Reasons for Doubting the Dharma

Insufficient meditative concentration leads to shallow wisdom, inevitably giving rise to doubts about the Dharma, and doubts inevitably persist. Especially regarding those profound Dharmas, such as the Dharma of Vijnapti-Matrata and Buddha-Wisdom, everyone harbors doubts to varying degrees. This is because, due to insufficient meditative concentration and wisdom, as well as inadequate merit and virtue, one cannot realize them through direct experience or observe them through direct perception (pratyakṣa), thus deepening the doubts. Therefore, in the Diamond Sutra, the Buddha urged sentient beings to cut off doubt and give rise to faith.

When one cannot personally realize it through direct experience, having doubts is unavoidable. However, one must never draw definitive conclusions. If the conclusion is wrong, it constitutes slander (of the Dharma), and the karmic retribution is severe. A wise person, regarding Dharma principles they cannot personally verify, neither easily affirms nor denies them rashly, thus avoiding creating karmic obstacles for themselves.