"Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense." -Buddha Man, I thought I was christian at one point, I know I'm not a Buddhist, but after reading this quote that makes oh so much sense I don't know what to think now. When it comes to christianity, I bump heads with alotta the ideas because they just don't make sense to me so maybe Buddha was right. For one, how the bible disagrees so much with homosexuals, that doesn't make any sense to me. Why would God preech one thing saying homosexuals are wrong yet we're born this way? Doesn't make sense, so maybe this whole religion doesn't make sense to me now. Gah, I'm confused.
In this case, being confused is a good thing. It means that you are starting to think on your own and question what you have been told is true. This is how we learn. If we would never questioned what is "true" we would never advance as an individual or species. Read, ask, listen, observe...especially to those you disagree with. Then never be afraid to admit that you could be wrong.
i really like that quote. who says you have to be christian? i personally like learning and hearing about all philosophies. you can borrow ideas from wherever you like, and as long as you are true to yourself, you never have to call yourself anything. just be real and you'll know what to live by and what to disregard.
That is a great quote. I'm not a Christian, but if I were I would believe in the Bible because I agreed with what it said--I wouldn't change what I believe just because was forcing myself to "agree" with the Bible. In the end, though, religion tends to revert back to the "people don't have the capacity to understand God's divine plan" argument and the idea that somehow not questioning your religion actually deepens your faith making you an even more reverent follower. Personally, I have a natural mistrust for anybody who isn't me. Why should I put my faith blindly in something that another human, who's brain capacity isn't really any bigger than mine, tells me is "the truth" unless it's something that I can't agree with on the most fundamental level? I'm lucky enough to be born to a species that can think for itself, I might as well take advantage. Now, that doesn't mean that there isn't something you can't stand to gain by listening to a Christian, Muslim, etc, it just means you don't have to accept it blindly. I think Jesus was a great man whose words have certainly shaped me as a person in some respects, but I don't believe Christianity is the truth. The last few years, I've had a growing interest in Buddhism, but the idea of karma and reincarnation still leave me cold. It's a much scarier, more confusing world if you don't have the established faith of an organized religion to fall back on, but it's also a more interesting and I think ultimately more truthful one.
I have read many similar quotes; even Leary has spoken similar phrases; and I fully appreciate this logic.
I'm going to spell this wrong, so be prepared. But I believe it is an excerpt from the kalama sutta edit: woo, turns out I spelled it right. I've found the verse for you It is from Kalama Sutta AN 3.65
I think that what Christians and Catholics and many other religions think what God is, he isn't at all. Its like one time I was getting talked to by this priest and I said something about Kurt Cobain and he said "He didn't go to heaven". I believe that he would of because it doesn't matter if you smoke pot or you've shoplifted. Those things still aren't good but what matters is if you're good inside and you really are a nice person. Or another theory could be that there is no God. I do not believe that though.
The verse is one of the most frequently mistranslated quotes. The version in the OP is how it is commonly misunderstood. The version in the link is much closer to the real meaning. What the Kalama Sutra is saying is that it is not so much "reason and common sense" that you should use to evaluate a teaching, but whether or not the teaching is wholesome.
I think the quote in the OP is terrible. To me that says to be closed minded, to ignore evidence, to value one's own reason without questioning whether one's reason is correct. Humans are not very good at reasoning, and common sense is often not a good judge of situations. You should always be willing to reject your reasons and beliefs in the face of evidence. If it really is a mistranslation and if what KeithBC is correct then that makes much more sense, but the quote in the OP seems like awful advice to me.
I believe in different aspects of many religions and faiths. My religion is to be a good person, cause no harm, and help where I can. All the while making myself happy as well. I was raised Catholic, many good stories and lessons in the bible but for the church to use fear and shame as a tool of faith was not for me. If I had to pick a religion I am closer to it would be Buddhism.
I think that the bible presents disagreement with homosexuality but the Christ teaching was that we regard ourselves a s spiritual beings, neither male nor female. Religion is stupefying.
I think it really depends on what it subject is. I think I will always based a lot of my judgements on whether or not it agrees with my reasoning. I don't think Buddha was saying, don't believe anything that has hard proof, just because you don't agree with it. How do you judge God? There is no real evidence, but you need to judge it for yourself based on your own reason and common sense. Also, like someone mentioned - homosexuality. The Bible could be taken as 'proof' that it's wrong, but that goes completely against my beliefs and reasoning so I won't accept that. I like the quote, but like most things, you can't take it too literally.
Using common sense does not mean to be close minded, or to ignore evidence. One who uses common sense and should know when his own argument is more weak then the opposing persons argument. Ones OWN thought and judgment should include being able to let go of their own argument in exchange for a BETTER argument that is not their own.
we are given reason, if not at birth then before, to protect ourselves from every form of fanatacism. no reason to feel confused about it at all. confusion comes from things people say. if you look at the universe without looking at what people say about it, you may understand some of what you see, or you may understand that you don't understand some of what you see, but either way this can be accepted with a calmness, that only human words can confuse.
