The Buddha’s Empirically Testable “Ten Criteria” Challenges the Authenticity of Truth Claims: A Critical Review and Its Potential Applicability to Debunking the Various Post-Truths

Choi Choi,Choo Choo

doi:10.3390/rel10120645

Abstract

Modern readers who investigate religious theories and practices are exposed to diverse truth claims and worldviews. Such claims are often conflicting and subject the readers to various misconceptions and misguidance. In Buddhism, the Buddha is said to have awakened to the true nature of existence and attained final liberation from suffering, referred to as “enlightenment.” How was he able to convince his disciples of his self-claimed enlightenment? Can his reasoning be applied to modern readers, who are well-educated, but overloaded with the incessant proliferation of digital information? The Buddha, specifically in the Kālāma Sutta, presents empirically testable guidelines, termed the “Ten Criteria,” which were formulated as an integrated interplay of reasoning and morality. This essay examines the Buddha’s strategy, which is empirical and pragmatic in nature and embraces the fundamental principles of modern science. We contend that his proposed methodology is verifiably evocative of a moral discipline, while presenting a pedagogical approach to the teacher–student dynamic. Serving as a reference point, this view may help modern readers in differentiating the right truth from the biased post-truths, which appeal to emotion and personal belief.

Highlights

In recent years, media representation and the rampant spread of unverifiable misinformation have been posing new challenges to intellectual communities
Levitin is primarily interested in peak performance, and explains how naps, calendars and periods away from the internet can help to focus our mind
One may question how effective the peak performance itself may be in sorting out meaningful verities from “post-truth,”

Summary

Introduction

Media representation and the rampant spread of unverifiable misinformation have been posing new challenges to intellectual communities. We have attempted to instigate a critical review of the Buddha’s empirically testable “Ten Criteria”, as stated in the Aṅguttara Nikāya, in the Kālāma Sutta, which is said to have been presented by the Buddha It is seen as based on an integrated unity of reasoning and morality in order to investigate the nature of reality. We examine the Buddha’s strategy, which espouses a combination of the element of morality and sound logical reasoning, and assert that his proposed method can be highly effective as a foundation for a moral principle His view offers an empirical investigation into the teacher–student dynamic, and provides a virtual road map in a cogent and valid manner. Serving as a reference point, we will investigate whether this approach may be employed in differentiating the right truth from the diverse alleged post-truths of our modern times

The Buddha’s “Ten Criteria” as Presented in the Kālāma Sutta

Buddha’s Strategy

10. Conclusions: “Ehipassiko”—“That Which Invites Everyone to Come and See”