- Advertisement -
In the Kalama Sutra, Buddha says.
Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it..
Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored 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.
Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations.
- Advertisement -
Since the Kalama Sutra is a religious book, I won’t believe anything it says.
I have to agree with that myself. I feel disgusted when I see these children who have such strong views of religion all because they are taking it all from their parents. I myself am protestant Christian, but one of my parents is an atheist.
Yup
There is no such thing. You may mean kalama sutta.
All people of all faiths should hear those words. Not all of us Christians are blindly following someone else. Many of us have questioned our faith and studied intently and have come to the conclusion that following God is the way to go.
I can honestly say, YES. Jesus taught the people to think for themselves. In fact, He preached against the old laws where people just “blindly followed” because their ancestors did. He came and brought a new covenant to the people. Buddha is one of the many wise souls who taught people to have a personal relationship with the truth. If you look at Buddha, Krishna, Jesus, Mohammad, they are all saying about the same thing. It all comes down to how we treat one another and how we feel in OUR heart and not what someone else tells us how we should feel. Having faith is good but we also have our own minds and hearts in which to decide what is right and true for us.
The same can be said for any religious people. It can even be applied to atheists – not to believe something doesn’t exist because it is spoken and rumored by many not to exist, or because those you regard as teachers say it probably doesn’t exist.
And how far do you take it?
Well, if none of the things listed there are reasons for believing in things, then what are reasons for believing in them? Why do Buddhists believe what they believe? Does Buddhism not have any religious books, or any traditions handed down, or any teachers or elders? What do they have then? Where does Buddhism come from?