Invitation to Free Inquiry: Kalama Sutra
The Kalamas, inhabitants of Kesaputta, said to the Buddha:
"There are some ascetics and brahmins, venerable sir, who visit Kesaputta. They expound and explain only their own doctrines, whereas the doctrines of others they despise, revile, and pull to pieces.
"Other ascetics and brahmins, venerable sir, also come to Kesaputta. They also expound and explain only their own doctrines; the doctrines of others they despise, revile, and pull to pieces. Venerable sir, there is doubt, there is uncertainty in us concerning them. Which of these reverend ascetics and brahmins spoke the truth and which falsehood?"
"It is proper for you, Kalamas, to doubt, to be uncertain. Uncertainty has arisen in you about what is doubtful. Come, Kalamas. Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing, nor upon tradition, nor upon rumor, nor upon scripture, nor upon surmise, nor upon axioms, nor upon specious reasoning, nor upon a preference for a notion pondered over, nor upon another's seeming ability, nor upon the consideration, 'The guru is our teacher.'
"Kalamas, when you yourselves know: 'These things are harmful, these things are blameable, these things are censured by the wise. Undertaken and observed, these things lead to harm and ill,' abandon them...." More>>
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