Are Doctrines Optional?
Are Doctrines Optional? Thursday October 8, 2009#spacer{clear:left}#abc #sidebar{margin-top:1.5em}zSB(3,3) The Buddha taught that we do not have to accept any doctrines, including Buddhist doctrines, on faith. This spirit of free inquiry, as opposed to the take-it-or-leave-it dogmatism of most religions, attracts many westerners to Buddhism. However, many westerners calling themselves “Buddhists” seem to think this means the doctrines are optional. The attitude is that since we don’t have to “believe in” any doctrine just because the Buddha taught it, there is no point in even learning them. Proponents of this point of view often reduce Buddhism to mindfulness and meditation practice alone. But if the Pali Canon is even halfway correct, the historical Buddha did not go about for 45 years after his enlightenment just teaching people to meditate and be mindful. He also delivered lots and lots of sermons. He began by expounding the
