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To doubt or not to doubt?

thickpaperthickpaper Veteran
edited January 2011 in Buddhism Basics
If anyone would like to answer the following question that would be interesting. Please can we have no intra-personal debate in this thread, that's a polite request, nothing more:) <100% real smile.

Which of these principles do you most adhere to:


(A)Doubt everything and be your own light.

Or

(B) Do not doubt everything and be lit by others.


Comments

  • thickpaperthickpaper Veteran
    edited January 2011
    If anyone would like to answer the following question that would be interesting. Please can we have no intra-personal debate in this thread, that's a polite request, nothing more:)
  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    I opt for D) Doubt some things, not other things, be lit by yourself most of the time, but listen to others as well.
  • kaytekayte
    (A)Doubt everything and be your own light.

    I find the human filter in any teachings corrupts the teachings over time. Some are better than others in this respect, but caution is your best friend when you have doubts.
  • aHappyNihilistaHappyNihilist Veteran
    “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.”

    Buddha
  • twillytwilly
    What has doubting to do with being your own light? I can be without doubt in regard to Buddhist principles and still be both my own light and be lit by others with regard to clearer thinking.
  • sukhitasukhita
    edited January 2011
    (C) Neither - Rather be receptive to new and different ideas and then test them for yourself.
  • JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
    edited January 2011
    I say doubt and do not doubt both. And be your own light as well.

    For example doubt Bob who is not reliable and often lies.
    Do not doubt Marie who is always reliable.

    Notice in both cases they were examined critically. And it may be that you have a different constellation of ideas surrounding doubt and not than I do. For me it is normal to doubt some things and not doubt others. That does not mean I am always right. You are your own light in that you decide when to doubt and when not too rather than rigidly holding a habitual view.

    Similar to sukhita with more elaboration I feel.
  • RogerRoger
    edited January 2011
    Here's my POV. I might be missing your point; if so I'm sorry this is off topic.

    I have ZERO doubt that 99.9999% of everything we experience is a human creation/invention; i.e. it's a product of these bodies, senses and these brains infused with a pinprick of mind.

    As soon as humans try to _communicate_ (as opposed to directly experience) the remaining 0.0001% I start to doubt!

    :D

  • CloudCloud Veteran
    edited January 2011
    In reply to the original post:

    Always doubt your own reasons for believing, to the point where you have investigated thoroughly why you believe such and such is true; not the reasons you give others, but your own mind's workings. Cultivate the "don't know" mind that throws out the clutter and only worries about what it can find out for itself. This is only form and that which experiences form (mind).

    Namaste
  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    edited January 2011
    A. :)
  • NidishNidish
    Middle Path :)
  • DazzleDazzle

    C. Neither.
  • Ada_BAda_B
    I don't think one can decide not to doubt and be intellectually honest. So I don't think it's a choice. What you do about that doubt and what actions you take as a result, are a choice. You can decide to ignore your doubts, or investigate them.

    Personally, I prefer to investigate them, to see where they come from and if there is any foundation to my doubts. Often my doubts aren't about the Dharma, they're about periferal things, like whether I can trust the integrity of a teacher, or, more commonly, about myself. Can I make a commitment and stick to it? Am I just going along with stuff because of the desire to "belong". Am I deluding myself? (the answer to the latter question is nearly always yes, of course).

    Like a lot of things, doubt can be very useful for puncturing our ego.
  • [DeletedUser][DeletedUser]
    How about do not doubt everything, and be lit by others as well as being your own light :screwy:
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    I listen to everybody, and take what I can from them.
  • zenffzenff Veteran
    edited January 2011
    a. always just don’t know.
    b. for practical purposes make reasonable assumptions.
    c. be your own master; take full responsibility for your actions

    Sorry that my personal list doesn’t fit the multiple-choice question
    If you insist: A
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