Sutta

Kalama Sutra - Angutarra Nikaya 3.65 Teaching given by the Buddha given to the Kalama people: Do not go by revelation; Do not go by tradition; Do not go by hearsay; Do not go on the authority of sacred texts; Do not go on the grounds of pure logic; Do not go by a view that seems rational; Do not go by reflecting on mere appearances; Do not go along with a considered view because you agree with it; Do not go along on the grounds that the person is competent; Do not go along because [thinking] 'the recluse is our teacher'. Kalamas, when you yourselves know: 'These things are unwholesome, these things are blameworthy; these things are censured by the wise; and when undertaken and observed, these things lead to harm and ill, abandon them... Kalamas, when you know for yourselves: These are wholesome; these things are not blameworthy; these things are praised by the wise; undertaken and observed, these things lead to benefit and happiness, having undertaken them, abide in them. ———————————————— Once the Buddha was visiting a town named Kesaputta, where the Kalama clan lived. The Kalamas were confused with the teachings of the many religious teachers who spoke well of themselves and ill of others. They approached the Buddha and consulted him. “There are some holy men and priests, Sir, who come to Kesaputta and claimed that only their religion is right and others are wrong. As a result, doubt has come to us. Which of these holy men and priests spoke the truth?” Now, the Buddha knowing the confusion in the mind of the Kalamas did not give them another dogmas nor dismiss the doctrine of others as false. Instead he gave them a unique advice, which until today became the Buddhist spirit of thought and investigation – the Buddhist Charter of Free Inquiry (Kalama Sutta). “It is proper to doubt in things that are doubtful. O Kalamas, do not accept anything; through repeated hearing, through mere tradition, through rumours, through mere correspondence with the scriptures, through mere thinking deeply, through logical reasoning, through mere apparent reason, based on mere agreement with your own opinion, based on a person who seemingly possess abilities, or thinking, “this person is our teacher.” AN III:65 (Anguttara Nikaya book of the 3 verse 65) " Kalamas, when you yourselves know what are immoral, blameworthy and censured by the wise, when performed and undertaken, conduce to unprofitable things, conduce to suffering (to oneself as well as others), abandons them." Here the Buddha asked the Kalamas again, "What do they think the presence of greed, hatred and delusion occurring within a man, will it conduce to benefit or to unprofitable things?" A man, who is overwhelmed with greed, hatred or delusion sometimes resorts to killing, stealing, committing adultery, lying and inducing others to do the same like him. Whatever conduces to unprofitable things conduces to the suffering of oneself and others. " Kalamas, when you yourselves know what are moral, not blameworthy and praised by the wise, when performed and undertaken, conduce to profitable things, conduce to well being and happiness (of oneself as well as others), then do you live and act accordingly." The Buddha explained that the absence of greed; hatred and delusion in a man's mind would refrain him from committing unwholesome deeds, and that may conduce to the benefit and happiness of oneself and others. Thus, he is of self-controlled and discerning in mindfulness with his heart composed and filled with:- Loving-kindness(Wishing happiness for all beings) Compassion (Wishing deliverance from suffering for all beings) Good Cheer (Sympathetic joy towards all beings of their gains) Equanimity(Impartiality towards all beings) (For further reading, please go to: http://ymoon-mun.blogspot.com/2006/09/e-dhamma-course-1.html )

Loving-Kindness

Loving kindness or mettā is one of the four subjects of meditation called Brahma-vihāra, Divine Abidings. The practice of this meditation is explained in detail in Visuddhimagga. Those who want to practice this meditation seriously should follow the instructions given in that book. The practice given here is for those who want to practice it as one item in their daily spiritual practice.

Loving kindness or rather mettā is defined as that 'which is solvent, which adheres'. It can be likened to oil which people put in the engines. Nobody will drive his or her car if there is no engine-oil in it for fear that the car may be damaged, but seldom do people remember to put the oil of mettā in their relationships with other people; no wonder there is so much friction, so much abrasion in human relationships. If only people could put just a small amount of mettā in their relationships, a lot of unnecessary anger, hate, grudge, resentment and other undersirable results could have been avoided. Moreover, the practice of mettā can give us eleven benefits as declared by the Buddha:

1. One sleeps in comfort.
2. One wakes in comfort.
3. One has no evil dreams.
4. One is dear to human beings.
5. One is dear to non-human beings.
6. One is protected by deities.
7. Fire, poison and weapons cannot hurt him.
8. One's mind is easily concentrated.
9. The expression of one's face is serene.
10. One dies unconfused.
11. If one does not penetrate any higher, one will be reborn in the Brahma World.

To enjoy these benifits too we should practice loving-kindness.

The Practice of Loving-Kindness

By way of Location:

May I
be well, happy and peaceful.
May all beings in this house
be well, happy and peaceful.
May all beings in this area
be well, happy and peaceful.
May all beings in this city
be well, happy and peaceful.
May all beings in this country
be well, happy and peaceful.
May all beings in this world
be well, happy and peaceful.
May all beings in this universe
be well, happy and peaceful.
May all beings
be well, happy and peaceful.

By way of Persons:

May I
be well, happy and peaceful
May my teachers
be well, happy and peaceful
May my relatives
be well, happy and peaceful
May my freinds
be well, happy and peaceful
May the indifferent persons
be well, happy and peaceful
May the unfriendly persons
be well, happy and peaceful
May all meditators
be well, happy and peaceful
May all beings
be well, happy and peaceful

May suffering ones be suffering-free
And the fear-struck fearless be
May the grieving shed all grief
And all beings find relief

Mangala Sutta
(Discourse on Auspicious Blessing)

Thus have I heard. Once the Blessed One was staying near Savatthi in Jeta’s Grove of Anathapindikasa’s Park. (monastery)

Then a certain devata, in the night’s last extreme, whose extreme brilliance lighted up the whole Jeta’s Grove, approached the Exalted One, having approached the Exalted One and revered him, he stood to one side, standing there to one side that devata addressed the Exalted one in verses:

Many devas and men,
Have pondered on blessings
Longing for safety
Tell them the highest blessing

1. Not to consort with fools,
With the wise to consort
And to honour the honourable
This is the highest blessing.

2. Living in befitting places,
In the past to have made merits (punna)
And with oneself rightly guided,
This is the highest blessing.

3. Ample learning and handicraft,
Being well trained in discipline
And that speech which is well spoken,
This is the highest blessing.

4. Support of mother and father,
Cherishing of wife and children
And ways of work without conflict,
This is the highest blessing.

5. Giving and conduct according to the Dhamma
And help for relatives,
With unobstructive kamma
This is the highest blessing.

6. Shrinking abstinence from evil,
Refraining from intoxicants,
Heedfulness in all that is Dhamma,
This is the highest blessing.

7. Respectfulness and humility,
Contentment and gratitude,
The timely hearing of the Dhamma
This is the highest blessing.

8. Patience and meekness when corrected
And sight of samanass,
Timely discussion of Dhamma,
This is the highest blessing.

9. Ardent effort, the divine life leading,
Insight into the Noble Truths,
And the realization of Nibbana,
This is the highest blessing.

10. Though in contact with worldly Dhammas,
Yet his mind is not shaken,
Griefless, dustless, secure,
This is the highest blessing.

11. Since by doing such things
As these (men) are everywhere unvanquished
And go everywhere in safety
This is the highest blessing.