3 Key Lessons On Critical Thinking From The Kalama Sutta

1. 3 Key Lessons On Critical Thinking From The KalamaSutta Critical thinking is one of the most powerful, influential skills on the market these days. But most of us are lacking in thisdepartment. If you’d like to develop this skill for yourself, you’ll have to study from the masters. And you might be surprised to discover that the Buddha has a lot to offer on thissubject. The Kalama Sutta is one of the Buddha’s most powerful lessons. And there’s so much we can apply from this Buddhist textin our dailylives. What Is The KalamaSutta? The Kalama Sutta, also called the Kalama Sutra, is the Buddha’s teaching on freeinquiry.

2. A sutra is a powerful statement or a story that represents the distilled wisdom of ancient teachers. The Kamala Sutta story goes like this: after the Buddha became Enlightened, he began traveling to teach others what he’d learned. In his travels, he came across a small village in Eastern India. The village was occupied by a clan called the Kalama — and they had an important question for theBuddha. The Kalama clan wanted to know how they should decide who to trust. You see, at that time there were many sages and gurus across India who preached different spiritual practices and beliefs. Who should the Kalama clan trust? Who should theybelieve? The Buddha’s answer became what we know today as the Kalama Sutta. Many call it the Buddha’s “charter of free inquiry.” Why? Because the Buddha had an important lesson to share on how to thinkcritically.

3. 3 Key Lessons On Critical Thinking From The KalamaSutta So, what did the Buddha teach the Kalama clan about criticalthinking? The main takeaway from the Kalama Sutta is this: don’t accept everything you’re told at face value. Ask questions. Inquire. Digdeeper. Here are 3 key lessons on critical thinking from the KalamaSutta: Don’t be afraid to disrupt tradition Critical thinking isn’t about going with the flow. It’s about having the courage to challenge thenorm. The Buddha encourages the Kalama clan to question the traditions that have been passed down, generation by generation. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with preserving tradition — so long as that tradition is beneficial to the group. But some traditions should be done away with as years pass and timeschange. Follow your gutinstincts A huge component of critical thinking is listening to your heart and following your gut. The Kalama Sutta encourages thesame. The Buddha asks the Kalama clan to use their judgment when deciding which doctrines to follow. If someone seems like they are acting selfishly, they probably are. If someone seems like they’re spreading hateful, judgmental ideas, they probablyare! Listen to your instincts and don’t be afraid to stand up for what you know isright. Question everything

4. One of the most admirable things about the Buddha’s message in the Kalama Sutta? He encourages the clan to question everything: including the Buddhahimself. True advocates of critical thinking aren’t afraid to have their ideas questioned. And the Buddha proves that he is that advocate with his message to the Kalamaclan. As Deborah King, Author of Mindvalley’s Be A Modern Master Program, says: “You know the truth when it is spoken. Listencarefully.”