BUDDHIST ETHICS

• KEY CONCEPTS, PERSPECTIVES AND TEACHINGS

• ‘In Buddhism, moral virtue is the foundation of the spiritual path..’ Dr Peter Harvey

A Summary of ideasA Summary of ideas• Enlightenment (nirvana / nibbana) • Karma• Skilful means• Noble Eight Fold Path & 5 Precepts- Wisdom (Panna), Meditation (Samadhi) and

Morality (Sila)• Non-attachment• Loving-Kindness - Metta• Ahimsa; ‘harmlessness’• Compassion and the Bodhisattva &

Avalokiteshvara• Dalai Lama• Therevada & Mahayana attitudes

The Buddhist approachThe Buddhist approach Buddhism is distinct as a religion in that it

does not involve the existence of a god. This has implications for ethics.

Theistic (god based) religions have an ethical system based around their deity - be it God, Allah or Brahman - i.e., acting in accordance with Gods will, following Gods laws = morality.By removing god as a motivating force, Buddhists must explain why they should act morally - what is their motivation?

Why act morally?Why act morally?• Enlightenment (nirvana, nibbana): The ultimate goal of Buddhists is to achieve

enlightenment, to escape Samsara - the cycle of suffering. Acting morally brings one close to this goal (this is usually seen to be through a series of positive rebirths).

• Karma: Within the Natural Law that is Dharma, Karma

is the universal law of causal relationships. By acting morally i.e., according to the

teaching of the Buddha, one generates good karma, this will lead Buddhists closer to their goal. And vice versa, acting immorally generates bad karma and takes Buddhists away from their goal.

Skilful means

• Developed in the Mahayana tradition, inspired by the Buddha’s skill in teaching the Dharma.

• Good karma is generated by acting skilfully ‘kusala’.

• Bad karma is generated by acting unskilfully, ‘akusala’.

• This concept leaves flexibility in the interpretation of teachings as provisional rather than ultimate; in contrast to the traditional and more strict Theravada understanding.

Eight Fold Path - the path to enlightenment:

Divided into 3 parts; Wisdom (panna), Meditation (samadhi) and Morality (sila).

• Each must be practised well and although distinct the parts are complimentary. The better one part is practised, the better the other parts will be practised.

• For example; The better your Meditation then the clearer your mind will be = the better you will understand the Dharma (Wisdom) = the better you are able to make good moral choices based on Buddhist teachings = the clearer your mind will be for meditation!

The 5 Precepts: 1) I undertake to abstain from harm (killing) / +

compassion 2) I undertake to abstain from taking the not given (stealing) / + giving 3) I undertake to abstain from misuse of sensual pleasures / + satisfaction 4) I undertake to abstain from false speech / + truth 5) I undertake to abstain from intoxicants that cloud the mind / + mindfulness & awareness

• The precepts are also about cultivating positive behaviour (indicated above by +); developed in Thich Nhat Hanh’s formulation of the precepts.

• Following the precepts is a way to generate good Karma.

Non-attachment:Buddhism teaches that nothing is permanent (Impermanence) and that it is our false belief that it is that leads to doomed attachments that will result in suffering through the Three Root Evils that spring from attachment - Greed, Hatred and Ignorance (seen at the hub of the Wheel of Life).

•Buddhism teaches that we should seek to develop the three opposing Cardinal Virtues of Non-attachment, Benevolence and Understanding.

•These are clearly linked to our moral behaviour.

Task 1…Task 1…Answer the following based on what you have heard;

1) How does our understanding of morality differ in Buddhism from theistic religions?2) List three concepts you might use in a discussion about Buddhist morality.3) How does morality compliment the whole practice of Buddhism?4) Why are the 5 Precepts especially important in a discussion on Buddhism and how should they be regarded / interpreted?5) Why is the teaching of Non-attachment relevant to morality?

Task 2…Task 2… Concepts based answerConcepts based answer

Try to link all the concepts (and any more you think relevant) in a coherent answer to the exam

question:

‘For what reasons should a Buddhist behave morally?’ (45 marks)

Consider the best combinations of concepts and repeat them as

necessary.

Lovingkindness – ‘metta’• Feeling of happiness for all beings, warding

off hatred and fear.• Emphasised in the Dhammapada in such

teachings as; ‘conquer anger by lovingkindness; conquer evil by good..’

• To be expressed to all beings like a mother’s love for her child.

• To be practiced in daily life by kind actions.• Meditation is often focussed around the

ideal, a full understanding of its meaning must be realised.

Ahimsa; ‘harmlessness’Life is sacred. The intentional destruction of life is

morally wrong. • Buddhists and the earlier Jains promoted this ideal.

