Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.65 · Vol. 20 · Pali Canon
🔍 Kālāma Sutta
กาลามสูตร · "The Discourse to the Kālāmas"
Often called the "Buddhist Charter of Free Inquiry" — the Buddha's teaching to the Kālāmas of Kesaputta, giving 10 criteria for evaluating whether a teaching is truly beneficial, regardless of tradition, logic, or the status of the teacher.
The 10 Criteria — Do Not Believe Because of...
Don't believe something just because it has been handed down by oral tradition.
Don't believe because it has been practiced from generation to generation.
Don't believe just because it is spoken of everywhere.
Don't believe just because it is cited in a religious text or scripture.
Don't believe just because it seems logical.
Don't believe just because it fits an established theory.
Don't believe because it appears correct after reflection.
Don't believe because it seems to match your preconceived views.
Don't believe because the speaker seems competent.
Don't believe just because the speaker is your revered teacher.
The Positive Standard
The Buddha did not end with just "don't believe these things." He gave a positive standard: accept teachings that, when you practice them yourself, you can directly know lead to welfare, benefit, and happiness for yourself and others — and to the reduction of greed, hatred, and delusion. That is the ultimate criterion.
Background & Context
The Kālāmas were a people confused by contradictory teachings from various wandering teachers who all claimed their own doctrine was the only correct one. The Buddha, passing through Kesaputta, was asked how to evaluate competing claims.
This sutta is unique in the Canon as the clearest direct teaching on epistemic autonomy — the right and responsibility to test teachings rather than accept them on authority alone.
Location in the Canon: Aṅguttara Nikāya, Tikanipāta (Book of Threes), sutta 65. MCU edition Vol. 20.