The Dharmadatu Buddhist Order Context
Everything that is communicated is done so on the basis that those who engage in person or on-line are not asked to become believers. It is our view that the historical Buddha gave the most liberating approach to be taken when engaging with what he taught in the Kalama Sutta and it is replicated here in the form that has been adopted as being the most helpful for this context. |
It is unhelpful to simply believe what you hear just because you have heard it for a long time.
It is unhelpful to follow tradition blindly, merely because it has been practiced in that way for years.
It is unhelpful to listen to rumours.
It is unhelpful to confirm anything just because it is stated in a scripture or text.
It is unhelpful to make assumptions.
It is unhelpful to draw conclusions by what you see and hear.
It is unhelpful to be fooled by outward appearances.
It is unhelpful to cling to, or become attached to any view or idea just because you are comfortable with it.
It is unhelpful to accept as fact anything arrived at by logic.
It is unhelpful to be convinced of anything out of respect or reverence to a communicator.
It is unhelpful to follow tradition blindly, merely because it has been practiced in that way for years.
It is unhelpful to listen to rumours.
It is unhelpful to confirm anything just because it is stated in a scripture or text.
It is unhelpful to make assumptions.
It is unhelpful to draw conclusions by what you see and hear.
It is unhelpful to be fooled by outward appearances.
It is unhelpful to cling to, or become attached to any view or idea just because you are comfortable with it.
It is unhelpful to accept as fact anything arrived at by logic.
It is unhelpful to be convinced of anything out of respect or reverence to a communicator.
It is helpful to go beyond opinion and belief.
It is helpful to reject anything that, when accepted, tried and tested with integrity, leads to worrying, that is driven by want. not want and confusion.
It is helpful to accept anything that, when accepted, tried and tested with integrity, leads to the expression of compassion or the practice of loving-kindness, contentment and clarity.
It is helpful to reject anything that, when accepted, tried and tested with integrity, leads to worrying, that is driven by want. not want and confusion.
It is helpful to accept anything that, when accepted, tried and tested with integrity, leads to the expression of compassion or the practice of loving-kindness, contentment and clarity.
This advice is a guide to what may be helpful when developing criteria for what is and what is not helpful to make authentic progress on the Dharma journey.