The Kālāma Sutta (AN 3.65) is sometimes called the Buddha’s charter of free inquiry. The Kālāmas of Kesaputta were confused: many teachers visited them, each praising his own teaching and criticising others. How could they know who was right?
Do not go merely by…
The Buddha told them not to accept something simply because of oral tradition, lineage, hearsay, scripture, logic, inference, reasoned reflection, agreement with a favourite view, the speaker’s apparent ability, or because “this is our teacher”.
Know for yourselves
Instead, he asked them to look at the results of greed, hatred and delusion in their own lives. When you know for yourselves that certain things are unwholesome, blameworthy and lead to harm and suffering, abandon them. When you know that things are wholesome, praised by the wise and lead to welfare and happiness, take them up and live by them.
A common misunderstanding
The sutta does not mean “believe whatever you like”. It invites careful observation of cause and effect, together with the advice of the wise, so that faith is grounded in understanding.