How can we identify something that will help us grow our spirit and do good on the inside?

When Buddha preached the truth to people, he said, "Do not believe what I say. Do not believe what I say but check it out". This is because what Buddha said was a reality that anyone could confirm and verify.

There is a lot of information going around in this world. With the advent of the Internet, the amount of information has expanded dramatically, and now that each of us has a smartphone, everyone has instant access to an overwhelming amount of information.

In such a situation, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find something that will develop and grow one's spirit, something that will improve one's inner self. There is so much information out there that it is hard to know what to believe.

Then people will look for someone they can trust. They will believe that the words of a person with whom they have a lot of agreement will be accurate. Or, if the person is a celebrity or a person of authority, they will trust his or her fame and reputation. People are also susceptible to so-called miracles. When they see an impossible miracle happening, they instantly believe in it. Also, be careful, it is often the case that someone you trust has been deceived.

Belief is in some ways an easy act. It is because we do not consider it any further. We may leave our judgment to others. And if we have not thoroughly considered it, we may end up with a somewhat dangerous result.

So how do we identify something that will develop and grow our spirit, something that will make us better on the inside?
The answer is in Buddha's words at the beginning of this article. The answer is not to "believe" but to "confirm".

What does Buddha mean by "to be sure"?

Let’s find out what does it mean to "confirm" rather than to "believe"? Simply put, it means that we do not simply accept information, words, or methods that help us develop and grow our spirit and improve our inner self, but rather we first experience them, and only then, if we are sure, we do believe in them.

Also, to "confirm" is to experience for oneself, which is different from searching on the Internet, checking the library, or asking someone else. Therefore, "checking", in this case, is limited to what you can experience for yourself.

Of course, since it is about something that develops and grows one's spirit, something that makes one good inside, it is something that can be "confirmed," and if it is something that cannot be confirmed, it may be a little strange, to begin with.

If something is against morals and ethics from the start or could put you in danger (something you cannot "check" in a safe and secure place), there is no need to try it in the first place, nor is a need to check something that is expensive for you or that satisfies your desires (it will not make you feel good inside in the first place). (Such things do not make you feel good inside in the first place).

However, if it is something that can be confirmed, it is a very important attitude to try to experience it first. This is because "to be sure" also means "to be seriously involved in things". To be sure means to look at things from all angles through experience, and to explore them more deeply.

Then there are times when we experience something but misunderstand it with shallow understanding.
They immediately believe something. This happens when there is a lack of "confirmation" in such cases.

People are tempted to give answers immediately. This is because the state of "not knowing" is unstable.
However, it is precarious to believe in something without having fully confirmed it. You never know what the result of believing will be.

What is the difference between "doubt" and "confirm"?

The act of "doubting" is very different from the act of "confirming. Doubt is simply a negative thought about something, a negative emotion.

In contrast, the act of "confirming" is a neutral act. There are no negative thoughts or feelings. The mind is completely calm. It is because we have a calm mind that we can "confirm" deeply, widely, and calmly. If the judgment is made based on such a calm mind, there will be fewer mistakes, and it will be less likely that one will be deceived.

Why did Buddha say, "Don't believe, but be sure"?

The reason why Buddha said, "Don't believe what I say, but check it out," is because everything he said was a reality that could be verified using our own bodies and minds.

What was Buddha preaching to people? It was the liberation of people from suffering (suffering of illness,
aging, and death). How can people be liberated from the suffering of life? Buddha went around telling people how to be liberated from the suffering of life.

This method is Vipassana meditation, which can be understood by using one's body and mind to "see" how reality is, as it is.
→ Click here to learn more about Vipassana Meditation.

When you practice Vipassana meditation, you will gradually experience that, "Well, my mind does indeed become calmer, and my greed and anger fade away." You will gradually understand this as an experience. Only when this happens, you can believe that this method is reliable.

However, it may take a little time for some people to experience it. I am ashamed to say that I, myself, had many doubts and many misconceptions about this method during the process of experiencing it many times.

However, the more I experienced inner transformation, the more my consciousness became purer, and my greed and anger faded away. Only then I become to believe in Vipassana meditation.

Buddhism is more than a faith-making religion...

When you hear the word "religion," you may inevitably think of it as "a belief in something specific. " However, when it comes to Buddhism (the Buddhism we are talking about here refers to primitive Buddhism), it can be said that it is a religion that teaches itself by itself, rather than creating faith by saying, "Believe in something because there is something to be grateful for. "

What we mean by a religion that teaches itself by itself is a religion that understands what the truth (reality) is by looking at its own spirit and body, and by understanding the truth (reality), it purifies its spirit of defilement. In other words, it is a religion that is completed by understanding from one's own spirit and body, not from anything in the outside world.

Most of the time, we go looking for something important outside. The truth, however, is already in our own spirit and body. There is no need to go out to look for it.
That is why Buddha did not say: "Believe in me. You don't have to believe me."
"If you are sure of this method, then you may adopt it for the first time. You don't have to believe me. "

It is not so much that we believe in the person of Buddha because he is a wonderful person, but rather that we believe in this method because we are certain of the way to be liberated from suffering. Buddha did not want to propagate Buddhism, he just wanted to tell people how to be liberated from suffering.

Let's all try Vipassana meditation to see the reality of our own mind and body as it is.