Every religion that purports to be medicine for the soul ought to have a warning label, like the FDA requires for medicines for the body. Otherwise, you end up with Jonestowns and 9/11s.
Here's the Buddha's warning label, as recorded in the Kalama Sutta:
Don't go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, "This contemplative is our teacher." When you know for yourselves that, "These qualities are unskillful; these qualities are blameworthy; these qualities are criticized by the wise; these qualities, when adopted and carried out, lead to harm and to suffering" — then you should abandon them.
Don't go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, "This contemplative is our teacher." When you know for yourselves that, "These qualities are skillful; these qualities are blameless; these qualities are praised by the wise; these qualities, when adopted and carried out, lead to welfare and to happiness" — then you should enter and remain in them.
"Kalama Sutta: To the Kalamas" (AN 3.65).
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Access to Insight, 30 November 2013
Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.
Access to Insight, 30 November 2013
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