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理信与迷信
理信与迷信
来源：给孤独园林
无论是基督教、大乘佛教、密宗、回教等各家各派都对自己的教义老王卖瓜，自卖自夸，矮化别人，抬高自己。因此曾有人问我，你如何知道你选择的信仰就一定是正确？这个问题其实远早在古印度佛陀时代就已有人提出，因为印度时至今日仍是各派宗教信仰杂揉林立，各教派导师莫不对自己的教义充满自信，甚而贬抑他人。对于教义中的矛盾之处，总是教导信徒只管相信，不要探索天机。但这样的讲法恐怕无法说服理性之辈。
叫人一味的相信，不要怀疑，是没有道理的。只说一声「我相信」，不足以代表有了「知」与「见」。犹如学生做数学习题时，若遇到瓶颈，不知该如何继续演算 下去，自然会生起疑虑与惶惑，此疑不除，就不能进步。解除疑惑的方法很多，但仅凭一句「我相信」，并不能解决问题。强迫自己去相信或接受不了解的事物或现象，那叫做政治，或者是宗教狂热，那绝不是睿智。
在所有宗教的教主中，唯有佛陀不以「非人」自居。也就是说，他公然宣称自己与大家一样，是人类，会生老病死，不若其它宗教教主，或以神灵自居，或自诩为神灵的转世化身，或受圣灵的感招。
「人，应当自己皈依自己，这世上并没有谁可以真正成为人类皈依的对象。」佛陀曾经如是说过（参见《大般涅盘经》）。换言之，人类是自己的主宰，在人类之上，并没有什么神灵或超自然力量可以控制人类的命运。佛陀认为，人类绝对可以依靠自己的努力与才智，从痛苦与烦恼的泥沼中获得解脱。
本篇是从古老的巴利语经文，经由美国大长老谭尼沙罗尊者译成英文，是一篇非常珍贵的经文。佛陀在本经中教导我们应秉持独立的思考态度，不盲从、不依赖、也不迷信权威、传统、传说、习惯、主观或大师的观点，应凭着良心作理性的判断，及仔细的求证，追寻真理。
选译自南传巴利英译《卡拉玛经》
美国旧金山圣地亚哥谭尼沙罗尊者英译
乔正一中译于公元2008/6/1
我是这样听说的：
有一次，佛陀带领着许多比丘一起游行，来到了古印度拘萨罗国，并进驻该国的卡拉玛城市中心。城内的人民早已久仰佛陀盛名，便慕名蜂拥造访佛陀。他们见到了佛陀，向佛陀行过礼后，便恭敬的坐在一旁。
卡拉玛人的代表开口问佛陀：「各家各派都对自己的教义老王卖瓜，自卖自夸，矮化别人，抬高自己。若跟他们的教义持不一样的看法，他们就会驳斥、轻蔑、卑视。佛陀啊，我们实在感到很迷惑，我们实在无法分辨这些人当中，谁说的是真话，谁的话是虚妄不实的？]
「卡拉玛人，你们会疑惑是应该的，在所疑之处生疑，在有惑之处起惑，都是正常的现象。」佛陀这么说。
「卡拉玛人，你们只要把握一项原则，那就是：不可因为传说就信以为真；不可因为是古老的传统就信以为真；不可因为是正在流行的消息就信以为真；不可因为是宗教经典或书本里的记载就信以为真；不可因为符合罗辑就信以为真；不可以为根据哲理就信以为真；不可因为符合常识或外在的推测就信以为真；不可因为符合自己的预设、见解、或观念就信以为真；不可因为演说者的权威就信以为真；不可因为『这个沙门是我的导师』就信以为真。」
佛陀接着说：「卡拉玛人，当你们自己知道：『这些事是不好的，这些事是有过失的，这些事会受智者谴责的，做这些事情会导致后患无穷，当这些事被采用时会带来伤害及痛苦之时』--你们便应该舍弃或远离他们。无论在任何时候，当你们很清楚知道这些事情是不善的、是错误的、会受智者谴责的、若接受或采取之后会带来损害、伤害、痛苦和烦恼时，那么你们便应该舍弃远离这些事情。」
「卡拉玛人，你们认为人类心中的贪欲、瞋怒、及愚痴，对人是有益的，或是无益的？」佛陀问。
「佛陀，都是无益的。」卡拉玛人回答。
「那么，卡拉玛人，如果此人被贪欲、或瞋怒、或愚痴所蒙蔽，因而做出杀人、偷窃、与他人之妻（夫）通奸、及说谎等行径，你们认为他（她）会不会因此招致长期的痛苦？」
卡拉玛人回答：「一定会！」
佛陀问：「卡拉玛人，那么你们认为以上的行径是善，或不善？]
「是不善的。」
「这些行为是有罪的？或无罪？」
「是有罪的。」
「这些行为会不会招致无穷的后患？产生无止尽的痛苦与烦恼？」
「一定会招致无穷的后患，一定会产生无止尽的痛苦与烦恼。」
佛陀说：「卡拉玛人，所以我才会这么说：『不可因为传说就信以为真；不可因为是古老的传统就信以为真；不可因为是正在流行的消息就信以为真；不可因为是宗教经典或书本里的记载就信以为真；不可因为符合罗辑就信以为真；不可以为根据哲理就信以为真；不可因为符合常识或外在的推测就信以为真；不可因为符合自己的预设、见解、或观念就信以为真；不可因为演说者的权威就信以为真；不可因为『这个沙门是我的导师』就信以为真。』当你们自己知道：『这些事是不好的，这些事是有过失的，这些事会受智者谴责的，做这些事情会导致后患无穷，当这些事被采用时会带来伤害及痛苦之时』--你们便应该舍弃或远离他们。无论在任何时候，当你们很清楚知道这些事情是不善的、是错误的、会受智者谴责的、若接受或采取之后会带来损害、伤害、痛苦和烦恼时，那么你们便应该舍弃远离这些事情。」
