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Carolyn Smagalski
Ignite Your Passion
Founder - Editor - Host
When you examine your belief system, realize that your beliefs
are your own, and nothing more. They are initially based on
what you were taught as a child. They are not necessarily
true, but were, undoubtedly, taught with the noblest
intention. Everyone has a set of personal beliefs that they
use to assess their own character, as well as the character of
others.
In Eastern thought, this observation is spelled out by
Buddha: "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."
Your beliefs are based on your knowledge and experience of the
world. With this in mind, you can easily see that you cannot
form a belief based on what you don't know exists. Therefore,
your belief system may be flawed, due to lack of exposure to
the complexity that exists in other segments of society.
Some interesting reference points:
"My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already
thinks I am." Courtesy of the Quote Garden
"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats
those who can do nothing for him." James D. Miles
"A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a
superficial appearance of being right." Thomas Paine
"Take care that no one hates you justly." Publilius Syrus
Curious food for thought...
Content copyright © 2003-2008 by Carolyn
Smagalski. All rights reserved. This content was written
by Carolyn Smagalski. If you wish to use this content in any
manner, you need written permission.
Contact Carolyn Smagalski
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