Finest quote thread

[white_wolf]

47. Here's one of my favorites.

Its a long quote so bear with me and it has been posted a few times on this forum and around the internet in various forms, but here is the actual quote from the Kalma Sutra:

. "Therefore, did we say, Kalamas, what was said thus, 'Come Kalamas.
Do not go upon what has been acquired
by repeated hearing;
nor upon tradition;
nor upon rumour;
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."
Kalamas, when you yourselves know: "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.'



"Therefore, did we say, Kalamas, what was said thus, 'Come Kalamas. Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing; nor upon tradition; nor upon rumour; 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." Kalamas, when you yourselves know: "These things are good; these things are not blameable; these things are praised by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and happiness," enter on and abide in them.'"

You can read the full Sutra here: http://viewonbuddhism.org/resources/kalama_sutra.html