Extracted from Ca.nkii Sutta (MN 95), trans. Ven Thanissaro <http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.095x.than.html>http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.095x.than.html

... There are five things that can turn out in two ways in the here-&-now. Which five? Conviction, liking, unbroken tradition, reasoning by analogy, & an agreement through pondering views. These are the five things that can turn out in two ways in the here-&-now. Now some things are firmly held in conviction and yet vain, empty, & false. Some things are not firmly held in conviction, and yet they are genuine, factual, & unmistaken. Some things are well-liked... truly an unbroken tradition... well-reasoned... Some things are well-pondered and yet vain, empty, & false. Some things are not well-pondered, and yet they are genuine, factual, & unmistaken. In these cases it isn't proper for a knowledgeable person who safeguards the truth to come to a definite conclusion, 'Only this is true; anything else is worthless."

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The history that we know need not be a product of rationality and objectivity as some of us might assume it to be. Historians can be as bigoted and prejudiced as anyone else. It gets worse when the history is meant to advance an agenda.

So, what do I hold as the true history? Which history? Who's story? Can I know for sure that the history I believe in is the correct one?

Ay any rate, whichever story I attach to, I suffer. (Sure it's not "I" who suffer, but when I cling to the story, I believe it's me.)

kb