Don't go by hearsay, tradition or scripture. Know for yourselves.

The Buddha, Kālāma Sutta (Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.65)

What it means

The Kālāmas were confused by competing teachers. The Buddha told them not to accept a claim because of reports, tradition, texts or a teacher's prestige, but to see for themselves what leads to harm and what leads to good. Test ideas by their fruits in your own life.

The source

"Don't go by hearsay, tradition or scripture. Know for yourselves." The Buddha said it in Kālāma Sutta (Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.65). Translated from the original Pali by Spartan Surfers.

"Etha tumhe, kālāmā, mā anussavena, mā paramparāya, mā itikirāya, mā piṭakasampadānena, mā takkahetu, mā nayahetu, mā ākāraparivitakkena, mā diṭṭhinijjhānakkhantiyā, mā bhabbarūpatāya, mā samaṇo no garūti. Yadā tumhe, kālāmā, attanāva jāneyyātha"

Original Pali, Kālāma Sutta (Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.65). Text read at suttacentral.net.

Who said it

The Buddha (c. 5th century BC). Siddhattha Gotama, the teacher from northern India whose path of insight and practice became Buddhism. His sayings survive in the Pali Canon, including the Dhammapada.

Questions

What does "Don't go by hearsay, tradition or scripture. Know for yourselves." mean?: The Kālāmas were confused by competing teachers. The Buddha told them not to accept a claim because of reports, tradition, texts or a teacher's prestige, but to see for themselves what leads to harm and what leads to good. Test ideas by their fruits in your own life.
Who said "Don't go by hearsay, tradition or scripture. Know for yourselves."?: The Buddha (c. 5th century BC). Source: Kālāma Sutta (Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.65).
What is the original Pali?: Etha tumhe, kālāmā, mā anussavena, mā paramparāya, mā itikirāya, mā piṭakasampadānena, mā takkahetu, mā nayahetu, mā ākāraparivitakkena, mā diṭṭhinijjhānakkhantiyā, mā bhabbarūpatāya, mā samaṇo no garūti. Yadā tumhe, kālāmā, attanāva jāneyyātha. Translated from the original Pali by Spartan Surfers.
Is "Don't go by hearsay, tradition or scripture. Know for yourselves." on a shirt?: Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 7 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.

Cite this line

"Don't go by hearsay, tradition or scripture. Know for yourselves." (The Buddha, Kālāma Sutta (Aṅguttara Nikāya 3.65), translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/dont-go-by-hearsay-tradition-or-scripture-know