How do I think critically about beliefs from cultures different from my own?

Start by noticing where your own assumptions live — the invisible water you swim in. When you encounter a belief system that feels foreign, resist the urge to dismiss it or, conversely, to accept it wholesale out of politeness. Instead, ask: What problem was this belief solving in its original context? What does it reveal about what that culture valued? Patanjali taught that mastery begins with clear seeing, and that applies here. You're not trying to become an expert in someone else's tradition. You're learning to examine your own mind while staying genuinely curious about theirs. Read primary sources when you can. Listen to people within that culture debate their own ideas — they rarely speak with one voice. Notice when you feel defensive; that's information. Critical thinking across cultures isn't about reaching a neutral position. It's about holding your own perspective clearly while remaining humble about its limits. You'll find that some ideas genuinely challenge you to grow. Others won't fit. Both responses are fine — the point is that you arrived at them through actual thinking, not inheritance or fear. That's where the real learning begins.