Kalama Sutta

This is a reproduction of one chapter in "Rebirth Revisited"
Kalama Sutta

The Story

The people of the small town Kalama complained to Buddha that they were confused by contradictions they discovered in what they heard from various teachers who praised their own doctrines. They asked Buddha, who was staying in the town then, who to believe out of all those who, like himself, passed through their town.

"Venerable Sir, some recluses and Brahamins visited this town and praised only their own doctrines, but condemned and despised those of others. And it is common that they do so.

Sir, who among them told the truth and who told the falsehood?"

Buddha advised them, saying, "Kalama people, it is proper for you to doubt and to have perplexity when doubt has arisen in a doubtful matter."

He then, went on to instruct that it is wise to make a proper examination before committing to a doctrine or any teaching.

He said that it should be applied to his own teachings as well.

In Pali, Buddha's reply is recorded thus;

1. Ma anussavena.

Do not believe something, just because of its repeated hearing and passed down and retold for many generations.

2. Ma paramparaya.

Do not believe something merely because it has become a traditional practice of many generations.

3. Ma itikiraya.

Do not be led by rumour, hearsay or common opinion.

4. Ma Pitakasampadanena.

Do not be led by because it is in the scriptures.

5. Ma takkahetu.

Do not be led by mere logic or surmise.

6. Ma nayahetu.

Do not believe something merely because it accords with the axiom of one’s philosophy.

7. Ma akaraparivitakkena.

Do not believe something because it appeals to specious reasoning or  "common sense".

8. Ma ditthinijjhanakkhantiya.

Do not believe something just because of the bias towards the idea or notion.

9. Ma bhabbarupataya.

Do not believe something because the speaker´s seeming ability and seeming trustworthiness.

10. Ma samano no garu ti.

Do not be led by upon the consideration that he is your teacher.

Kalamas, when you yourselves directly know, "This is  unwholesome, this is blameworthy, this is condemned or censured by the wise, these things when accepted and practised lead to poverty and harm and suffering," then you should give them up.

Kalamas, when you yourselves directly know, "These things are wholesome, blameless, praised by the wise; when adopted and carried out they lead to well-being, prosperity and happiness," then you should accept and practise them."

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.