Buddha Shakyamuni never claimed to have any higher authority for his teachings
than his own experience. Buddhist teachings consists of philosophy (wisdom)
, ethics (kindness and compassion), and the psychological techniques (meditation)
for developing wisdom and compassion. The three aspects are deeply interlinked
to the point of being inseparable and are collectively known as the Dharma.
The Dharma is a dynamic system of development - not a static set of statements
of dogma.
Mahayana Buddhism is non-dogmatic, it is a mind-expaniding technology.
It does not so much offer things to believe as things to do, meditative practices
to engineer deep experiences of the true nature of reality.
- Sean Robsville