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Total Categories: 5
The Kesamutti Sutta is widely recognized in the West by what alternative name?
Answer: True
The Kesamutti Sutta, a discourse from the Anguttara Nikaya, is popularly known in Western scholarship and discourse as the Kalama Sutta.
The narrative of the Kesamutti Sutta commences with the Buddha's arrival in which village, where he encounters the inhabitants known as the Kalamas?
Answer: True
The sutta's narrative begins with the Buddha's visit to the village of Kesaputta, where he encountered the local populace, the Kalamas.
The Kalamas presented the Buddha with a dilemma concerning the proper method for establishing monastic rules.
Answer: False
The Kalamas' dilemma concerned the conflicting doctrines presented by numerous visiting ascetics and holy men, leaving them uncertain about which teachings to accept and follow, rather than the establishment of monastic rules.
What is the believed significance of the Kesariya Stupa in relation to the Kesamutti Sutta?
Answer: True
The Kesariya Stupa is historically and archaeologically significant as it is believed to be situated at the site where the Buddha delivered the Kesamutti Sutta discourse.
The Pali name for the sutta popularly known in the West as the Kalama Sutta is Kālmasutta.
Answer: True
The Pali name for the sutta is Kesamuttisutta, which is also sometimes referred to as Kālmasutta.
The sutta's name is translated as 'Kalam Sutra' in Bengali and 'Kalama Sutra' in Thai.
Answer: True
The sutta's name is rendered as 'Kalam Sutra' in Bengali and 'Kalama Sutra' in Thai, reflecting its linguistic and cultural dissemination.
What is the popular Western appellation for the Kesamutti Sutta?
Answer: Kalama Sutta
The Kesamutti Sutta is widely known in the West as the Kalama Sutta.
The Kalamas presented the Buddha with a dilemma concerning:
Answer: The conflicting teachings of various visiting ascetics and holy men
The Kalamas approached the Buddha with a dilemma arising from the conflicting doctrines and criticisms offered by numerous visiting ascetics and holy men, leaving them uncertain about which teachings to follow.
What is the believed significance of the Kesariya Stupa in connection with the Kesamutti Sutta?
Answer: It is believed to be the location where the Buddha delivered the discourse
The Kesariya Stupa is considered significant as it is believed to mark the geographical location where the Buddha delivered the Kesamutti Sutta discourse.
What is the Pali name for the sutta popularly known in the West as the Kalama Sutta?
Answer: Kesamuttisutta
The Pali name for the sutta popularly known in the West as the Kalama Sutta is Kesamuttisutta.
Did the Buddha's response to the Kalamas advocate for discerning truth based solely on scriptural revelation?
Answer: False
The Buddha's response did not advocate for discerning truth based solely on revelation from scriptures; instead, he provided a method emphasizing personal verification and critical examination.
Did the Buddha advise the Kalamas to accept teachings based on tradition and rumor without critical evaluation?
Answer: False
Contrary to accepting teachings based on tradition and rumor without question, the Buddha advised the Kalamas against such blind acceptance, urging them to investigate and verify teachings personally.
Does the Kesamutti Sutta enumerate ten categories of unreliable sources for knowledge, such as scriptures, personal opinions, and authorities?
Answer: True
Yes, the sutta lists ten unreliable sources or fallacies that should not be the sole basis for accepting teachings, including tradition, rumor, scripture, personal opinion, and the authority of experts or teachers.
Does the phrase 'charter of free inquiry,' as applied to the Kesamutti Sutta, signify an encouragement of blind acceptance of teachings from recognized authorities?
Answer: False
The phrase 'charter of free inquiry' signifies the sutta's encouragement of critical thinking and personal investigation, not blind acceptance of teachings from authorities.
Does the Kesamutti Sutta imply that personal experience is irrelevant for discerning truth, advocating reliance solely on scripture?
