Kalama Sutra – Buddhist Philosophy

The Kālāma Sutta, also known as the Kālām Sutta or in Sanskrit the Kālāma Sūtra is a discourse by the Buddha contained in the Aṅguttara Nikaya of the Tipiṭaka.

The Buddha himself left us with different instructions for determining what is and what not real as far as Buddhism or other religions are concerned. If we accept Buddha’s words about his philosophy, it is not enough just to look at our past or research the most ancient history. We need to personally dissect every piece of information given to us; even those in the most ancient and revered of texts. We also need to question teachers and religious authorities and make the final decision for ourselves based on our own research.

“Kālāma Sūtra” states:

Rely not on the teacher, but on the teaching.
Rely not on the words of the teaching, but on the spirit of the words.
Rely not on theory, but on experience.

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it.
Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.
Do not believe anything because it is spoken and rumored by many.
Do not believe in anything because it is written in your religious books.
Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.

But after observation and analysis,
when you find that anything agrees with reason
and is conducive to the good and the benefit of one and all,
then accept it and live up to it ~

Therefore, do not simply follow the herd. Do you own due diligence and check everything, sometimes twice!