Theos-Talk Archives (October 2000 Message tt00275)

Perhaps this part of the text was inserted by "wise authorities" and was
never ever said by the Buddha. This is what happened with the Gospel
according to . . .

Gene


----- Original Message -----
From: "Nick Weeks" <nick.weeks@att.net>
To: <theos-talk@egroups.com>
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2000 8:39 PM
Subject: Re: Theos-World More of What Gautama said to Kalamas


> The passage Art uses is often so misquoted. Actually the Kalama Sutta is
not
> quite as anti-authority as many would like. But if one ignores a few
lines
> here and there it can appear that way.
>
> First, the Kalamas approach Buddha for advice. If He really intended to
> foster their total self-reliance He would have sent them away with "Don't
ask
> me, go within yourselves." But He did not do so.
> ***********
>
> 4. "It is proper for you, Kalamas, to doubt, to be uncertain; uncertainty
has
> arisen in you about what is doubtful. Come, Kalamas. Do not go upon what
has
> been acquired by repeated hearing; nor upon tradition; nor upon rumor; nor
> upon what is in a scripture; nor upon surmise; nor upon an axiom; nor upon
> specious reasoning; nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been
pondered
> over; nor upon another's seeming ability; nor upon the consideration, 'The
> monk is our teacher.' "
>
> At this point comes the blurring of the teaching. Actually Buddha
suggested
> three criteria for rejecting (or accepting) a teaching.
>
> "Kalamas, when you yourselves know:
>
> 1) 'These things are bad; these things are blamable;
>
> 2) these things are censured by the wise;
>
> 3) undertaken and observed, these things lead to harm and ill,' abandon
> them."
>
> Numbers 1 says when you know for yourself that something is bad -- drop
it.
> Number 3 says when you know for yourself that something will eventually
lead
> to badness -- drop it. However, number 2 says take into account what wise
> authorities say. Can this be? Pay attention to someone other than ME?
> Evidently Buddha thought total self-reliance was not a good idea.
>
> Later on the sutta gives the 3 criteria that should be applied to
accepting
> a teaching. He repeats the same threefold advice, including paying
attention
> to whether wise authorities praise something. If they do, then follow
their
> example.
>
> One can study a couple of translations and a commentary by Bhikku Bodhi at
> the Access to Insight webpage.
>
> Considering the volumes of Buddhist works praising spiritual authorities
and
> requiring their guidance for the aspirant, it is ridiculous to keep
harping
> on this one out-of-context misquote as an authority (what an irony, eh?)
for
> ignoring all but ones own views.
>
> Fare Thee Well,
>
> Nicholas <> nick.weeks@.att.net <> Los Angeles
>
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