This old adage, caveat emptor, proves itself true over and over. We really want to believe what we are told. It would be so much easier than searching for, then examining and finally deciding if the facts support what we are told. Even when we try to do this, it’s never possible to get all the information.
Say “Bernie Madoff” and most know name as synonymous with financial criminals. Say ‘flat earthers” and most laugh. With the former the crimes are mired in such dense complexity that even “experts” buy into them. In the later, it is so obvious few take it seriously.
It is the vast “in between” of these two that caveat emptor, (Meriam-Webster definition: “without a warranty, the buyer must take the risk”) is concerned with. But it really isn’t the acquisition of material things that, when they don’t live up to their promises, harm us the most.
I’d like to suggest, as we start this new year of 2024, it is the targeted information we acquire and incorporate into our world view that needs the caution warning. We are not only asked to take this information as true because it is from a “trusted” news source, but we have begun to accept it as true because it fits our existing world view. “Could I be wrong” (a Shin Buddhist lapel pin you may have at the CBT) is something we rarely admit.
Those of us who came to Buddhism did so because we began to question what we’ve been asked to accept as true based on faith, based on who told us, or, based on what generations of our own families and friends held as real and true.
Those of us who came and stayed with Buddhism did so because of all the major world religions, Buddhism is unique. It is the only major religion/philosophy that demands we not accept its teachings at face value.
The teachings tell us not to accept them because we admire, respect or like the person sharing the teachings with us: or because such ancient teachings, 2,600 years old, have withstood the test of time. We are told that in order for the teachings to have any value, we first need to examine them, try them out and only if we experience their truth, then accept them as a way to live this life with greater peace.
Think about it. Everyone tries to tell us what to believe. It is to believe either on faith, or on a warranty, or on current science (like that never changes) or by an elected official (no comment).
Shin Buddhism does not come with a caveat emptor because we do not accept the teaching unless we first try it out. There is no fine print penalty clause if it doesn’t work for you.
Perhaps the 2024 aspiration is to explore at least one teaching. To live with that teaching and see if it makes sense and leads to greater peace of mind, compassion for self and others and wisdom needed to live this one life in harmony with the cosmos.
May we all find our path in 2024 to realize how wide the white path actually is between the river of fire and the river of water.
Namo Amida Butsu
Namo Amida Butsu
Namo Amida Butsu
Rev. Anita
rev.anita.cbt@outlook.com
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