Do Not Believe...

Do not believe of what you have heard.
Do not believe in the traditions
because they have been passed down for many generations.
Do not believe in anything
because it is rumored and spoken by many.
Do not believe merely
because a written statement of some old sage is produced.
Do not believe in conjectures.
Do not believe in that as truth
to which you have become attached by habit.
Do not believe merely in the authority of your teachers and elders.
After observation and analysis,
when it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and gain of one and all,
Then accept it and live up to it.

- The Buddha


The above discourse was given by Sakyamuni Buddha when he was asked by one of his disciples, Ananda, on how to identify His true teachings from the fake teachings done by other teachers.

Since the Buddha had traveled all over India, given numerous discourses to uncountable number of people and disciples, Ananda was concerned that there may be lay people who will be misled by so-called teachers proclaiming the Buddha's teachings.

What the Buddha meant was that even though disciples may hear the Buddhist Sutra and teachings from the Buddha himeself, however, the disciple should not just accept it without questions.

The disciples should evaluate from his own experiences, understand from his values and internalize the wisdom before deciding to accept the teachings to be the truth.