The Buddhist Attitude of Mind
Among the founders of religions the Buddha (if we are permitted to call him the founder of a religion in the popular sense of the term) was the only teacher who did not claim to be other than a human being, pure and simple. Other teachers were either God, or his incarnations in different forms, or inspired by him. The Buddha was not only a human being ; he claimed no inspiration from any god or external power either. He attributed all his realization, attainments and achievements to human endeavour and human intelligence. A man and only man can become a Buddha. Every man has within himself the potentiality of becoming a Buddha, if he so wills it and endeavours. We can call the Buddha a man par excellence. He was so perfect in his "human-ness" that he came to be regarded later in popular religion almost as "super-human".

The Buddha on the freedom of thought.
The freedom of thought allowed by the Buddha is unheard of elsewhere in the history of religions. This freedom is necessary because, according to the Buddha, man’s emancipation depends on his own realization of Truth, and not on the benevolent grace of a god or any external power as a reward for his obedient good behavior. The Buddha once visited a small town called Kesaputta in the kingdom of Kosala. The inhabitants of this town were known by the common name Kalama. When they heard that the Buddha was in their town, the Kalamas paid him a visit, and told him:
         "Sir, there are some recluses and Brahmans who visit Kesaputta. They explain and illumine only their own doctrines, and despise, condemn and spurn others’ doctrines.

Then come other recluses and Brahmans, and they, too, in their turn, explain and illumine their own doctrines, and despise, condemn and spurn others’ doctrines. But, for us, Sir, we have always doubt and perplexity as to who among these venerable recluses and Brahmans spoke the truth, and who spoke falsehood."

Then the Buddha gave them this advice, unique in the history of religions: "Yes, Kalamas, it is the proper that you have doubt, that you have perplexity, for a doubt has arisen in a matter which is doubtful. Now, look you Kalamas, do not be led by reports, or traditions, or hearsay. Be not led by the authority of religious texts, nor by mere logic or inference, nor by considering appearances, nor by the delight in speculative opinions, nor by seeming possibilities. Nor by the idea: ‘this is our teacher’. But, O Kalamas, when you know for yourselves that certain things are unwholesome (akusala), and wrong, and bad, then give them up… And when you know for yourselves that certain things are wholesome (kusala) and good, then accept them and follow them.’

The Buddha went even further. He told the bhikkhus that disciple should examine even the Tathagata(Buddha) himself, so that he (the disciple) might be fully convinced of the true value of the teacher whom he followed."

Reference : "What the Buddha Taught" By Ven Prof. Dr Walpola Sri Rahula.

Meditation Retreat Sermon (English) by Bhante Gunaratana on 16th May 2012 at Toronto Mahavihara.

Meditation Retreat Questions & Answers (English) by Bhante Gunaratana on 16th May 2012 at Toronto Mahavihara.