Personal beliefs change with life experience, ultimate truth does not. A truth seeker then does not seek to confirm pre-existing beliefs of what he or she has previously been taught. He or she looks to remove the beliefs that prevent truth from being seen.
The path of the truth seeker then is to experience personally and not just believe conceptually; to discover the truth because it has been personally experienced not just previously explained.
To believe is to not know. Your mind constructs a belief because you are yet unsure. You ‘think’ or ‘hope’ it may be true but you are yet uncertain.
Beliefs (passed on to us collectively and created based on our own personal experiences) are only our initial template, giving us a path to move from someplace old to someplace new and more vibrant.
The goal then is not to debate and defend our belief system (though many people do this unconsciously). The goal is to move beyond our own personal beliefs towards our own personal truth and ultimate truth. Ultimate truth is truth that is the same for all sentient beings (e.g., we all seek love and compassion.)
These truths can only be realized not conceptualized. And realization only comes with experience and personal reflection. Then you know. You no longer believe. You just know.
