Implications of the Kalama Suttra for Modern Buddhism

federica

I have to say, I haven't come across an 'A' the Buddha said would be good for me - that wasn't.....

Dakini

If people were more concerned in applying buddhism none of this would be a problem. If the Buddha says A is good for you, and you try A out and don't see any improvements WHAT IS YOUR REASON TO KEEP DOING A?

Faith much like knowledge, shouldn't stand in the way of truth.

Easy to say when you're not considering one of the "imponderables", or rebirth...

Epicurus

^I don't understand what you mean.

Dakini

Just that ideas labeled as "imponderable" (the workings of karma, for ex.) and rebirth are more difficult to try out than, say, the Eightfold Path, or precepts, or the Middle Way. Emptiness is another one that's challenging, IME. Some teachings easily lend themselves to testing, others ... not so easily.

vinlyn

I think we need to be very careful about subscribing to the concept of something being imponderable. I hate to think how long the list would be of things that man thought were imponderable that became ponderable (is that a word?) over the decade and centuries. After all, some Buddhists say (indirectly) that nothing was imponderable to Buddha.

fivebells

Some teachings easily lend themselves to testing, others ... not so easily.

Fortunately, the propositions you can't test have no impact on how you should practice.

compassionate_warrior

After all, some Buddhists say (indirectly) that nothing was imponderable to the Buddha.

Didn't the Buddha say that the workings of karma are imponderable?

federica

Yes, for all but an unenlightened being.....