Yes, the Buddha did encourage us to ask questions of teachings. To see whether it is going to lead to our own affliction, to the affliction of others or the affliction of both. And to see whether if, in our opinion, it would lead to harm and ill, then it's wise to turn away from such teachings. Sometimes, some people who have a great deal of devotion, their practice is more directed towards Saddha or faith. And sometimes perhaps if this is all they have, it may not be skilful for us to actually take away that faith. It often depends on whether they are a teacher or not. If they're just a normal person with a lot of faith in the Buddha, then it's not up to us to change their faith. Just like when talking with Christians I don't get into talking about whether their faith is correct or true or whatever, we just talk about what is common and what is helpful.
However if one is going to teachers, then it's quite important to actually question, to see whether we actually want to learn from these people, to see whether what they are teaching is skilful or not, whether they are actually teaching in line with what the Buddha taught, in our opinion. It's not really up for us to judge another person's practice if they're not actually trying to teach others. Because they may have a great deal of faith in that tradition. And sometimes it's better to have some religion than none at all, if it's a healthy sort of devotion. So it may be helpful to see whether it's healthy or not, is it helping them or not, before we start to question.
But with teachers I believe it's important to ask questions. And actually devotion has a place in the practice, otherwise the practice can get rather dry. Saddha is one of the great Spiritual Powers, and there's a little story in the scriptures that illustrates this:
It concerns Sariputta, the chief disciple of the Buddha. He and Mogallana went together to meet the Buddha, and according to the teachings, they both became enlightened. When they first heard one of the teachings of the Buddha, they became what is called a stream enterer. Mogallana only took one more week before he became fully enlightened, but Sariputta took a longer time, he took two weeks. Apparently the reason was he had a great deal of wisdom, investigative quality of mind, but he didn't have a lot of faith. And so, according to the story, he was fanning the Buddha at one time, and while he was fanning the Buddha, the Buddha was teaching somebody else. Sariputta became so awed by the wisdom of the Buddha that a great deal of Saddha arose in him, balancing his wisdom. Then the spiritual powers became balanced at that time and he became fully enlightened.
Saddha has an important place in the practice, yet it helps to be balanced with wisdom. If we have too much wisdom with not enough confidence, we may not believe that we have the capacity to become enlightened. And, as I said, the practice can become rather dry. We may then lack joy and energy, and these are two of the Seven Factors of Enlightenment. Saddha and wisdom can balance each other. If we have a lot of Saddha, and not enough wisdom, it can become blind faith and we can believe anything, anything that may not be good for us, and this is not what the Buddha encouraged us to do. He encouraged us to question. And when we know something is beneficial, and we see the benefit in others, then we don't have to keep doubting it. Saddha has an important place in the practice, yet it helps to be balanced with wisdom.