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Tools not truth

TheJourneyTheJourney
edited January 2011 in Buddhism Basics
The words of the enlightened are tools for those who need them, not truths. If you can understand this, you will stop caring about differences between yourself and other people. What they have been taught is simply a tool to help them progress. Whether or not it is "true" does not matter whatsoever. So too, you should not go around preaching the truth like you know it all. Rather, work with people within their own framework and help them see the truth within their own religious framework/mindset/assumptions. Help a christian see the truth that jesus taught. Don't try to make him be a buddhist. You don't understand the greatness of the time we are in. But it is not great because everyone is about to become a buddhist. It is great because people are finding their own truth, and that's all you need.

Comments

  • zenffzenff Veteran
    Yes, I agree completely.
    The thing that turns a "truth" into a "tool" is "not-knowing".
    When we all see that ultimately we don't know anything, we can place kindness and compassion above conviction.

  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    The words of the enlightened are tools for those who need them, not truths. If you can understand this, you will stop caring about differences between yourself and other people. What they have been taught is simply a tool to help them progress. Whether or not it is "true" does not matter whatsoever.
    I like it. Thanks.

  • WhoknowsWhoknows Australia Veteran
    So too, you should not go around preaching the truth like you know it all.
    So this is provisional as well? :)

    Cheers, WK
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    So too, you should not go around preaching the truth like you know it all.
    So this is provisional as well? :)

    Cheers, WK
    It's allllllllllll provisional. There is no ultimate truth to strive for. Except for everything. Nothing is greater than anything else, for it is all the ultimate. And yet none of it is the ultimate, because the ultimate is not some set in stone thing.

  • VincenziVincenzi Veteran
    it is better to focus on eliminating suffering; even if that means "talking in christian" or "talking in a scientific language".
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    it is better to focus on eliminating suffering; even if that means "talking in christian" or "talking in a scientific language".
    Exactly. Tell people what they need to hear for their own benefit. You can't make them see it how you do anyways, so why even try. Their happiness is found within their own framework.

  • SupertrampSupertramp
    edited January 2011
    Very good advice. Thanks. :)
  • johnathanjohnathan Canada Veteran
    Thanks The Journey... This is great advice... It has started a seed within me that will surely help me alleviate the suffering of others more efficiently... It is easier to assist someone speaking in a language/belief system they already are familiar with than to try and have them see things from my own/differing and oft times completely foreign (to them) language/beliefs...

    Albeit this creates more work on our part as we place it upon ourselves to familiarize ourselves with another's belief system enough that we might be of some help. But to be truly compassionate that seems like a prudent thing to do.
  • sndymornsndymorn Veteran
    it is better to focus on eliminating suffering; even if that means "talking in christian" or "ta
  • sndymornsndymorn Veteran
    Does talking in Christian mean pretending to be in accordance with Christian principles in order to further "right thinking?"
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    It means playing along with them. Say, well if your assumptions are true, then doesn't it follow that...so on. Lead them to higher truths within their own religious assumptions.
  • SimonthepilgrimSimonthepilgrim Veteran
    It means playing along with them. Say, well if your assumptions are true, then doesn't it follow that...so on. Lead them to higher truths within their own religious assumptions.
    It is not 'playing along' so much as taking them seriously. If, as HHDL says, we can find teachings on compassion and service within all other belief systems, that is the way we should be pointing.

    This does mean, however, that we owe it to our interlocutors to understand their beliefs and sacred texts. This implies that we need to study these as well as our own and understand them at least as well as those with whom we dialogue. We also need, in my experience of such conversations, to be prepared to learn new insights from them rather than starting from an "I'm right and you're wrong" position.

  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    I don't take anyone anymore serious than anyone else. It's all serious in a way, but it's also not serious in a way. I say play along, because I will act as if their assumptions are true, even if I don't believe in them. That's playing along.
  • SimonthepilgrimSimonthepilgrim Veteran
    So, TheJourney, if I 'play along' with your belief that nothing is serious and any other beliefs that you may have. even if I believe in seriousness, do you not see this as patronising?
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    So, TheJourney, if I 'play along' with your belief that nothing is serious and any other beliefs that you may have. even if I believe in seriousness, do you not see this as patronising?
    Not really. Why would I want you to believe what I believe?? I don't care to make anyone believe what I believe. In fact, I'm more than open to people thinking I'm stupid, retarded, crazy, or any number of things. It doesn't bother me in the least. I pretend to take things seriously sometimes because I know that other people take it seriously. But I don't. Because I don't believe that beliefs really matter. So it's all just our own personal thing anyways. I choose not to take life too seriously. Makes it a lot more fun.
  • SimonthepilgrimSimonthepilgrim Veteran
    Where we differ, I think, is that I take life - and, in particular, other people and the world around me - seriously. It is myself that I do not take seriously. I believe that to pretend, as you do, insults the other. It seems dishonest.
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    I don't believe it's either serious nor not serious. I just act appropriately for the situation. I don't have an opinion on the matter. When I need to act serious, I act serious. When I can joke or do something non-serious, I do that.
  • SimonthepilgrimSimonthepilgrim Veteran
    That's rather different, and I would agree with you.
  • TheJourneyTheJourney
    I don't believe that anyone is superior or inferior to anyone else. Therefore, when I have an opinion, I recognize it for what it is and I don't believe that it is superior to anyone else's. This is why I don't act in a certain way. Because, say I were to assume life were serious. That would mean that I thought that I was right about life being serious, as opposed to other people who think it's not serious. Or vice-versa. None of my opinions matter anymore than anyone else's. That is why I only act how I feel is appropriate for the situation. Because it is important that I be one with everyone else, rather than separate myself. I don't choose sides. Whether it be about whether or not life is serious or anything else.
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