I’m Right

Or, the Buddha was right.

If I’m right, I am so only because I follow the Buddha.

The Buddha was very clear that no one should accept his teachings solely because of who he was or because of any authority other than one’s own experience. Good Christians are apparently supposed to accept the ten “commandments” and other moral principles of Christianity, whatever those are, just because their god told them to.

People on the Buddhist path should believe what the Buddha taught only if it comports with their experience.

Do not accept anything by mere tradition … Do not accept anything just because it accords with your scriptures … Do not accept anything merely because it agrees with your pre-conceived notions … But when you know for yourselves — these things are moral, these things are blameless, these things are praised by the wise, these things, when performed and undertaken, conduce to well-being and happiness — then do you live acting accordingly. Kalama Sutta, Anguttara Nikaya III.65

The Buddhist path is very concrete, not at all metaphysical. Ajahn Sumedo likes to say, “It’s like this.” Awakening is not a goal. It is awareness here and now. Depending on where and when you are, this can seem depressing. Especially in the United States, we tend to expect unlimited improvement. But that is not realistic. The world doesn’t…