The Application of Kālāma-Sutta Principles with Online Social Media

Abstract

          In this article, the author aims to study the Kalama Sutra of Theravada Buddhist scriptures. and the application of the Kalama Sutra to using social media. In relations to the communication in the Kālāma-Sutta in Theravada Buddhism, the Kālāma-Sutta is the doctrine that the Buddha preached to the Kalama-residents. It is the communication between the Buddha and those residents, caused by the Kālāma residents’ question that among the ascetics or Brahman spreads their teaching to the Kalama-residents, which one says the truth or the false?  The Buddha answered that do not intend to believe in 10 points in the information transmission of communication, but first consider the fact of communication that anything in communication, both personal and informative communications has facts that are wholesome or unwholesome, with penalty or without penalty, implemented or not by the Guru. When the facts have fully practiced, they are believable and can be applied to benefit society.
          In regards to the application of the Kālāma-Sutta principles in using the online social media, in this era of globalization, there is a use of social media to communicate information using modern information technology. This makes fast communication without boundaries in all dimensions, both the creation and dissemination of information. The application of the Kālāma-Sutta can be used to consider the social media communication process. It helps in deciding to believe information reasonably and also preventing and solving the false or useless online social problems. This will benefit oneself and help the society to be peaceful. At the same time, the online social media may also be used to help spread Buddhist principles more efficiently than normal communication.