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Safeguarding the truth, when one cannot truly be sure
October 2nd, 2014
illustration

illustration (attribution, if any possible, is at the end of the article)

Safeguarding the truth, when one cannot truly be sure.

   The Kalama sutta  (gplus.wallez.name/PUQ2AeReGEM) is pretty well known as a pro-enquiry manifesto, but the Canki sutta (MN 95) is also worth considering:

«
There are five things that can turn out in two ways in the here-&-now. Which five?
• Conviction,
• liking,
• unbroken tradition,
• reasoning by analogy, and
• an agreement through pondering views.
These are the five things that can turn out in two ways in the here-&-now.

Now some things are firmly held in conviction and yet vain, empty and false. Some things are not firmly held in conviction, and yet they are genuine, factual and unmistaken.
Some things are well-liked.. (…) truly an unbroken tradition (…) well-reasoned (…)
Some things are well-pondered and yet vain, empty and false. Some things are not well-pondered, and yet they are genuine, factual and unmistaken.
In these cases, it isn't proper for a knowledgeable person who safeguards the truth to come to a definite conclusion "Only this is true; anything else is worthless."

(…)

If a person has conviction, his statement  "This is my conviction" safeguards the truth. But he doesn't yet come to the definite conclusion that  "Only this is true; anything else is worthless."
To this extent, Bharadvaja, there is the safeguarding of the truth. To this extent one safeguards the truth. I describe this as the safeguarding of the truth. But it is not yet an awakening to the truth.

If a person likes something (…) holds an unbroken tradition (…) has something reasoned through analogy (…) has something he agrees to, having pondered views, (…)
»

   But to what extent is there an awakening to the truth? To what extent does one awaken to the truth?
   One is inspired by whoever lives wholesomely and leads by example. Being inspired, one tests such a wise person, gains faith in that person, listens to that person. By following the wholesome example, one can experience and assess the veracity of the teachings by oneself… and one might then awaken to the truth…

   Cf. also en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criteria_of_truth

#Buddhism  
Tr. Thanissaro Bhikkhu
(accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.095x.than.html)
Unattributed photo.