Upaya (skillful means)

Upaya, skillful means, is giving a teaching that is perfectly suited to the needs of the listener. Sometimes, this requires tolerance of ignorant views, superstitions, or partial truths such as: relative understanding apart from absolute understanding, dualistic thinking apart from non-dualism, self-power apart from other-power. The story of the dying father and the mother who anointed her breast support this. Buddhism is not a dogma (when pointing to the moon, don't mistake the finger for the moon). Belief comes not from an outside view but from within, a personal confirmation must be developed.