The Buddha once visited a small town called Kesaputta. The inhabitants of this town were known by the common name Kalama. Religious seekers themselves, the Kalamas were bewildered by the plethora of divergent philosophies and teachers vying for their attention. They proceeded to ask the Buddha a series of questions. The Buddha's response was to set down a methodology that was in many ways ahead of its time in anticipating the skeptical empiricism of the modern scientific method.
"Sir, there are some recluses and brahmanas who visit Kesaputta. They explain and illumine only their own doctrines, and despise, condemn and spurn others' doctrines. Then come other recluses and brahmanas, and they, too, in their turn, explain and illumine only their own doctrines, and despise, condemn and spurn others' doctrines. But, for us, Sir, we have always doubt and perplexity as to who among these venerable recluses and brahmanas spoke the truth, and who spoke falsehood."
"Yes, Kalamas, it is proper that you have doubt, that you have perplexity, for a doubt has arisen in a matter which is doubtful. Now, look you Kalamas, do not be led by reports, or tradition, or hearsay. Be not led by the authority of religious texts, not by mere logic or inference, nor by considering appearances, nor by the delight in speculative opinions, nor by seeming possibilities, nor by the idea: 'this is our teacher'. But O Kalamas, when you know for yourselves that certain things are unwholesome (akusala), and wrong, and bad, then give them up...And when you know for yourselves that certain things are wholesome (kusala) and good, then accept them and follow them."
"Sir, there are some recluses and brahmanas who visit Kesaputta. They explain and illumine only their own doctrines, and despise, condemn and spurn others' doctrines. Then come other recluses and brahmanas, and they, too, in their turn, explain and illumine only their own doctrines, and despise, condemn and spurn others' doctrines. But, for us, Sir, we have always doubt and perplexity as to who among these venerable recluses and brahmanas spoke the truth, and who spoke falsehood."
"Yes, Kalamas, it is proper that you have doubt, that you have perplexity, for a doubt has arisen in a matter which is doubtful. Now, look you Kalamas, do not be led by reports, or tradition, or hearsay. Be not led by the authority of religious texts, not by mere logic or inference, nor by considering appearances, nor by the delight in speculative opinions, nor by seeming possibilities, nor by the idea: 'this is our teacher'. But O Kalamas, when you know for yourselves that certain things are unwholesome (akusala), and wrong, and bad, then give them up...And when you know for yourselves that certain things are wholesome (kusala) and good, then accept them and follow them."
Vastaukset 2
Vanhimmat
keskustelupalsta
"On teiltä sopivaa, Kalamat, epäilyksenne ja epävarmuutenne; epävarmuus on teissä herännyt epäilyttävän asian tiimoilta. Älkää, Kalamat, uskoko sitä mikä on saavutettu toistuvasti kuullen; älkää tradition oppia; älkää kuulopuhetta; älkää kirjoitukseen perustuvaa; älkää arvioita; älkää päättelyä; älkää vertauskuvia; älkää ennakkoasenteisiin pohjaavaa; älkää toisen näennäistä kykyä; älkääkä ajatusta, 'Tämä pohtija on opettajani'. Kalamat, silloin kun itse tiedätte, 'Nämä asiat ovat huonoja; nämä asiat ovat moitittavia; näitä asioita viisaat nuhtelevat; omaksuttuna ja toteutettuna nämä asiat johtavat vahinkoon ja kärsimykseen,' hylätkää sellaiset.
[10] Kalamat, silloin kun itse tiedätte, "Nämä asiat ovat hyviä; nämä asiat ovat moitteettomia; näitä asioita viisaat ylistävät; omaksuttuna ja toteutettuna nämä asiat johtavat hyötyyn ja onnellisuuteen," omaksukaa ja pitäytykää niissä." Kalama Sutta (AN 3.65)