Problems Bared, Essays on Buddhism

Doubt
Doubt or scepticism is a frame of mind which has a very peculiar
position in Buddhist psychology. Although it is never classified as
a virtue, i.e., as a skilful thought (kusala citta), still it can hardly
be called a vice, as it can never combine with either greed or aversion,
love or hate (lobha, dosa). Among all the 121 mental states
indeed, there is only one to be found with this inclination to disbelieve,
which is then considered as unskilful, because of its perplexity
(vicikicchā), rooted in utter delusion (momūha), accompanied by
absolute indifference which prevents it to combine with either good
or evil, which does not admit any resolve (adhimokkha), or any impetus
(chanda), with which it is incompatible.
Although associated with energy (viriya), at least to the extent
of sustaining the process of doubt, its unbalanced state of indecision
will prevent any pleasurable interest (pīti). This indecision is not a
wavering in choice as regards an object which could have been due
to excitement or agitation (uddhacca), but it is a complete lack of
interest and of realisation of the actual nature of things. It is rather
a settled inclination to disbelieve, which forms a severe handicap,
preventing the opening of the mind to intellectual freedom.
If it were a mere disinclination to believe without sufficient
ground, it might even be a virtue and a factor leading to enlightenment
(sambojjhaṅga), namely a spirit of enquiry or investigation
(dhamma-vicaya). But the cynical view of the assumption of impos-
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