BUDDHIST PRACTICE:Investigation of the teachings

'Do not accept any of my words on faith,
Believing them just because I said them.
Be like an analyst buying gold, who cuts, burns,
And critically examines his product for authenticity.
Only accept what passes the test
By proving useful and beneficial in your life.'
The Buddha

This is one of my favorite teachings from The Buddha. It is something I have believed throughout my entire life to date, whomever and whatever I was learning from.

During my schooldays, I disagreed with some of the things I was being told at school, at home, and at church. I was not then old enough to examine them properly, and then offer my findings and explain why I did not agree to accept the teachings. Sometimes I flatly said 'no way!', and sometimes I supposed it must be right, but did not really feel it to be so inside.

Growing older, I tried my best to fit into the Christian faith and the modern lifestyle. However, neither fit with me deep inside. I began to challenge what I was taught, to question, and was soon old enough to be able to explain why I disagreed and to offer my unique viewpoint.

One of the great things about Buddhism is that I am naturally compatible with most of its teachings. Some things do make me wonder, pause, question, analyze, and investigate doubtfully. Other things fit the 'ah yes!' instantly-acceptable category, often having been partially discovered solo before the full story comes into focus through the Buddhist teachings.

A few matters have puzzled me. Some things did not seem to be right. Looking back over the year and a half in which I have seriously studied Buddhism, most things that I felt this way about at the start have now slotted into place. It is as if I had a veil forbidding me to believe until I had worked them out for myself. I still have a few uncertainties, but 9 times out of 10 I have either investigated my way into understanding or accepted the teachings.

As well as being able to grow at my own pace, believing as things unfold if not at first, I have been able to learn at a greater depth and subtleness within the teachings by my investigation of them. It is as if anything I was uncertain of has been checked out thoroughly and then falls into a better place of acceptance than that which I did originally accept, recognizing it as true. Therefore the analyzing assisted to ingrain and expand the understanding, not just to ensure a fact is a fact.