2500-Year-Old Wisdom on How Filter Important Information
Good morning, fellow affirmers!
Our world is awash in information. We're all constantly drinking from a fire hose. Would you agree? This makes deep thought about the information and separating the important from the crap a challenge for all of us.
2500 years ago, Siddhartha Gautama (aka The Buddha) was asked a question we might ask in our world today. His answer is a simple and profound strainer to help us separate the wheat from the chaff in our lives today. Here's the story.
Thus have I heard. During a visit to the town of the Kalamas, the Buddha was asked a crucial question by the people of that place.
“Reverend Gautama, many teachers enter our midst teaching that their way and their way alone is the path to salvation. They extol the virtues of their own doctrines while tearing down the doctrines of other teachers. This creates doubt in our minds about all their teachings. For how are we to know which speaks the truth and which speaks falsehood?”
Buddha replied, “Kalamas, you have doubt in circumstances where doubt is understandable. Where doubt thrives, uncertainty is born.”
The Buddha proposed a test against which to measure any teaching including his own.
The Filter
Do not believe something because it has been passed down and believed for many generations.
Do not believe something merely because it is a traditional practice.
Do not believe something because everyone believes it.
Do not believe something because it is written in a book and has been recited over and over.
Do not believe something solely on the grounds of logical reasoning.
Do not believe something because it fits your preconceived notions.
Do not believe something because you trust who is saying it.
Do not believe something only because your teacher says it is so.
“Kalamas, when you yourselves know directly something is unskillful, unwholesome, blameworthy, rejected by the wise, harmful to yourselves or others, leads to poverty or unhappiness of both yourself and others, you should give it up.”
“On the other hand, Kalamas, when you yourselves know directly that something is skilled, wholesome, blameless, praised by the wise, and leads to well-being, prosperity, and happiness of both yourself and others, you should accept it and practice it.”
The filter is you and your innate knowledge of what is beneficial to yourself and the world. We don't see our leaders using a filter like that often. If it's to be, it's up to us. If you strain the news and information that comes your way each day with this filter, you'll find yourself more aligned with your truth and THE truth.
We all need to examine the beliefs that are driving our actions in this world. When we look at the state of the world, we must conclude that there is more each of us can do to make a difference. It all begins with questioning age-old beliefs. Even beliefs based in truth can become clouded by generations of unexamined hatreds, fears, and prejudices.
Every change, personal or global, begins with the courage to question.
Ray