Belief is the bane of exploration
Ah beliefs… we all have them, we all love them. Well at least until one realizes the fallacies of beliefs.
Let us first define belief. My definition of belief is basically “A thought that we think is true and that is used in substitution of knowing.” The crucial hint here is that it is used in substitution of knowing. One knows when there is direct experience. So basically the difference between knowing and belief is that one is rooted in experience while the other is not.
An example:
Knowing: You played with fire and got burnt.
Belief: Your mom told you that playing with fire can get your burnt and you trust her words.
In this example it is not clear as to why I would suggest that you let go of beliefs and move into knowing. But what if being burnt is a part of life as well? Can you see how belief is a result of us trying to protect ourselves (ie. fear of death and fear of the unknown)? And with these fears and beliefs we go to the outside world perceiving everything through these tinted lenses, further reinforcing the beliefs by ignoring any proof of the contrary. And because the universe has its way of returning what you throw at it, your beliefs manifest into your experience which you then use as proof that the beliefs are true. Hence starts a vicious cycle. So by and by we stop questioning and instead spiral down into repetitive and routine lives and consequently wonder why are we alive in the first place.
At this point I can give you a ready-made answer. But replacing a belief with another is ultimately futile. Instead, I shall pose a question.
Now that you have the chance to see things for what they are, do you really still want to give up the immense experience that life can be and hang on to your petty beliefs?
