What is the most credible reference of the Teaching

The most credible reference is the one that removes doubt and hesitation for you. Some theoretical study is good, but the important topics are fundamentally non-conceptual and can not be understood intellectually, only experientially.

"Yes, it does make sense. But again cmarti, please don't get me wrong. I never said nor suggested to spend one's life studying and never actually do an experiment him/herself. I wanted to emphasize the basis of practice. After we have the basis, we know it and understand it, then we can talk about the correctness of the practice. Isn't it good to be systematic like this eh?"

This sounds good on paper, but I'm not sure how "we have the basis" with certainty.

Ultimately YOU are going to choose which view(s) to set out on the path with (no one, alive or dead, will choose them for you). In any case, if you actually start practicing you will undoubtedly have to revise those views, probably many times, because you simply can't conceive of the results of practice as the results of practice are total-- they totally effect every aspect of your experience, including the very way you form opinions.

Please notice that I'm not saying there is something wrong with developing an intellectual understanding of (opinions about) practice, the path and the goal prior to engaging in practice, entering the path, or accomplishing any goal.

But you will never, ever *know* with *certainty* the "correct practice", the "correct view", nor will you ever, ever *know* with *certainty* the best source from which to acquire this "correct view" and "correct practice" aimed at the "correct goal". You may or may not CHOOSE a given path, a given view, a given practice, and you may or may not choose then to practice it.

You will *never ever* escape responsibility for making this choice by somehow miraculously finding a "truly credible" source from which to acquire the "correct" opinions about which are the "correct" practices. Sorry to be the one to break it to you
-Jake

"The most credible reference is the one that removes doubt and hesitation for you. Some theoretical study is good, but the important topics are fundamentally non-conceptual and can not be understood intellectually, only experientially."

You are completely right, the most credible reference is the one that removes doubt and hesitation.
Regarding your second sentence, before commenting any further, I'd like to know at least one example of important topic which is fundamentally non-conceptual and cannot be understood intellectually. Would you mind telling me the example?

Time to tinkle or get off the potty, ignoble one. Please start a practice thread detailing your experiences on the cushion. This endless perseveration serves no one. This thread is locked.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perseveration