佛陀又问：「卡拉玛人，如果人类心中没有贪欲、瞋怒、及愚痴，你们觉得对人是有益的，或是无益的？」
「佛陀，都是有益的。」
「那么，卡拉玛人，如果此人并未被贪欲、或瞋怒、或愚痴所蒙蔽，并没有做出杀人、偷窃、与他人之妻（夫）通奸、及说谎等行径，你们认为他（她）会不会因此获得恒久的平安与快乐？」
卡拉玛人回答：「一定会！」
佛陀问：「卡拉玛人，那么你们认为以上的行径是善，或不善？]
「是善的。」
「这些行为是有罪的？或无罪？」
「是无罪的。」
「这些行为会不会受到智者所称赞？」
「一定会受到智者所称赞。」
「卡拉玛人，同样的道理，当你们自己知道：『这些事是好的，这些事是没有过失的，这些事会受智者称赞的，做这些事情不会导致后患无穷，当这些事被采用时会带来平安及快乐时』--你们便应该努力奉行。无论在任何时候，当你们很清楚知道这些事情是善的、是正确的、是有益的、会受智者称赞的、若接受或采取之后会带来名誉、成功、平安、快乐时，那么你们便应该努力奉行这些事情。」
「卡拉玛人，佛教的圣弟子们就是这样修行的，他们离贪、离瞋，不愚痴。时时刻刻保持正知、正念，将内心慈爱之念徧满一方、二、三、四方世界。将内心的悲悯徧满一方、二、三、四方世界。将不嫉妒的欢喜之情徧满一方、二、三、四方世界。将谦卑、无私与平等之心徧满一方、二、三、四方世界。将如是慈、悲、喜、舍等四心横徧于全世界上下一切之处，甚至整个宇宙，令广大、无量、无怨、无恼害之心、徧满而住。」
「卡拉玛人，我的学生若能做到以上的修行，内心没有怨憎，没有贪欲、没有杂染，清净圣洁，他（她）在今生中便能获致四种内心的平安与喜乐：
第一， 第一，他（她）会这么想：『我不确定这个世界上到底有没有轮回，有没有因果业报。但万一这些事情存在，那么我死后一定会生天，或出生在美好的地方。』这就是他（她）今生的第一种内心的安乐。
第二， 第二，他（她）会这么想：『我不确定这个世界上到底有没有轮回，有没有因果业报。就算没有，那么虎死留皮，人死留名，至少我可以为自己、家人或亲友留下好的名声』这就是他（她）今生的第二种内心的安乐。
第三， 第三，他（她）会这么想：『若作（恶）之人有恶报，那么我不对任何人怀有恶意，不造恶业，我将来一定不会遇到不幸。』这就是他（她）今生的第三种内心的安乐。
第四， 第四，他（她）会这么想：『假设作恶之人没有恶报，那么至少我心安理得，无愧于天地，无负于他人』这就是他（她）今生的第四种内心的安乐。」
卡拉玛人听完佛陀的启示以后，皆茅塞顿开，豁然开朗，内心涌起无法言喻的欢喜，他们齐声称赞佛陀：「真是了不起!真是伟大!佛陀的教导实在不可思议，犹如使迷路者找到了正途，在黑暗中崭露了曙光，在闇室中点燃油灯，令大家看清室内的各种东西，佛陀的教导亦是如此。佛陀啊，我们从今起愿皈依佛陀、佛法、皈依比丘僧伽，佛陀啊！请接受我们为忠实的在家弟子。」
Kalama Sutta
To the Kalamas
Translated from the Pali by
Thanissaro Bhikkhu
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I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One, on a wandering tour among the Kosalans with a large community of monks, arrived at Kesaputta, a town of the Kalamas. The Kalamas of Kesaputta heard it said, "Gotama the contemplative — the son of the Sakyans, having gone forth from the Sakyan clan — has arrived at Kesaputta. And of that Master Gotama this fine reputation has spread: 'He is indeed a Blessed One, worthy, & rightly self-awakened, consummate in knowledge & conduct, well-gone, a knower of the cosmos, an unexcelled trainer of those persons ready to be tamed, teacher of human & divine beings, awakened, blessed. He