How To Seek The Truth
A Summary of the Kalama Sutta (The Charter on Free Enquiry), a guidance to seek the Truth wisely as taught by the Buddha:
In the Buddha’s time, He once came across the village of the Kalama’s. The Kalama’s were among the smartest and most intellectual people in India. Together, they went to ask the Buddha, “How do we know what you teach is true? All the other spiritual teachers (there were more than 60 religious beliefs in that time) who came by claim that only what they alone teach is true, that what all others teach are untrue.”
To that, the Buddha smiled gently and replied,
- Do not simply believe what you hear just because you have heard it for a long time.
- Do not follow tradition blindly merely because it has been practiced in that way for many generations.
- Do not be quick to listen to rumors.
- Do not confirm anything just because it agrees with your scriptures.
- Do not foolishly make assumptions.
- Do not abruptly draw conclusions by what you see and hear.
- Do not be fooled by outward appearances.
- Do not hold on tightly to any view or idea just because you are comfortable with it.
- Do not accept as fact anything that you yourself find to be logical.
- Do not be convinced of anything out of respect and reference to your spiritual teachers.
You should go beyond opinion and belief. You can rightly reject anything which when accepted, practiced and perfected, leads to more anger (Aversion), more greed (Craving) and more delusion (Ignorance). The knowledge that you are angry, greedy or deluded does not depend on either belief or opinion. Remember that anger, greed and delusion are things universally condemned. They are not beneficial and are to be avoided.
Conversely, you can accept anything which when accepted and practiced leads to unconditional Love, Contentment and Wisdom. These things allow you time and space to develop a happy and peaceful Mind. Therefore, the wise praise unconditional Love, Contentment and Wisdom.
This should be your criteria on what is and what is not the Truth; on what should be and what should not be the spiritual practice.
Hearing that, the Kalama’s were pleased, and with an open heart and mind, having embraced the spirit of free enquiry, listened to, questioned, and wholeheartedly accepted the teachings of the Buddha.
Quoted from the Book Be a Lamp upon yourself
