I agree....but how am I to know this was actually written by "The Buddha", and how am I to know this person actually existed?

Answer 8

Well from that quotation he never says to actually believe in things. And why should we believe in things?

Answer 9

but what if there are knowledges proved by many people and generations like something universal ¿Do I have to investigate all from the begining?

Answer 10

Most of what is said in Buddhism is wise. This is not an exception.

Answer 11

It makes a lot of sense to me