> It was my joke. My friend/teacher had nothing with it. And I politely
> suggest that you don't try to make claims about someone having or not
> having sagacity without ever having met them.
>
> You slightly accused me as being dogmatic, but you seem to be the one
> that cannot let this post rest until everyone in the free world
> believes that you are the person that is 100 percent correct. Just
> because you are Chinese, and you've read x number of books about China
> doesn't mean we should believe you more than someone else.

A retired executive once said:
"Rely not on the teacher/person, but on the teaching. Rely not on the words
of the teaching, but on the
spirit of the words. Rely not on theory, but on experience.Do not believe in
anything simply because you
have heard it. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed
down for many generations. Do
not believe anything because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not
believe in anything because it is
written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the
authority of your teachers and
elders. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything
agrees with reason and is
conducive to the good and the benefit of one and all, then accept it and
live up to it."

For context, see, e.g.:

http://www.buddhistinformation.com/the_kalama_sutra.htm

ObTea: the Buddha was known to prefer a robust, organically grown second- or
autumn-flush Darjeeling (wisdom coming with maturity), with a few symbolic
grains of Demerara sugar (while sweetness arises from within, it is helpful
to have a pointer to the Way) and a splash of skim milk (help to employ
underprivileged cows, but nothing in excess).