[Buddha-l] Batchelor

[Jackhat1 at aol.com]

>The Buddha devised a smart foolproof set of reasoning to  prove
that it's safer to believe in karma and rebirth than not. As
found  towards the end of the Kalama Sutta. Maybe someone should
bring this to  Batchelor's attention? Here it goes:<
===
I read your quote below to mean the opposite. I think it means iIf there  
is life after death, we should lead a good life, If there is not life after  
death, we should lead a good life. So, who cares.
 
jack


"When, Kalamas, this noble disciple has thus made his mind  free
of enmity, free of ill will, uncorrupted and pure, he has won
Four  Assurances in this very life.

"The First Assurance he has won is this:  'If there is another
world, and if good and bad deeds bear fruit and yield  results, it
is possible that with the breakup of the body, after death,  I
shall arise in a good destination, in a heavenly world.'

"The Second  Assurance he has won is this: 'If there is no other
world, and if good and  bad deeds do not bear fruit and yield
results, still right here, in this very  life, I live happily,
free of enmity and ill will.'

"The Third  Assurance he has won is this: 'Suppose evil befalls
the evil-doer. Then, as I  do not intend evil for anyone, how can
suffering afflict me, one who does no  evil deed?'

"The Fourth Assurance he has won is this: 'Suppose evil does  not
befall the evil-doer. Then right here, I see myself purified in
both  respects.' [because I do no evil, and because no evil (ie.
suffering) will  befall me] 

- Kalama Sutta
- In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of  Discourses from the Pali
Canon (Edited by Bhikkhu  Bodhi)