Illustrated by the influence they had over the move from animal sacrifice (which they saw as cruel) in traditional Indian religions to more symbolic ritual offerings i.e., food and milk.

• Some monks use a strainer to avoid harming small animals in their drinking water.

• In some cultures agriculture is unacceptable due to its destructive impact on the ground.

• Links with the analogy of the ‘Jewel Net of Indra’ – which sees all things as an interconnected web, a jewel at each join reflecting all others.

Compassion and the Bodhisattva• [Sanskrit,=enlightenment-being], in early Buddhism

the term used to refer to the Buddha before he attained supreme enlightenment; or any being destined for enlightenment or intent on enlightenment.

• The path of the bodhisattva is the central teaching of Mahayana Buddhism. One becomes a bodhisattva by arousing the “mind of enlightenment,” vowing to attain supreme enlightenment for the sake of all beings.

• The bodhisattva does not aspire to leave samsara until all beings are saved; he is thus distinguished from the arhant of earlier Buddhism, who seeks nirvana only for himself and who, according to Mahayana teaching, has an inferior spiritual attainment.

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara

• The bodhisattva of compassion

• Often shown with thousands of arms showing a readiness to help everyone.

• Tibetan buddhists believe he works through the Dalia Lama.

• Featured in the Lotus Sutra.

Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara

‘guiding souls’

6 Perfections of a Bodhisattva;

Generosity / Morality / Patience / Courage / Meditation / Wisdom

Dalai Lama• Speaks out in support of the principles contained within the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948.

• ‘..without a sense of universal responsibility, our very survival becomes threatened. Basically, universal responsibility is feeling for other people's suffering just as we feel our own. It is the realization that even our enemy is entirely motivated by the quest for happiness. We must recognize that all beings want the same thing that we want. This is the way to achieve a true understanding, unfettered by artificial consideration.’ 1989

Theravada & Mahayana attitudes – drawing distinctions between

the two contributes to the AO2 part of the question

THERAVADA• Closely follow the

Precepts regarding them as strict principles / rules.

• Mention the lay and monastic differences

• Their aim is to become an Arhat (enlightened being) – best achieved in the monastic environment.

MAHAYANA• Emphasise importance

of acting ‘skilfully’, which may allow for flexibility in interpreting the Precepts

• Aspire to the Bodhisattva ideal, seeking enlightenment for others, not themselves. Open to lay and monastic Buddhists.

Recap: why & how should Buddhists act Recap: why & how should Buddhists act morally?morally?

1. To achieve their ultimate goal of enlightenment

2. To better practice the Eight Fold Path3. As a way to removing suffering (Dukkha)4. To follow the 5 Precepts is to follow a set of moral principles (interpreted differently by Therevada and Mahayana traditions)5. Because of specific teachings from and about the Buddha e.g., ‘Loving-Kindness’, Compassion, harmlessness (Ahimsa), Jataka tales, skilful means 6. Because of the example of the Bodhisattva (in Mahayana) e.g., Avalokiteshvara and modern Buddhists including the Dalai Lama.

Final points….Final points….Include a good variety of concepts well explained in terms of their moral relevance and thoughtfully connected.

Refer to the different teachings, experiences and objectives that apply to Theravada, Mahayana, lay and monastic Buddhists.

Remember, although the question may be very ‘open’, the specification does highlight the 5 Precepts as particularly important. So learn and use these thoroughly.

Read the question carefully; there is a difference between ‘why’ and ‘how’ might a Buddhist act morally. You can draw on the same information, but ensure you are answering the question in the correct way.

Task 3Task 3

Using pages 99 – 106 of Cush;

Create a ‘brainstorm’ of information about the Bodhisattva with

particular reference to Avalokiteshvara. Include

information that is directly relevant to a discussion about ethics.

HOMEWORK – Buddhist Ethics Topic1. Print this Power Point as a handout ( 6 slides to a

page) from the Intranet site. For revision and 2 & 3 below.

2. Create a detailed & neat mind map summary of all the concepts, ideas, teachings and perspectives relevant to a discussion on ethics.

Keep it brief and visual in order to use this as a revision tool.

3. Plan and write a full answer to the exam question; ‘For what reasons should a Buddhist behave morally?’ (45 marks)- remember you have already looked at this question a

number of times.DUE NEXT LESSONDUE NEXT LESSON

Examiners guide to marking this question

• The importance of ethical behaviour in the Noble Eightfold Path should be noted; morality is essential for personal development, treating others correctly and according to principles of harmlessness is part of the path to nibbana. Moral behaviour is important for the lay Buddhist, for the acquisition of good karma. The example of the bodhisattva, who postpones his own enlightenment for the sake of others, might be considered, with the importance of karuna in Mahayana Buddhism. Candidates should recognise that there is no concept of a judging God.