Skepticism

[Guest guest]

Few would think of skepticism as a sadhana,

but it is, and a very effective one, that is, if

the aim is freedom from the tyranny of ideas.

 

To be an skeptic we must first renounce all

reliance on authority. From early childhood

we were conditioned to accept the authority

of our parents. We knew nothing, they knew

all we needed to know. It was a good thing that

we accepted their guidance. It was a good

thing we trusted our teachers, as well. But

this created a feeling that others know best.

An attitude of dependency and gullibility,

most never outgrow, and so they trust

their government officials, their preachers,

the media, and their friends to tell them

how to live.

 

Ok, maybe, we here, are past that stage,

but still authority is there ensconced in

our minds as ideas we never question.

 

It's the habit of questioning all your thoughts,

of accepting nothing at first sight

that creates that six sense which rings

a bell, and alert us to look again. After all,

when at the fruit market we don't grab just

the fruit which lies on top of the pile and put

it in our bag. No, we look it up and down, we

turned it around, we give it a squeeze. If we

took as much care with ideas, that six sense

would be there to lead us where ideas are

no longer fences, but just temporary wings.