Buddha's "charter of free inquiry"

Most are attracted to Buddhism due to the it's reputation for invitation for inquiry & investigation. What are the roots of this?

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In Dhajagga Sutta, the Buddha said this:

"If you can't recollect me, then you should recollect the Dhamma: 'The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One, to be seen here & now, timeless, inviting verification, pertinent, to be realized by the wise for themselves.' For when you have recollected the Dhamma, whatever fear, terror, or horripilation there is will be abandoned."

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These are the 6 qualities of the Dhamma namely (taken from Wiki):

Anguttara Nikaya 11.12 The Six qualities of the Dhamma:

1. Svakkhato: The Dhamma is not a speculative philosophy, but is the Universal Law found through enlightenment and is preached precisely. Therefore it is Excellent in the beginning (Sila — Moral principles), Excellent in the middle (Samadhi — Concentration) and Excellent in the end (Panna — Wisdom),

2. Sanditthiko: The Dhamma is testable by practice and known by direct experience,

3. Akaliko: The Dhamma is able to bestow timeless and immediate results here and now, for which there is no need to wait until the future or next existence.

4. Ehipassiko: The Dhamma welcomes all beings to put it to the test and to experience it for themselves.

5. Opaneyiko: The Dhamma is capable of being entered upon and therefore it is worthy to be followed as a part of one's life.

6. Paccattam veditabbo vinnunhi: The Dhamma may be perfectly realized only by the noble disciples who have matured and enlightened enough in supreme wisdom.

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It is the 4th proclaimed quality of Ehipassiko or "inviting verification", which is one of the evident roots of this reputation.

But how to go about verifying?

In the Kalama Sutta, the Buddha said:

"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.'

It is interesting to note that the Buddha ruled out SO MANY ways that we can rely on for our verification.

Don't go by reports - don't use any information that's been given to us to judge & conclude

Don't go by legends - don't use Jataka tales to judge & conclude

Don't go by traditions - don't use cultural & family traditions to judge & conclude

Don't go by scriptures - don't use any sacred, ancient texts to judge & conclude

Don't go by logical conjecture, inference, analogies, agreement through pondering views - this rules out the use of almost all or all (unless you can think or a process which doesn't fall under them) logical reasoning processes to judge & conclude

Don't go by probability - this rules out the use of non-logical reasoning or randomness to judge & conclude

Don't go by the thought, "This contemplative is our teacher." - this rules out the reliance in a contemplative to judge & conclude. It is interesting to wonder if "contemplative" includes the Buddha himself. I think it does.

So! Doesn't that leaves us with no other remaining method for verification?

I think the Buddha gave us 2 tools, that is stated in the 2nd proclaimed quality of the Dhamma itself: Sanditthiko - The Dhamma is testable by practice and known by direct experience. One is practice, other is direct experience. And direct experience is merely what we experience.

Supporting evidences for the Buddha's instruction to his followers and non-followers for the use of this method of verification can probably be found in many places. As noted by Ven Thanissaro Bhikkhu in his translation of the Kalama Sutta,

"For further thoughts on how to test a belief in practice, see MN 61, MN 95, AN 7.80, and AN 8.53. For thoughts on how to judge whether another person is wise, see MN 110, AN 4.192, and AN 8.54."

I'll spend some other time to look at these instances pointed out by Ven Thanissaro Bhikkhu.