To be with or without doubt - 139

.

To be with doubt or without doubt - Even this is relative, no absolute here - 139

Doubting the commonly accepted version of reality ~ Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche

Ordinary people do not question the commonly accepted version of reality. They conform to the standard values of subduing enemies and cherishing friends and family. Materialism, ambition and mundane achievements are the worldly hallmarks of success. We experience the phenomenal world and our minds as solid and truly existent. Very few people 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁 these assertions and question their solidity. Yet, the process of disbelief is the first step on the spiritual path.

-- Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
from the book Skillful Grace: Tara Practice for Our Times

==================

Discard all lingering doubts ~ Atisha

Discard all lingering 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁𝘀, and strive with dedication in your practice. Thoroughly relinquish sloth, mental dullness, and laziness, and strive always with joyful perseverance.

-- Atisha
from the book Essential Mind Training
translated by Thupten Jinpa

==================

Open to all the possibilities ~ Shunryu Suzuki

The mind of the beginner is empty, free of the habits of the expert, ready to accept, to 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁, and open to all the possibilities.

-- Shunryu Suzuki
from the book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

==================

Definitions have vanished ~ Sengcan

Infinitely large and infinitely small;
no difference, for definitions have vanished
and no boundaries are seen.

So too with Being and non-Being.
Waste no time in 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁𝘀 and arguments
that have nothing to do with this.

-- Sengcan

==================

[It is so simple]

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗺 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 (𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲), and thus everything is treated as such. "

-- Kalu Rinpoche

==================

[It is Ok to question everything, to doubt everything]
Sharpen Your Intellect ~ Chögyam Trungpa

The first step for you as a student is to sharpen your intellect and 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. To wake yourself up, cynical thinking and critical questioning are extremely important. Otherwise, you are completely helpless. You are just being fed through an intravenous system. So let us not be in the hospital! Let us be full, living persons who could actually relate with what is being presented, who could think critically, work it out, and understand, and question anything we do not understand. This has nothing to do with becoming an intellectual person. It is an intuitive process

From Cynicism and Magic: Intelligence and Intuition on the Buddhist Path, pages 6 to 7.

==================

[Even in science: science is not about facts, not about proofs, but 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁 & 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.]

"Religion is a culture of faith; science is a culture of doubt."

-- Richard P. Feynman

And Buddhism is the science of the mind.

==================

“The Buddha himself said, 'Treat my words like gold, cutting, melting and refining; examine my doctrine well, for it is not to be accepted simply out of respect for me.' Just as with the smelting and refinement of gold, likewise the teaching of Buddha: by listening, we gain an understanding, which, the more we meditate, will become increasingly profound and vast. It is most important therefore to practice with a steady concentration. Of all our activities, the most important is to sit and practice.”

Kyabje Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche – Enlightened Courage, p 89 - Padmakara Translation Group, Snow Lion Publications

==================

.

---

.

.

.