Do Not Believe

Fireplace in CabinBecause this is offensive to so many (apparently) intelligent people, this is tough to tell people. “Beliefs, believing, belief systems: are useless.”

“Limiting” is a gentler approach to the subject.

But pause for a moment. Suspend your beliefs for a jiffy. You’ll realize it too:

  • Beliefs limit you.

They limit your perception of everything. Of anything. Of nothing. See? It’s obvious.

For Safety.

Believing is handy though. It keeps people safe. Beliefs create comfort zones. And when we’re children, forming beliefs is essential and fun that we believe things. Like Santa and the Easter Bunny, right?

We sketch and define comforting images to feel safe and to cope with tragedies. We learn to cope with terrifying existential realities this way too: life, death, and loneliness.

We assemble and design intellectual paradigms too. They assist us in growing smart, developing skills, and pushing our talents. Beliefs, for a while, have great value.

Have Heart. Get some Guts.

It requires some bravery and stability to question, more bravery and stability to let go of…those comforting beliefs. After all, they’ve kept our minds safe and secure. Wondering and questioning our early coping mechanisms can be terrifying. And risky. For some people: it’s inconceivable!

This is not a belief, by the way.

One never needs to believe that believing is limiting. That’s silly, right?

  • Do it.
  • Test it.
  • Experience it.

To eradicate even one simple, little-bitty belief is to notice or feel or sense or experience one little flush of freedom. For some: a burst of power.

A smile.

Try it.

GuerillaMonk.com reminded me. It’s been said before…

“Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.” ~ Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism.

Are you brave enough?

 

2 Responses to Do Not Believe

  1. cornel panceac says:
    19 August 2011 at 6:58 am

    Thank you Steven for this article. It takes a lot of bravery to tell the truth. As a wise man said, even if 50 million people tell a lie, it doesn’t change into truth.
    Peace.

  2. Jay says:
    20 August 2011 at 11:47 am

    Well said, Steve. Beliefs help minds pad reality’s sharp edges and pave over life’s organic surfaces and non-negotiable immediacy, making day to day living more predictable, more conforming to one’s world view. Suspending what we’ve “learned” to voluntarily experience unbridled, unfiltered isness, even momentarily, is indeed a terrifying thing, but as you know it gets easier with practice. Or it’s terrifying each and every time life intrudes because we steadfastly refuse to let go. This is why some people can ski and others cannot, for love or money. ;-)