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 _K[=a]l[=a]ma Sutta_ of the
_Anguttara Nik[=a]ya_, and the _Mah[=a] Pari Nirv[=a]na 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."

200. Q. _Does Buddhism teach us to return evil for evil?_

A. In the _Dhammapada_ the Buddha said: "If a man foolishly does me
wrong, I will return to him the protection of my ungrudging love; the
more evil comes from him, the more good shall go from me." This is the
path followed by the Arhat.[7] To return evil for evil is positively
forbidden in Buddhism.

201. Q. _Does it encourage cruelty?_

A. No, indeed. In the Five Precepts and in many of his discourses,
the Buddha teaches us to be merciful to all beings, to try and make
them happy, to love them all, to abstain from taking life, or
consenting to it, or encouraging its being done.

202. Q. _In which discourse is this stated?_

A. The _Dhammika Sutta_ says: "Let him (the householder) not destroy,
or cause to be destroyed, any life at all, or _sanction the act of
those who do so_. Let him refrain from even hurting any creature."[8]

203. Q. _Does it approve of drunkenness?_

A. In his _Dhammika Sutta_ we are warned against dri