Ven. Soma (accesstoinsight); Amber Larson, Dhr. Seven (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly (AN 3.65)
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| Light bursts through, enlightenment, into a dark cave (Chatchai Laka-mankong/flickr) |
Kalamas ask the Buddha for Guidance
...3. The Kalamas, inhabitants of Kesaputta, sitting to one side
said to the [Buddha]: "There are some wandering ascetics and Brahmin priests, venerable
sir, who visit Kesaputta. They expound and explain only their own
doctrines. The doctrines (dharrmas) of others they despise, revile, and pull to
pieces. Some other ascetics and Brahmins too, venerable sir, 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 revered ascetics and Brahmins spoke the truth and which
falsehood?"
Criterion for rejection
4. "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 what is in a scripture, nor upon
surmise, nor axiomatic, nor upon (hammering out by mere) reasoning, nor upon preference
toward an idea that has been pondered over, nor upon another's seeming
ability, nor upon the consideration, 'The ascetic is our teacher.'
"But, Kalamas, when you yourselves know: 'These things are bad; these things
are blameworthy; these things are censured by the wise; when undertaken and
observed, these things lead to harm and ill,' abandon them.
Greed, hate, and delusion
5. "What do you think, Kalamas? Does greed appear in a person for benefit or harm?" — "For one's harm, venerable sir." — "Kalamas, being
given to greed, and being overwhelmed and vanquished mentally by greed,
this person takes life, steals, commits sexual misconduct, and tells lies. One also prompts another to do likewise. Will that be long for harm and
ill?" — "Yes, venerable sir."
6. "What do you think, Kalamas? Does hate appear in a person for
benefit or harm?" — "For one's harm, venerable sir." — "Kalamas, being
given to hate, and being overwhelmed and vanquished mentally by hate,
this person takes life, steals, commits sexual misconduct, and tells lies. One
also prompts another to do likewise. Will that be long for harm and
ill?" — "Yes, venerable sir."
7. "What do you think, Kalamas? Does delusion appear in a person for benefit or harm?" — "For one's harm, venerable sir." — "Kalamas, being
given to delusion, and being overwhelmed and vanquished mentally by
delusion, this person takes life, steals, commits sexual misconduct, and tells lies;
one also prompts another to do likewise. Will that be long for harm
and ill?" — "Yes, venerable sir."
8. "What do you think, Kalamas? Are these things good or bad [profitable or unprofitable, skillful or unskillful, wholesome or unwholesome]?" —
"Bad, venerable sir" — "Blameworthy or not blameworthy?" — "Blameworthy,
venerable sir." — "Censured or praised by the wise?" — "Censured,
venerable sir." — "Undertaken and observed, do these things lead to harm
and ill or not? Or how does it strike you?" — "Undertaken and
observed, these things lead to harm and ill. Thus it strikes us here."
9. "Therefore, did we say, Kalamas, what was said thus, 'Come
Kalamas. Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing, nor
upon tradition...nor upon the consideration, "The ascetic is our teacher."
But, Kalamas, when you yourselves know: "These things are bad; these things
are blameworthy; these things are censured by the wise; undertaken and
observed, these things lead to harm and ill," abandon them.'
Criterion for acceptance
10. "Come, Kalamas. Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated
hearing, nor upon tradition... nor upon the consideration, 'The ascetic is our teacher.' But, Kalamas, when you yourselves know: 'These things
are good; these things are blameless; these things are praised by the
wise; when undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and
happiness,' enter on and abide in them.
Absence of greed, hate, delusion
11. "What do you think, Kalamas? Does absence of greed appear in a person for benefit or harm?" — "For one's benefit, venerable sir." —
"Kalamas, being not given to greed, and being not overwhelmed and not
vanquished mentally by greed, this person does not take life, does not
steal, does not commit sexual misconduct, and does not tell lies, neither does one prompts
another to do likewise. Will that be long for one's benefit and
happiness?" — "Yes, venerable sir." More
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