195. Q. Did he himself really teach that noble rule?
A. Yes. The Buddha has said that we must not believe in a thing said merely because it is said; nor in traditions because they have been handed down from antiquity; nor rumours, as such; nor writings by sages, merely because sages wrote them; nor fancies that we may suspect to have been inspired in us by a Deva (that is, in presumed spiritual inspiration); nor from inferences drawn from some haphazard assumption we may have made; nor because of what seems an analogical necessity; nor on the mere authority of our own teachers or masters.
196. Q. When, then, must we believe?
A. We are to believe when the writing doctrine or saying is corroborated by our own reason and consciousness. "For this," says he in concluding, "I taught you not to believe merely because you have heard, but when you believed of your own consciousness, then to act accordingly and abundantly." (See the Kālāma Sutta of the Anguttara Nikāya, and the Mahā Pari Nirvāna Sutta.)
197. Q. What does the Buddha call himself?
A. He says that he and the other Buddhas are only "preachers" of truth who point out the way: we ourselves must make the effort.
198. Q. Where is this said?
A. In the Dhammapada, Chapter xx.
199. Q. Does Buddhism countenance hypocrisy?
A. The Dhammapada says: "Like a beautiful flower full of colour without scent the fine words of him who does not act accordingly are fruitless."