Answer: False
The sutta strongly implies that personal experience and direct knowledge are crucial for discerning truth, advocating for verification rather than sole reliance on scripture.
Does the core message of the Kesamutti Sutta emphasize individual responsibility for investigating and verifying spiritual teachings?
Answer: True
Indeed, the core message of the Kesamutti Sutta highlights the paramount importance of individual responsibility in critically investigating and verifying spiritual teachings for oneself.
Does the Kesamutti Sutta advocate for absolute skepticism, urging the rejection of all teachings regardless of their source?
Answer: False
The sutta does not promote absolute skepticism; rather, it encourages critical examination and personal verification, distinguishing between reliable and unreliable sources of knowledge.
How is the Kesamutti Sutta frequently characterized by Buddhists across various traditions?
Answer: As the Buddha's 'charter of free inquiry'
The Kesamutti Sutta is frequently referenced across Buddhist traditions as the Buddha's 'charter of free inquiry,' underscoring its emphasis on critical thinking and personal verification.
What method did the Buddha propose to the Kalamas for discerning the veracity of teachings?
Answer: A method emphasizing personal verification and critical thinking
The Buddha offered a method emphasizing personal verification, critical thinking, and empirical assessment, rather than reliance on revelation, speculation, or blind faith.
Which of the following is explicitly listed by the Buddha as a reason *not* to blindly accept a teaching?
Answer: It is based on rumor or tradition
The Buddha explicitly listed tradition, rumor, scripture, surmise, logical reasoning, opinion, apparent ability, and the authority of a teacher as reasons not to blindly accept a teaching.
The phrase 'charter of free inquiry,' associated with the Kesamutti Sutta, primarily emphasizes:
Answer: The encouragement of critical thinking and personal investigation of teachings
The phrase 'charter of free inquiry' highlights the sutta's emphasis on critical thinking, personal investigation, and the independent verification of teachings.
The Kesamutti Sutta warns against accepting information based on which of the following biases?
Answer: Bias towards pondered notions or alignment with personal opinions
The sutta explicitly warns against accepting information based on biases such as a pondered notion (diṭṭhi-nijjhāna-kkha-antiyā) or alignment with personal opinions (bhabba-rūpatāyā).
Regarding the authority of a teacher, what is the Buddha's stance in the sutta?
Answer: Teachings should not be accepted solely based on a teacher's status; personal verification is needed
The Buddha's stance is that teachings should not be accepted merely because they come from a teacher ('The monk is our teacher'); personal verification remains essential.
What is the central message of the Kesamutti Sutta concerning personal responsibility in matters of belief?
Answer: Individuals must investigate and verify spiritual teachings for themselves
The central message emphasizes that individuals bear the responsibility to critically investigate and verify spiritual teachings for themselves, rather than passively accepting them.
How does the sutta encourage a balanced approach to knowledge?
Answer: Cautioning against blind acceptance and absolute skepticism, advocating critical examination
The sutta encourages a balanced approach by cautioning against both blind acceptance of any single source and absolute skepticism, instead advocating for critical examination and personal verification.
According to the Kesamutti Sutta, under what conditions should a teaching be accepted as true?
Answer: True
The Buddha stipulated that a teaching should be accepted as true only when it is personally verified as being good, blameless, praised by the wise, and conducive to benefit and happiness.
According to the sutta, what characteristic defines 'wise people' in the context of evaluating teachings?
Answer: True
The sutta suggests that wise individuals are those who would commend teachings that are morally sound, free from blame, and demonstrably lead to benefit and happiness.
According to the Buddha in the Kesamutti Sutta, when should a teaching be accepted as true?
Answer: When it is personally known to be good, blameless, and leads to benefit and happiness
A teaching should be accepted as true when it is personally known to be good, blameless, praised by the wise, and leads to benefit and happiness.
What is the primary objective of investigating teachings as outlined in the Kesamutti Sutta?
