Logic of Kalama Sutta

Logic of Kalama Sutta 

 

These 10 rules should be applied to NPP/JVP orations of late.

 

The Pali text runs like this: "Etha tumhe Kalama. Ma anussavena, ma paramparaya, ma itikiraya, ma pitasampadanena, ma takkahetu, ma nayahetu, ma akaraparivitakkena, nid ditthinijjhanakkhantiya, ma bhabbarupataya, ma samanro no garu ti."

1. Do not accept anything on mere hearsay (repeated hearing).

2. Do not accept anything by mere tradition.

3. Do not accept anything on account of rumour.

4. Do not accept anything just because it accords with the scriptures.

5. Do not accept anything by mere superficial supposition or surmise.

6. Do not accept anything by mere axiom (inference).

7. Do not accept anything by merely by specious reasoning.

8. Do not accept anything merely because of the bias towards the already held notion.

9. Do not accept anything merely because the seeming ability of the individual or the preacher.

10. Do not accept anything upon consideration that the ascetic is a respected teacher.

But when you know for yourselves ¨these things are bad, these things are blameable, these things are censured by the wise, undertaken and observed these things lead to harm and ill¨, abandon them.