On Beliefs and Facts

The difference between a belief and a fact is similar to the difference between a chicken and an egg. An egg will have to go through a radical transformation and experience (in this case hatching) to turn into a chicken. As long as it is an egg, the idea of it actually containing a chick is just a belief.

A lot of people believe in God, but if you ask them if they are ready to accept God as a fact, then I think they will start to think twice. Similar with miracles, people believe in miracles, but are they ready to accept miracles as a fact. I think not. Miracles are almost the opposite of facts. Rocks, stones, woods, water..those are facts, we don’t stare in awe at facts. UFO’s landing, Pigs flying, those are miracles, which until now we have not seen. But we do believe that UFOs have landed..it is still a belief.

Now let us apply this rule to spiritual experience. One should only stick to a spiritual believe if one feels that it can lead him/her to an experience that can transform him/her, that can bring him/her first hand experience of the truth within. If not then I don’t think it is necessary to continue praying incessantly on Sunday mornings. Most people carry on with their stale beliefs because they are obligated, they fear that it might cause a stress in the relationship among their family members.

The rule of thumb is, if your spiritual beliefs has not led you anywhere, has not given you any glimpse of truth, any spiritual experience, then it is time to let go and experiment. Never ever be afraid of experimenting. Whenever you have a belief, do not hesitate to challenge it. If scientists in this world were to accept their beliefs blindly without actually experimenting it and questioning it and challenging it, we would not be so technically advanced as we are now.

When the Buddha was to discover Vipassana meditation technique, he believed that observing ones own breath and bodily sensations without reacting to it, one can obtain a peace of mind. This was his belief. He challenged it and tried it out, and it worked! And now it is a proven fact that Vipassana Meditation does indeed eradicate mental impurities and mental suffering! This would not have been so if Buddha did not challenge his beliefs! I myself have challenged it during my first course, and I have come to accept it as a fact.

This is not to say that this is the ultimate fact, no. this is the fact for me. Different people have different beliefs and therefore different facts. If you are one who believes in the existence of God, then question yourself. How long have you been lighting incense sticks in front of a statue and prayed? Has it elevated you, spiritually speaking? Has it given you bliss? If no, then abandon it. If yes then carry on with what you are doing.

Do not be afraid of what other people say, do not be afraid of being taken as a hypocrite. A lot of people are afraid of being considered a hypocrite because one day they say something and the next day they will say something totally opposite. But let me ask you this, can you walk only while using your left leg? No, you cannot. You need both legs. Same thing here. If you are equally open with one aspect and whatever the opposite of the particular aspect is, only then will you be able to move forward.

As for miracles, think of it this way: all facts are miracles.