Today (2/18) we will complete our discussion of St. Isaac the Syrian's perspectives on the relationship between faith and knowledge. Therefore, we must now move east, and examine a wholly (or holy) different perspective. I invite you all to read the following quote from Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), and then to read the first section (entitled "The Nine Ways not to accept something as true") of the webpage linked below it. We will be reading subsequent sections of the page later this week, so it may be a good idea to bookmark it! Cheers.
Do not believe in something because it is reported. Do not believe in something because it has been practiced by generations or becomes a tradition or part of a culture. Do not believe in something because a scripture says it is so. Do not believe in something believing a god has inspired it. Do not believe in something a teacher tells you to. Do not believe in something because the authorities say it is so. Do not believe in hearsay, rumor, speculative opinion, public opinion, or mere acceptance to logic and inference alone. Help yourself, accept as completely true only that which you test for yourself and know to be good for yourself and others.
-- The Buddha, The Kalama Sutta, Anguttara Nikaya, Sutta Pitaka
The Sight:
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