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The Kalama Sutta (often called the "Buddha’s Charter of Free Inquiry") is one of the most celebrated teachings in the Pali Canon. It’s essentially a 2,500-year-old guide on how to be a critical thinker in a world full of "fake news" and conflicting opinions.
When the Kalamas (the people of Kesaputta) told the Buddha they were confused by all the different teachers claiming to have the "only truth," he didn't tell them to just believe him instead. He gave them a framework for self-reliance.
The Ten "Don'ts"
The Buddha famously advised the Kalamas not to accept something as true based solely on these ten grounds:
Oral history (Repeated hearing)
Tradition (Because "it’s always been done this way")
Rumor (Hearsay)
Scripture (Because it’s in a holy book)
Logic/Reasoning (Logical conjecture can still be wrong)
Axioms (Self-evident assumptions)
Specious reasoning (Appearance of probability)
Preconceived notions (Bias or "it fits my view")
Authority (The prestige of the speaker)
The Teacher (Respect for one's own mentor)
The Ultimate Test: Pragmatism
If you can't rely on tradition or logic alone, what should you do? The Buddha suggested a simple, experiential test. Ask yourself:
"When these things are internalised and practiced, do they lead to harm and suffering, or to well-being and happiness?"
The Three Poisons
He specifically told them to check if a teaching increases or decreases the "Three Poisons":
Greed (Lobha)
Hatred (Dosa)
Delusion (Moha)
If a practice helps you abandon these three, it is worth following.
The Four Assurances
The Sutta concludes with a beautiful "Pascal’s Wager" of sorts. The Buddha argues that a person with a pure mind gains four certainties, regardless of what happens after death:
| Scenario | The Assurance |
| If there is an afterlife | You will be reborn in a happy state because of your good actions. |
| If there is NO afterlife | You still live happily now, free from hatred and malice. |
| If bad results follow bad deeds | Since you intend no evil, no suffering will reach you. |
| If bad results DON'T follow | You are still pure because you lived with integrity. |
Why it matters today
In a modern context, the Kalama Sutta is an invitation to intellectual honesty. It suggests that faith shouldn't be blind; it should be "verified faith" (Akaravati Saddha) based on your own observations of cause and effect.
Would you like me to help you apply these principles to a specific situation you're navigating, or perhaps provide a more detailed breakdown of the "Four Assurances"?
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