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Filed in Vipassana, Theravada

The Right to Ask Questions

Should we take the Buddha at his word? Larry Rosenberg encourages us to put the teachings to the test.

Larry Rosenberg

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After hearing the concerns of the Kalamas, the Buddha replied:

“Come, Kalamas. Don’t go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by consistency with your own views, by probability, or by the thought, 'This contemplative is our teacher.' When you know for yourselves that 'these mental qualities are unskillful; these mental qualities are blameworthy; these mental qualities are criticized by the wise; these mental qualities when acted on lead to harm and suffering’ then abandon them. When you know for yourselves that 'these mental qualities are skillful; these mental qualities are blameless; these mental qualities are praised by the wise; these mental qualities when acted on lead to well-being and happiness’ then keep following them.”

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