I met up with a student once, and he asked/posed this question to me :
"How much of The Buddha's Teachings right now is true?"
Thinking about it now as I write this entry,
He's absolutely right -
How much of The "Buddha's" Teachings out there Now are truly authentic?
Not many.
( Read 'Why like that?' ... http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/11/why-like-that.html)
"The True Dhamma is to be found NOT in old customs or texts;
BUT in the well-trained heart and mind."
- Venerable Ajahn Mun
"In this one very long fathom body with all its thoughts and perceptions,
Oh Monks!
I proclaim to you The world;
The Origin of the world;
The Cessation of the world;
And, The Path leading to the Cessation of the world."
- The Buddha
"Paccattam Veditabbo Vinnuhiti -
To be self-realised, ONLY by the wise, each for himself."
- The Buddha
"It is useless pretending to forget the power of Kamma
Or, pretending that one is superior to The Buddha.
One who does so is sure to be cornered by his own pretensions and assumptions."
- Venerable Ajahn Mun
"Do not blindly believe anything that's said by the teachers or those in authorities;
Or that has been spoken or rumoured by many;
Or that has been written in scriptures and passed down through many generations.
Only upon careful observation, investigation and analysis,
If the teaching when practised,
Do no harm
BUT brings about more/greater Love, Peace, Harmony and Wisdom to the world,
Is for the good and benefit of one and all,
Do you then practise it, and abide by it."
- The Buddha, Kalama Sutta
"Thus the ultimate authority in judging a teaching is NOT whether the teaching can be found in a text.
It lies in each person's relentless honesty in putting the Dhamma to the test and carefully monitoring the results."
- Venerable Ajahn Mun
*P.S. As you gossip your way through this Lunar New Year, please remember to take a few moments to ask yourselves,
"How much - of what you've said, and heard - is True?"
