Just A Little Dust

The very first comment I’ve gotten on the talks posted to youtube was left soon after I put up SB002: Why Skeptical Buddhism? The writer questions the value of the choice of looking deeply into Buddhism when instead “one would be better served by honing critical thinking skills and general skepticism.”  An interesting criticism.

My first response is to ask a question: “How does one best hone critical thinking skills and general skepticism?”  Is it simply by sitting quietly alone, or going on long walks, or looking silently at life passing by and thinking, thinking, thinking about it?  Will that sharpen up critical thinking, and help us see reasons for skepticism?  It might, for some.

Next question: “Is there a faster way to improve our critical thinking skills and provide firmer ground for our skepticism?” Perhaps by studying the philosophies and methods of other critical thinkers and skeptics?  Allowing them to teach us?  Taking courses?  Discussing critical thinking with others?  Maybe taking a class on The History of Skepticism would provide some perspective.

It seems to me that most of us would agree that finding wise teachers, and discussing the issues that concern our critical, skeptical minds is going to serve us to better in honing our critical thinking skills, as well as give us much-needed context and the balance of others’ points of view as well.  Better than what?  Better than turning our backs on wise teachers, and discourse with alert and thoughtful companions.

Which is, in part, what Skeptical Buddhism offers: At least one wise teacher (though dead), and very likely more than one if we seek out prospective teachers with our critical-thinking skills activated; historical perspective; modern perspective; and a community of people actively seeking wisdom more than answers. It seems to me that “delving deeply into the teaching of Buddhism” is one quite valid path – if I devote a lot of time to it that doesn’t mean I’ve closed myself off to other paths. I listen to Point of Inquiry podcasts, and read philosophy and social theory, and even take long walks and think, think, think.

I devote a lot of time to the practice of the Buddhist path in part because of the wise teachers, in part because of contact with thoughtful and supportive peers, but also in part because Buddhism offers something that reading books, taking classes, discussing with others, and spending a lot of time considering things critically does not offer: a set of skills I can practice that gives me actual experience  in how all that philosophy fits into my particular life, skills that improve my ability to carry out the commitments I wish to make based on my understanding of the world as it is, and the place I would like to have in it.

An example* of the difference between “honing critical thinking skills and general skepticism” and “delving deeply into the teachings of Buddhism” is the difference between understanding that I shouldn’t speak in anger, in the heat of the moment, to my kids, and being able to actually refrain from doing so because I both understand the reasons for keeping my mouth shut and have the skill set to support it.

I imagine a question coming in out of the ether asking why, then, I can’t just take the skill set out of Buddhism, and leave its philosophy behind, and that way I can stick to critical thinking and separately practice the mechanics formerly part of “Buddhism”.

I have recently seen discussion of removing meditation and mindfulness from their Buddhist setting, but those two things alone are shallow, and therefore not enough to actually shift my understanding of myself, the world, and the way I operate in it, not enough to make any great difference in the way I behave.  I know this, because for years I tried those things without quite understanding what it was the Buddha taught except on a distantly theoretical level, and while the theoretical understanding was a fine thing, it didn’t have much effect on me.

It took understanding all the pieces and how they fit, before I was able to make sustained change in my life.  I had to practice seeing the new view for myself, and learn how to focus on seeing how my old view of the world tangled me up and stole my power to do what was right. I had to put the pieces – the total view (philosophy) and the practice (skills) together – before real change happened.

So in my experience, this one is better served by letting Buddhism do what it does best: open my eyes to what it means to be a human, a complex but ephemeral creature interwoven of experience and desires, of regrets and fond memories, of dreams and schemes.  I will let it support me in a moment-by-moment practice of being that human, seeing clearly what’s in my power and what is not, and being awed by the clear view of both.  I will use the teachings as the string around my finger, always reminding me to pay attention because there are so very many assumptions deep in my personal operating system that otherwise I may forget to question.

* which may or may not be relevant to my particular life; I’m not telling