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Buddhist Charter of Free Enquiry

‘It is not surprising, Kalamas, that you are confused. Don’t accept ideas just because others have believed them for a long time or because others say that it is true.

Don’t accept these ideas just because they are written in ancient books or scriptures.

Don’t accept these ideas just because the teacher offers a convincing argument.

Don’t accept these ideas just because you have great respect for the teacher. Kalamas!

You should examine these ideas for yourself and ask yourself if they are of benefit to your life, are not a source of sorrow or regrets or likely to bring blame from the wise.

If these ideas are profitable to your life and are unlikely to cause suffering to yourself or any living creature and are praised by intelligent people and are likely to produce happiness, then, and only then, should you accept them and live according to these principles.’

- the Buddha;

Kalama Sutta.

“These roots of virtue are to be understood to be equal to a Tathagata.” -the Buddha; Sanghata Sutra. Read that sentence above again, and think about it. The Tathagata is a fully Enlightened Buddha. He’s saying that being rooted in virtue is the heart of Buddhahood. If we wish to progress in our dharmic understanding, we have to decide from moment-to-moment, how to apply virtue to each situation as it arises. Those moments of decision- (do this/not that) are the very seeds of our own Enlightenment. The Buddha is right here, within each one of us.  
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“These roots of virtue are to be understood to be equal to a Tathagata.”

-the Buddha; Sanghata Sutra.

Read that sentence above again, and think about it. The Tathagata is a fully Enlightened Buddha. He’s saying that being rooted in virtue is the heart of Buddhahood.

If we wish to progress in our dharmic understanding, we have to decide from moment-to-moment, how to apply virtue to each situation as it arises. Those moments of decision- (do this/not that) are the very seeds of our own Enlightenment.

The Buddha is right here, within each one of us.  

The Metta Sutta- The Buddha’s Teaching on Loving-kindness This is what should be done By one who is skilled in goodness, And who knows the path of peace: Let them be able and upright, Straightforward and gentle in speech. Humble and not conceited, Contented and easily satisfied. Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways. Peaceful and calm, and wise and skilful, Not proud and demanding in nature. Let them not do the slightest thing That the wise would later reprove. Wishing: In gladness and in safety, May all beings be at ease. Whatever living beings there may be; Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none, The great or the mighty, medium, short or small, The seen and the unseen, Those living near and far away, Those born and to-be-born, May all beings be at ease! Let none deceive another, Or despise any being in any state. Let none through anger or ill-will Wish harm upon another. Even as a mother protects with her life Her child, her only child, So with a boundless heart Should one cherish all living beings: Radiating kindness over the entire world Spreading upwards to the skies, And downwards to the depths; Outwards and unbounded, Freed from hatred and ill-will. Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down Free from drowsiness, One should sustain this recollection. This is said to be the sublime abiding. By not holding to fixed views, The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision, Being freed from all sense desires, Is not born again into this world.  -Sutta Nipata 1.8
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The Metta Sutta- The Buddha’s Teaching on Loving-kindness

This is what should be done

By one who is skilled in goodness,

And who knows the path of peace:

Let them be able and upright,

Straightforward and gentle in speech.

Humble and not conceited,

Contented and easily satisfied.

Unburdened with duties and frugal in their ways.

Peaceful and calm, and wise and skilful,

Not proud and demanding in nature.

Let them not do the slightest thing

That the wise would later reprove.

Wishing: In gladness and in safety,

May all beings be at ease.

Whatever living beings there may be;

Whether they are weak or strong, omitting none,

The great or the mighty, medium, short or small,

The seen and the unseen,

Those living near and far away,

Those born and to-be-born,

May all beings be at ease!

Let none deceive another,

Or despise any being in any state.

Let none through anger or ill-will

Wish harm upon another.

Even as a mother protects with her life

Her child, her only child,

So with a boundless heart

Should one cherish all living beings:

Radiating kindness over the entire world

Spreading upwards to the skies,

And downwards to the depths;

Outwards and unbounded,

Freed from hatred and ill-will.

Whether standing or walking, seated or lying down

Free from drowsiness,

One should sustain this recollection.

This is said to be the sublime abiding.

By not holding to fixed views,

The pure-hearted one, having clarity of vision,

Being freed from all sense desires,

Is not born again into this world. 

-Sutta Nipata 1.8

“Form is emptiness and emptiness is form.” - Heart Sutra. Thich Nhat Hanh explains emptiness through a piece of paper. Where is the paper if we take away the rain, the earth, the sun, the logger who cut down the tree? Without these and many, many other conditions, the paper would not exist. It is empty of a separate self but full of all of the other things that make it up.
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“Form is emptiness and emptiness is form.”

- Heart Sutra.

Thich Nhat Hanh explains emptiness through a piece of paper. Where is the paper if we take away the rain, the earth, the sun, the logger who cut down the tree? Without these and many, many other conditions, the paper would not exist. It is empty of a separate self but full of all of the other things that make it up.

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