Holte's corner

Two ways of Truth

I used to believe people when they'd tell me that someone was perfect because they were enlightened, and that therefore I should believe what they say. Now I realize what the Buddha meant when he said "work out your own salvation." Nobody is perfect, including the historical (versus the mythical/legend) Shakyamuni the teacher. And he more than anyone knew that if people are to be perfectable, they have to work at it their whole life; and that those who claim infallity -- whether direct or derived from someone else -- are usually either pushing a delusion or conned themselves. No we follow wise teachers because their words are wise, they followed wise teachers and learned wise things. But their words aren't wise because they are wise teachers. They are considered wise teachers because their words are wise. And if we have a problem with that, then we should be free to learn it enough to see whether our problem is with our-selves or there is something in those words that doesn't fit our own times.