z:\ ambedkar\vol 011\vol11 04.indd MK SJ+YS 5 10 2013/YS 18 11 2013 277
WHAT IS NOT—DHAMMA
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“The tests are these,” replied the Blessed One ; “ask yourselves, do we know whether : ‘These things are insalutary ; these things are blameworthy ; these things are reprehended by the wise ; these things being done or attempted lead to ill-being and to suffering.’
“ Kalamas, you should go further and ask whether the doctrine taught promotes craving, hatred, delusion, and violence.
“This is not enough, Kalamas, you should go further and see whether the doctrine is not likely to make a man captive of his passions, and is not likely to lead him to kill living creatures ; take what has not been given to him ; go after another’s wife ; utter falsehood, and cause others to practise like deeds ?
“And finally you should ask : ‘Whether all this does not tend to his ill-being and suffering.’
“Now, Kalamas, what think you ?
“Do these things tend to man’s ill-being or wellbeing ?”
“To his ill-being, Lord,” replied the Kalamas.
“What think you, Kalamas,—are these things salutary or insalutary ?”
“They are insalutary, Lord.”
“Are these things blameworthy ?”
“Blameworthy, Lord,” replied the Kalamas.
“Reprehended by the wise or approved by the wise ?”
“Reprehended by the wise,” replied the Kalamas.
“Being done or attempted, do they lead to illbeing and to suffering ?”
“Done or attempted, Lord, they lead to ill-being and to suffering.”
“A scripture which teaches this cannot be accepted as final or infallible ?”
“No, Lord,” said the Kalamas.
“But this, O Kalamas, is just what I have said. What I have said is “do not go merely by what you hear; do not go merely by what
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