Brilliant quote (Creator, tradition, Buddhism, beliefs, homosexuality)

[c0da]

“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.

I think this quote is very relevant to everybody regardless of their beliefs. It is telling us to use our reasoning and common sense to work out what philosophy can most ourselves and others around us. It's a quote that I have applied to my own life and I think some people should apply to their own...

Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations

My family is traditionally Christian but this wasn't working for me so I sought a faith that did suit me.

Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.

There is always something more to learn, however much experience and wisdom one has - There are things even the wisest don't know.

Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books.

This can be applied to the modern debate of homosexuality and Christianity. People, often educated and professional hold homophobic views because of what is written in a book centuries old.

Out of all the Buddha quotes, this one is my favourite

[Sunstone]

That's one of my favorite passages in Buddhism too! (I'm also especially fond of, "The wise man lives in his village like a bee taking honey, harming neither flower nor scent.") What I find most striking about Buddhist teachings is how logically consistant they are one with another. They seldom, if ever, contradict each other.

Having said that, I think the passage you cite shows the tremendous empiricism to be found in Buddhism. Of all the religions, it might be the one most based on observation.

[c0da]

Of all the religions, it might be the one most based on observation.

Thats why I love it so much, The Buddha made his discoverys through observations made whilst meditating, obeservations we can all experience ourselves through meditation.


edit* Good response sunstone, I shall frubalize you when it will let me, have to spread around a bit more cheer first!

[Green Gaia]

UUs like it too.

[Mister Emu]

I agree Very insightful...

Edit:

This can be applied to the modern debate of homosexuality and Christianity. People, often educated and professional hold homophobic views because of what is written in a book centuries old.

I feel I must answer this.

I guess I would have what you call a homophobic view because of a centuries old book, (I believe homosexual activity to be sinful in nature) but I also believe in the view purposed by Buddha, which is echoed in the Bible(1 Thess. 5:21 "Prove all things, hold fast that which is good")... It has been personally proved to me that the Lord God creator of all is the God spoken of in the Bible, and that the Bible is His inspired word and is to be followed... Just because one hold archaic Biblical views does not mean they do so without reason...

[Jaymes]

That's gotta be one of my favorite quotes. Especially because "Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books" applies to Buddhism as well.

[Sunstone]

I think you can point to that quote as evidence that Buddhism treats people as adults capable of observation and reason.

[Master Vigil]

Yes, it is writings like this that make me wonder if I would be more peaceful following buddhism.

[Adstar]

“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.

This sounds pretty good but it all falls in a heap when it comes to this.

"But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason"

Human observation is fallible.
Human analysis is fallible.
Human reasoning is fallible.

Therefore the decision made at the end of this process cannot be trusted.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days