Rev. Danny Fisher

Buddhapada (footprints of the Buddha), limestone, Amaravati, 2nd century. Image © The British Museum.

Today’s quote comes from Siddhartha Gautama (circa fifth and/or sixth century B.C.E.) — the historical Buddha and de facto progenitor of the Buddhist religions. This is it:

Dwelling on their own views, quarreling, different skilled people say: ‘Whoever knows this, understands Dhamma. Whoever rejects this, is imperfect.’ Thus quarreling, they dispute: ‘My opponent’s a fool & unskilled.’ Which of these statements is true when all of them say they are skilled?

If, in not accepting an opponent’s doctrine, one’s a fool, a beast of inferior discernment, then all are fools of inferior discernment — all of these who dwell on their views. But if, in siding with a view, one’s cleansed, with discernment made pure, intelligent, skilled, then none of them are of inferior discernment, for all of them have their own views.