Answer: False
The ultimate goal of investigating teachings, as presented in the sutta, is to identify truths that verifiably lead to the reduction of personal suffering (dukkha), rather than necessarily achieving enlightenment for all beings in this immediate context.
Are skillful actions, according to the sutta, characterized as those rooted in greed, hatred, and delusion?
Answer: False
Skillful actions are identified in the sutta as those rooted in the opposites of greed, hatred, and delusion (i.e., non-greed, non-hatred, non-delusion), whereas actions rooted in greed, hatred, and delusion are considered unskillful.
Are greed, hatred, and delusion identified in the sutta as the 'three wholesome roots'?
Answer: False
Greed, hatred, and delusion are identified in the sutta as the 'three unwholesome roots,' which form the basis for actions leading to negative consequences.
Beyond its discourse on discerning teachings, what other significant section is included in the Kesamutti Sutta?
Answer: True
In addition to providing criteria for critical inquiry, the Kesamutti Sutta contains a section detailing the Buddha's four assurances, or solaces, which address ethical living irrespective of metaphysical beliefs.
What is the central principle of the Buddha's four assurances presented in the Kesamutti Sutta?
Answer: True
The core idea of the four assurances is that a virtuous and ethical life yields present benefits and well-being, regardless of one's belief in concepts such as karma, reincarnation, or an afterlife.
What does the first solace in the Kesamutti Sutta offer regarding the possibility of an afterlife?
Answer: True
The first solace posits that if an afterlife and karmic consequences exist, a mind cultivated free from hatred may lead to rebirth in a heavenly realm.
Does the second solace assure that freedom from hatred leads to safety and happiness in the present life, even without belief in an afterlife?
Answer: True
The second solace asserts that even in the absence of belief in an afterlife or retribution, a life characterized by freedom from hatred and malice leads to present safety, well-being, and happiness.
Does the third solace suggest that refraining from evil actions guarantees freedom from negative consequences irrespective of whether evil actions lead to evil results?
Answer: False
The third solace suggests that refraining from evil actions protects one from negative consequences *if* evil actions lead to evil results. It does not guarantee freedom irrespective of the outcome of evil actions.
The fourth solace provides assurance that acting ethically purifies oneself, even if evil actions do not result in negative consequences for the perpetrator.
Answer: True
The fourth solace assures that one is purified by virtuous conduct, irrespective of whether evil actions result in negative consequences for the perpetrator.
What is the ultimate goal of investigating teachings in the Kesamutti Sutta?
Answer: Verifiably reduce one's own suffering (dukkha)
The ultimate objective of investigating teachings, as articulated in the sutta, is to identify truths that demonstrably lead to the reduction of personal suffering (dukkha).
What are the three unwholesome roots identified in the sutta?
Answer: Greed, hatred, and delusion
The three unwholesome roots identified in the sutta are greed, hatred, and delusion, which are the basis for unskillful actions.
In addition to methods for discerning teachings, what other significant section does the Kesamutti Sutta contain?
Answer: The Buddha's four assurances or solaces
The Kesamutti Sutta includes not only methods for discerning teachings but also a section on the Buddha's four assurances or solaces.
What is the core idea of the Buddha's four assurances?
Answer: Ethical living is beneficial regardless of belief in karma or an afterlife
The core idea of the four assurances is that ethical living provides present benefits and well-being, irrespective of one's belief in karma or an afterlife.
What is the first solace offered in the sutta regarding the possibility of an afterlife?
Answer: It offers the hope of rebirth in a heavenly world *if* an afterlife exists and one has cultivated a mind free from hatred
The first solace offers the hope of rebirth in a heavenly world, contingent upon the existence of an afterlife and the cultivation of a mind free from hatred.
The second solace assures that a life free from hatred and malice leads to:
Answer: Safety, well-being, and happiness in the present life
The second solace assures that a life free from hatred and malice leads to safety, well-being, and happiness in the present life, regardless of belief in an afterlife.
