Q16. How can we settle doubts whether a particular teaching is the Buddha’s or not?
~ By Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu ~
The Buddha laid down a principle for testing: examine and measure against the Suttas (discourses) and compare with the Vinaya (discipline). This principle is based on not believing anything second hand and not taking anyone else as sole authority. If doubt arises concerning a certain statement by someone who claims to have heard it from the Buddha or from a learned group of elders, and which the person says leads to the cessation of suffering, the Buddha said that it must be tested in two ways:
(1) Examine and measure it against the Suttas.* The Suttas contain important themes and threads that run through them and constitute distinct lines of meaning. If a claim doesn’t fit with these themes, it must be discarded.
(2) Compare it with the Vinaya.** The Vinaya is a model, standard, and systematic training. If the claim in question doesn’t fit the system, if it doesn’t conform with the Vinaya, then discard it.
Don’t simply trust any monk, nor any section of the Saṅgha, nor any group of elders, nor any group of learned and practiced individuals who claim to have heard such and such from the Buddha or who follow a tradition of practice stemming from him. The Buddha always asked that we, before all else, raise intelligent doubt and investigate. Measure claims against the Suttas, do they fit? Compare with the Vinaya, do they conform?
(*) Sutte osāretabbaṃ.
(**) Vinaye sandassetabbaṃ.
(From “Buddha-Dhamma for Inquiring Minds”)
- - ❖ - -
Buddha-Dhamma for Students (title of original translation) was composed of two talks given by Ajahn Buddhadāsa in January 1966 to students at Thammasat University, Bangkok. It was translated from the Thai by Rod Bucknell, and revised in 2018 by Santikaro Upasaka. To read/download as free ebook (pdf).
- - ❖ - -
For all English retreat talks, visit Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu.
For more information and free ebooks, visit Suan Mokkh – The Garden of Liberation.
Photo: Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives D-106