A spiritual seeker decided to go in search of some new meditation techniques. He saddled his donkey, traveled to the east to India and other places, talked to the many so-called religious and spiritual people, but found nothing. 

He heard of a wise man high in the mountains in Tibet. He journeyed there, but as he was climbing the mountain to meet him, his donkey died of exhaustion. The seeker buried him there and then and wept sadly. Someone passed by and commented: 

“You came in search of a great saint or a master, this must be his tomb and you are lamenting his death.” 

“No, this is the place where I buried my donkey, who died of exhaustion.” 

“I don’t believe it,” said the new arrival. “No one weeps over a dead donkey. This must be a place where miracles occur and you want to keep them for yourself.”

Although the seeker explained again and again, it was no use. The man went to the next village and spread the story of a great master who cured people at his tomb and soon the pilgrims began to arrive. 

Gradually, news of the discovery of the “Wise Man of Silent Mourning” spread throughout the region — and crowds rushed to the place. A wealthy man came, thought his prayers had been answered and built an imposing monument where the seeker had buried his “master”. 

In view of everything, the spiritual seeker decided to leave things as they were. But he learned once and for all, that when someone wants to believe a lie, no one can convince him otherwise. 

In matters of religion, it is very easy to deceive a person and very hard to undeceive him. 

The village preacher at the home of an elderly parishioner was busy answering grandma’s questions over a cup of coffee. 

“Why does the Lord send us epidemics every so often?” asked the old lady.

“Well,” said the preacher, “sometimes people become so wicked they have to be removed and so the good Lord allows the coming of epidemics.”

“But then,” objected grandma, “why do so many good people, get removed with the bad?”

“The good ones are summoned for witness,” explained the preacher. “The Lord wants to give every soul a fair trial.”

There is nothing that the Rigid Believer cannot find an explanation for. 

When Reality clashes with a rigidly held belief, Reality is generally the loser!

“Those who make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” 

— Voltaire

Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.

“Facts do not cease to exist just because they are ignored or one simply refuses to accept them.”

“Faith is to believe what you do not yet see; the reward for this faith is to see what you believe.” — Augustine of Hippo 

“The man who stands for nothing will fall for anything.” — Malcom X 

Faith is a fearless search for Truth, so it is not lost when one question’s one’s beliefs. 

Faith should not be blind. We place our faith on something that we don’t know now, so that we may eventually know that on which we have placed our faith. Then it is no more a question of faith or belief; it is our direct knowledge. Having faith is good, but doubt is what gives us knowledge.

The biggest obstacle to discovery of the Absolute Truth is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge. It is impossible for a man to learn what “he thinks” he already knows.