The Kālāma Sutta

The Kālāma Sutta, also known in Sanskrit as 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 to determine 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. The same method, said the Buddha, must be applied to his own teachings.

The people of Kālāma asked the Buddha who to believe out of all the ascetics, sages, venerables, and holy ones who passed through their town, like himself. They complained that they were confused by the many contradictions they discovered in what they heard.

The Kālāma Sutta is the Buddha's reply:

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 in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many.

Do not believe in anything simply because it is found 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 benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.

Therefore, do not simply follow the herd. Do your own due diligence and check everything, sometimes twice! Do not accept any doctrine from reverence, but first try it as gold is tried by fire.

~ Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha

Source: Anguttara Nikaya Vol. 1, 188-193 P.T.S.