To the Kalamas
Aṅguttara Nikāya 36 (III, 65)
The Kalama people visit the Buddha and ask about teachers who dispute with each other. Which ones are right?
The Buddha answers that they are perplexed about a perplexing matter and they are right to be perplexed. He says that they should not go by any external authority but instead, if you know for yourself that something is unwholesome then don’t follow it. If you know for yourself that something is wholesome then you should follow it.
He goes on to say that if a person cultivates loving-kindness, altruistic joy, compassion and equanimity then they will win for themselves four assurances:
- if there is a life after this one then they will have great benefit there
- if there is no life after this one then they will be happy here and now
- if evil befalls the evil doer then they will be spared those consequences
- if evil does not befall the evil doer then they are blameless