The Cause of Doubt Arising Toward the Dharma

When meditative concentration (samādhi) is insufficient, wisdom is shallow, and one will inevitably harbor doubt toward the Dharma; doubt and views will certainly remain present. Especially with regard to those profound dharmas—the dharma of the seed-wisdom of Yogācāra—everyone will have doubts to varying degrees. Because meditative concentration and wisdom are insufficient, and merit is also insufficient, one cannot realize them oneself or observe them through direct perception (pratyakṣa), and so the doubt becomes even deeper. Therefore, in the Diamond Sutra, the Buddha had sentient beings eliminate doubt and give rise to faith.

When one cannot realize the truth oneself, having doubts is unavoidable. However, one must never draw definitive conclusions. If the conclusion is wrong, it constitutes slander, and the retribution is grave. A person of wisdom, regarding dharma teachings that he cannot realize himself, will neither readily affirm nor readily deny them, and thus will not add karmic obstructions to himself.