Come and See

Venerable Walpola Rahula

Buddhism is always a question of knowing and seeing, and not that of believing. The teaching of the Buddha is qualified as Ehi-Passika, inviting you to come and see, but not to come and believe.

---Venerable Walpola Rahula, in What the Buddha Taught---

Note: the book What the Buddha Taught is a very fine read for someone looking for an introduction to the Teaching. This is one of the five books I suggest to those new to the Buddha Dharma. The other four being:

The Dhammapada – Any Translation. This is perhaps the most cherished part of Buddhist scripture.  

Buddha – by Karen Armstrong. A fine biography of the Buddha.

The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching – by Thich Nhat Hanh. The basics.

Buddhism Plain and Simple – by Steve Hagen. Buddhism in everyday, accessible language without religious ritual.