“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.”

~ Buddah 

I absolutely adore my yoga class on Tuesdays.  For me, it is the perfect blend of tough physical poses and really great ideas.  I was completely stoked today because some of the more advanced poses and holds were a little easier for me.  Although I still wasn’t doing grasshopper, and probably won’t be anytime soon.

I thought the quote (above) that began class was really interesting and provocative.  Don’t believe anything for any other reason than you have found it logical, and reasonable, and that it is beneficial to the greater good.  When you really start to meditate on it, that’s fairly powerful.

Think how many things you believe because that is what you were taught, that is what your religion has ingrained in you ~ that is what someone wiser has advised you to believe.  It’s amazing how many things I believe because of these reasons.  Religion, parenting and elders teach us morals, values ~ things that make up the essence of who we are.

How disconcerting to be told to reconsider all these things, and choose to believe only in things we ourselves have tested and analyzed.  It throws quite a wrench in religion, not to mention other things.  For me, the toughest idea is not to believe that which is written in books.  That nearly goes against everything I know.  My family is very academic ~ words written on paper are knowledge.  How does one dispute that?

On the other hand, what the Buddah is asking us all to do is think for ourselves.  Make informed decisions based on observed information rather than hearsay.  That cannot be bad advise.  It’s the same principle that holds true in a court of law ~ unless a person experienced or witnessed something first hand, the information is inadmissible.  It’s hearsay.  Which is an attempt to eliminate the distortion that occurs as information is translated from one fallible source to the next.  Like the game ‘telephone.’

It also plays in with last week ~ in order to be confident in who you are as a person, you should also be confident in what you believe.  Having conviction, believing something inherently ~even if, or possibly especially if it is not the commonly accepted idea ~ gives a person power.  It means, from my point of view, that one knows who they are, and isn’t afraid to stand up for oneself.

There are certain things I feel very strongly about.  Even when I am told it is foolish.  Even when people disagree.  Even when a person is scornful, and doubts my conviction.  I know, within my very being, that nothing can change how I feel.  That belief gives me strength.  And the things I believe in most vehemently, are ideas and thoughts I have come to just as Buddah advised ~ by personal observation and analysis.  By understanding that my thoughts and beliefs are reasonable, and beneficial to the greater good.  Not everyone agrees with me.  But that doesn’t deter me.  To me, that signifies a true belief that defines my character.

Initially, I struggled with the mental aspect of class tonight.  But the more I think on it, the more powerful it becomes.  And I love anything that gives me the seed of contemplation.  It helps keep life in perspective.