How does the third solace address the consequences of actions?
Answer: Refraining from evil protects one from negative consequences *if* evil actions lead to evil results
The third solace states that refraining from evil actions protects one from negative consequences, provided that evil actions indeed lead to evil results.
What assurance does the fourth solace provide regarding ethical action?
Answer: One is purified by virtue even if evil actions yield no negative consequences
The fourth solace assures that one is purified by virtuous conduct, irrespective of whether evil actions result in negative consequences for the perpetrator.
The Buddha's four assurances are pragmatically compared to Pascal's wager because both:
Answer: Argue that virtue is beneficial regardless of metaphysical certainty
Both the Buddha's assurances and Pascal's wager suggest that adopting a virtuous or ethical stance is beneficial, irrespective of the ultimate certainty of metaphysical claims such as an afterlife or divine judgment.
While preserved within the Theravada tradition, is the Kesamutti Sutta considered significant by Mahayana Buddhists?
Answer: True
The Kesamutti Sutta, though preserved in the Theravada canonical tradition, is frequently referenced by both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhists as a foundational text on critical inquiry.
How did Soma Thera characterize the Kalama Sutta?
Answer: True
Soma Thera described the Kalama Sutta as a 'charter of free inquiry,' emphasizing its freedom from fanaticism, bigotry, dogmatism, and intolerance.
What caution does Bhikkhu Bodhi offer regarding the interpretation of the Kalama Sutta?
Answer: True
Bhikkhu Bodhi warns against interpreting the Kalama Sutta as an endorsement of radical skepticism or the creation of absolute personal truths, which could lead to the dismissal of all doctrine and faith.
Is the Pali Canon the standard collection of scriptures for Mahayana Buddhism?
Answer: False
The Pali Canon is the standard collection of scriptures for Theravada Buddhism, not Mahayana Buddhism.
Within which division of the Pali Canon is the Kesamutti Sutta located?
Answer: False
The Kesamutti Sutta is located within the Anguttara Nikaya, which is part of the Sutta Piṭaka, one of the three main divisions of the Pali Canon.
Is the Anguttara Nikaya considered one of the main divisions of the Sutta Piṭaka?
Answer: True
Yes, the Anguttara Nikaya, a collection of discourses arranged numerically, is one of the principal divisions within the Sutta Piṭaka of the Pali Canon.
According to Soma Thera, the Kalama Sutta serves as a charter of free inquiry, signifying its freedom from what?
Answer: Fanaticism, bigotry, dogmatism, and intolerance
Soma Thera characterized the Kalama Sutta as a charter of free inquiry, meaning it is free from fanaticism, bigotry, dogmatism, and intolerance.
What potential misinterpretation of the Kalama Sutta does Bhikkhu Bodhi caution against?
Answer: An endorsement of radical skepticism or dismissing all doctrine
Bhikkhu Bodhi warns that the Kalama Sutta should not be interpreted as promoting radical skepticism or the dismissal of all doctrine and faith.
The Pali Canon serves as the standard collection of scriptures for which major Buddhist tradition?
Answer: Theravada Buddhism
The Pali Canon is the authoritative collection of scriptures for Theravada Buddhism, often referred to as the 'Doctrine of the Elders'.
The Kesamutti Sutta is found within which major division of the Pali Canon?
Answer: Sutta Piṭaka (specifically Anguttara Nikaya)
The Kesamutti Sutta is located within the Anguttara Nikaya, which is part of the Sutta Piṭaka, one of the three principal divisions of the Pali Canon.
Which of the following is NOT considered a main division of the Sutta Piṭaka?
Answer: Vinaya Piṭaka
The Vinaya Piṭaka is a separate major division of the Pali Canon, distinct from the Sutta Piṭaka, which comprises the Dīgha Nikāya, Majjhima Nikāya, Saṃyutta Nikāya, Aṅguttara Nikāya, and Khuddaka Nikāya.