In “The Wheel of the Law,” by Henry Alabaster, we find some most interesting information on the moral teaching of Buddhism, and the following quotation is taken from one of the Sutras:  “On a certain occasion the Lord Buddha led a number of his disciples to a village of the Kalamachou, where his wisdom and merit and holiness were known.  And the Kalamachou assembled, and did homage to him and said, ’Many priests and Brahmins have at different times visited us, and explained their religious tenets, declaring them to be excellent, but each abused the tenets of every one else, whereupon we are in doubt as to whose religion is right and whose wrong; but we have heard that the Lord Buddha teaches an excellent religion, and we beg that we may be freed from doubt, and learn the truth.’  And the Lord Buddha answered, ’You were right to doubt, for it was a doubtful matter.  I say unto all of you, Do not believe in what ye have heard; that is, when you have heard anyone say this is especially good or extremely bad; do not reason with yourselves that if it had not been true, it would not have been asserted, and so believe in its truth.  Neither have faith in traditions, because they have been handed down for many generations and in many places.  Do not believe in anything because it is rumoured and spoken of by many; do not think that it is a proof of its truth.  Do not believe merely because the written statement of some old sage is produced; do not be sure that the writing has ever been revised by the said sage, or can be relied on.  Do not believe in what you have fancied, thinking that because an idea is extraordinary it must have been implanted by a Dewa, or some wonderful being.  Do not believe in guesses, that is, assuming some thing at haphazard as a starting-point, draw your conclusions from it; reckoning your two and your three and your four before you have fixed your number one.  Do not believe because you think there is analogy, that is, a suitability in things and occurrences, such as believing that there must be walls of the world, because you see water in a basin, or that Mount Meru must exist because you have seen the reflection of trees:  or that there must be a creating God because houses and towns have builders....  Do not believe merely on the authority of your teachers and masters, or believe and practise merely because they believe and practise.  I tell you all, you must of your own selves know that ’this is evil this is punishable, this is censured by wise men, belief in this will bring no advantage to one, but will cause sorrow.’  And when you know this, then eschew it.  I say to all you dwellers in this village, answer me this.  Lopho, that is covetousness, Thoso, that is anger and savageness, and Moho, that is ignorance and folly—­when any or all of these arise in the hearts of men, is the result beneficial or the reverse?’ And they answered, ‘It is not beneficial, O Lord!’ Then the Lord continued, ’Covetous, passionate, and ignorant men destroy life and steal, and commit