The title of this post is "In Doubt, Liberty."  It's a translation of the original Latin "In dubiis, libertas" spoken by St. Pio of Pietrelcina (1887-1968).

     It's important, as a spiritual seeker, or even as a follower of a religious tradition, to allow yourself a bit of doubt around your spiritual beliefs. It's a salutary stance to take. For some, this may seem wrong or destructive. But doubt is a useful gauge for measuring the health and soundness of your beliefs. 

     A bit of doubt helps keep you from falling into the snares of unthinking fanaticism and unquestioning loyalty to a spiritual path. Doubt can make you more objective about a religious teacher you may be in danger of idolizing. Questioning will keep your safer and make you more honest about the trajectory of your spiritual life.

     Swami Sivananda Radha took some training with a Tibetan master. "He reminded me always to doubt. 'If you don't doubt,' he would say, 'you can no longer learn. If you stop doubting, you stop breaking limitations.'

     I looked at him and said, 'But I have taken all you have said very seriously, and I have followed your instructions implicitly. You don't mean to say I should doubt you?'

     'Yes,' he nodded his head."

      We may not encounter spiritual teachers who are as wise and broad-minded as the Tibetan master. But we can take his advice to heart, and practice it during the course of our own spiritual journey.