has made known — having realized it through direct knowledge — this world with its devas, maras, & brahmas, its generations with their contemplatives & priests, their rulers & common people; has explained the Dhamma admirable in the beginning, admirable in the middle, admirable in the end; has expounded the holy life both in its particulars & in its essence, entirely perfect, surpassingly pure. It is good to see such a worthy one.'"
So the Kalamas of Kesaputta went to the Blessed One. On arrival, some of them bowed down to him and sat to one side. Some of them exchanged courteous greetings with him and, after an exchange of friendly greetings & courtesies, sat to one side. Some of them sat to one side having saluted him with their hands palm-to-palm over their hearts. Some of them sat to one side having announced their name & clan. Some of them sat to one side in silence.
As they sat there, the Kalamas of Kesaputta said to the Blessed One, "Lord, there are some priests & contemplatives who come to Kesaputta. They expound & glorify their own doctrines, but as for the doctrines of others, they deprecate them, revile them, show contempt for them, & disparage them. And then other priests & contemplatives come to Kesaputta. They expound & glorify their own doctrines, but as for the doctrines of others, they deprecate them, revile them, show contempt for them, & disparage them. They leave us absolutely uncertain & in doubt: Which of these venerable priests & contemplatives are speaking the truth, and which ones are lying?"
"Of course you are uncertain, Kalamas. Of course you are in doubt. When there are reasons for doubt, uncertainty is born. So in this case, Kalamas, don't go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, 'This contemplative is our teacher.' When you know for yourselves that, 'These qualities are unskillful; these qualities are blameworthy; these qualities are criticized by the wise; these qualities, when adopted & carried out, lead to harm & to suffering' — then you should abandon them.
"What do you think, Kalamas? When greed arises in a person, does it arise for welfare or for harm?"
"For harm, lord."
"And this greedy person, overcome by greed, his mind possessed by greed, kills living beings, takes what is not given, goes after another person's wife, tells lies, and induces others to do likewise, all of which is for long-term harm & suffering."
"Yes, lord."
"Now, what do you think, Kalamas? When aversion arises in a person, does it arise for welfare or for harm?"
"For harm, lord."
"And this aversive person, overcome by aversion, his mind possessed by aversion, kills living beings, takes what is not given, goes after another person's wife, tells lies, and induces others to do likewise, all of which is for long-term harm & suffering."
"Yes, lord."
"Now, what do you think, Kalamas? When delusion arises in a person, does it arise for welfare or for harm?"
"For harm, lord."
"And this deluded person, overcome by delusion, his mind possessed by delusion, kills living beings, takes what is not given, goes after another person's wife, tells lies, and induces others to do likewise, all of which is for long-term harm & suffering."
"Yes, lord."
"So what do you think, Kalamas: Are these qualities skillful or unskillful?"
"Unskillful, lord."
"Blameworthy or blameless?"
"Blameworthy, lord."
"Criticized by the wise or praised by the wise?"
"Criticized by the wise, lord."
"When adopted & carried out, do they lead to harm & to suffering, or not?"
"When adopted & carried out, they lead to harm & to suffering. That is how it appears to us."
"So, as I said, Kalamas: 'Don't go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, "This contemplative is our teacher." When you know for yourselves that, "These qualities are unskillful; these qualities are blameworthy; these qualities are criticized by the wise; these qualities, when adopted & carried out, lead to harm & to suffering" — then you should abandon them.' Thus was it said. And in reference to this was it said.
"Now, Kalamas, don't go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, 'This contemplative is our teacher.' When you know for yourselves that, 'These qualities are skillful; these qualities are blameless; these qualities are praised by the wise; these qualities, when adopted & carried out, lead to welfare & to happiness' — then you should enter & remain in them.
"What do you think, Kalamas? When lack of greed arises in a person, does it arise for welfare or for harm?"
"For welfare, lord."
"And this ungreedy person, not overcome by greed, his mind not possessed by greed, doesn't kill living beings, take what is not given, go after another person's wife, tell lies, or induce others to do likewise, all of which is for long-term welfare & happiness."
"Yes, lord."
"What do you think, Kalamas? When lack of aversion arises in a person, does it arise for welfare or for harm?"
"For welfare, lord."
"And this unaversive person, not overcome by aversion, his mind not possessed by aversion, doesn't kill living beings, take what is not given, go after another person's wife, tell lies, or induce others to do likewise, all of which is for long-term welfare & happiness."
"Yes, lord."
"What do you think, Kalamas? When lack of delusion arises in a person, does it arise for welfare or for harm?"
"For welfare, lord."
"And this undeluded person, not overcome by delusion, his mind not possessed by delusion, doesn't kill living beings, take what is not given, go after another person's wife, tell lies, or induce others to do likewise, all of which is for long-term welfare & happiness."
"Yes, lord."
"So what do you think, Kalamas: Are these qualities skillful or unskillful?"
"Skillful, lord."
"Blameworthy or blameless?"
"Blameless, lord."
"Criticized by the wise or praised by the wise?"
"Praised by the wise, lord."
"When adopted & carried out, do they lead to welfare & to happiness, or not?"
"When adopted & carried out, they lead to welfare & to happiness. That is how it appears to us."
"So, as I said, Kalamas: 'Don't go by reports, by legends, by traditions, by scripture, by logical conjecture, by inference, by analogies, by agreement through pondering views, by probability, or by the thought, "This contemplative is our teacher." When you know for yourselves that, "These qualities are skillful; these qualities are blameless; these qualities are praised by the wise; these qualities, when adopted & carried out, lead to welfare & to happiness" — then you should enter & remain in them.' Thus was it said. And in reference to this was it said.
"Now, Kalamas, one who is a disciple of the noble ones — thus devoid of greed, devoid of ill will, undeluded, alert, & resolute — keeps pervading the first direction [the east] — as well as the second direction, the third, & the fourth — with an awareness imbued with good will. Thus he keeps pervading above, below, & all around, everywhere & in every respect the all-encompassing cosmos with an awareness imbued with good will: abundant, expansive, immeasurable, free from hostility, free from ill will.
"He keeps pervading the first direction — as well as the second direction, the third, & the fourth — with an awareness imbued with compassion. Thus he keeps pervading above, below, & all around, everywhere & in every respect the all-encompassing cosmos with an awareness imbued with compassion: abundant, expansive, immeasurable, free from hostility, free from ill will.
"He keeps pervading the first direction — as well as the second direction, the third, & the fourth — with an awareness imbued with appreciation. Thus he keeps pervading above, below, & all around, everywhere & in every respect the all-encompassing cosmos with an awareness imbued with appreciation: abundant, expansive, immeasurable, free from hostility, free from ill will.
"He keeps pervading the first direction — as well as the second direction, the third, & the fourth — with an awareness imbued with equanimity. Thus he keeps pervading above, below, & all around, everywhere & in every respect the all-encompassing cosmos with an awareness imbued with equanimity: abundant, expansive, immeasurable, free from hostility, free from ill will.
"Now, Kalamas, one who is a disciple of the noble ones — his mind thus free from hostility, free from ill will, undefiled, & pure — acquires four assurances in the here-&-now:
"'If there is a world after death, if there is the fruit of actions rightly & wrongly done, then this is the basis by which, with the break-up of the body, after death, I will reappear in a good destination, the heavenly world.' This is the first assurance he acquires.
"'But if there is no world after death, if there is no fruit of actions rightly & wrongly done, then here in the present life I look after myself with ease — free from hostility, free from ill will, free from trouble.' This is the second assurance he acquires.
"'If evil is done through acting, still I have willed no evil for anyone. Having done no evil action, from where will suffering touch me?' This is the third assurance he acquires.
"'But if no evil is done through acting, then I can assume myself pure in both respects.' This is the fourth assurance he acquires.
"One who is a disciple of the noble ones — his mind thus free from hostility, free from ill will, undefiled, & pure — acquires these four assurances in the here-&-now."
"So it is, Blessed One. So it is, O One Well-gone. One who is a disciple of the noble ones — his mind thus free from hostility, free from ill will, undefiled, & pure — acquires four assurances in the here-&-now:
"'If there is a world after death, if there is the fruit of actions rightly & wrongly done, then this is the basis by which, with the break-up of the body, after death, I will reappear in a good destination, the heavenly world.' This is the first assurance he acquires.
"'But if there is no world after death, if there is no fruit of actions rightly & wrongly done, then here in the present life I look after myself with ease — free from hostility, free from ill will, free from trouble.' This is the second assurance he acquires.
"'If evil is done through acting, still I have willed no evil for anyone. Having done no evil action, from where will suffering touch me?' This is the third assurance he acquires.
"'But if no evil is done through acting, then I can assume myself pure in both ways.' This is the fourth assurance he acquires.
"One who is a disciple of the noble ones — his mind thus free from hostility, free from ill will, undefiled, & pure — acquires these four assurances in the here-&-now.
"Magnificent, lord! Magnificent! Just as if he were to place upright what was overturned, to reveal what was hidden, to show the way to one who was lost, or to carry a lamp into the dark so that those with eyes could see forms, in the same way has the Blessed One — through many lines of reasoning — made the Dhamma clear. We go to the Blessed One for refuge, to the Dhamma, and to the Sangha of monks. May the Blessed One remember us as lay followers who have gone to him for refuge, from this day forward, for life."
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