Buddhist EthicsBy Mohsen Omar and Sara Emami

Buddhism In General Known as “middle way” of wisdom

and compassion”

A 2500 year old tradition that began in India and spread as well to the Far East

A philosophy, religion, and spiritual practice followed by more than 400 million people.

Based on the teachings of the Buddha.

Philosophy or Religion?

Religion upholds: Authority Ritual Speculation Tradition Grace Mystery

Buddhism is: Empirical Scientific Pragmatic Therapeutic Egalitarian Individual

History of Prince Siddhartha Gautama ---->Buddha

Born Siddhartha Gautama – of noble caste in India, 563 B.C.E.

Raised in great luxury to be a king

At age 29 rejected the life of luxury to seek enlightenment and the solution to suffering

Followed a strict ascetic lifestyle for six years

At age 35 rejected the extreme ascetics, sat in meditation, achieved Nirvana.

Spent the remaining 45 years of his life teaching others how to achieve the peace of mind he had achieved Nirvana

The Buddha’s Teachings/Philosophy

The Buddha approaches the problems of life as would a therapist confronting an illness:

The Four Noble Truths

Symptoms – The human life involves continual suffering

Diagnosis - The cause of suffering is self-centered desire & attachments

Prognosis - The solution is to eliminate desire and attachment, thus achieving Nirvana (extinction).

Prescription - The way to Nirvana is through the Eight-Fold Path

Buddhist Metaphysics

Dukkha: we experience life as suffering/dissatisfaction. Physical, Mental, Conditioned states

Anitya: everything in this world is characterized by impermanence. The nature of the world is transitory.

An ever-changing self trying to cling to a world in continual flux.

The theory of dependent origination.

Buddhist Metaphysics Anatta: the self is

impermanent. There is no eternal, unchanging,

autonomous self.

Work toward eroding and eventually eliminating the idea of permanent individuality.

Man consists of the 5 Skandhas (Components) Form, Sensations, Perception,

Mental Formations, Consciousness Continuity of memory

Theory of the Universe Reincarnation

Chain reaction of influence not substance - No soul is passed on. A flame being passed from candle

to candle.

Karma has allowed for the progression of the universe. There is no unmoved mover

behind movement. One thing passes, conditioning

the appearance of the next in a series of cause and effects.

Unreflective and Right Association

Unreflective – random, controlled by circumstance and impulse. You see yourself as an individual ego

competing with other egos.

Right Association – forming good habits to release you from craving and desiring. You do not see yourself as separate self apart

from others.

The Eight-fold Path

To cultivate behavior that is not motivated by the idea of self.

Ethical Conduct – universal love and compassion or all living beings. Right Speech, Right Action,

Right Livelihood

Mental Discipline – meditative realization of the true nature of self and the world. Right Effort, Right

Mindfulness, Right Concentration

Wisdom – correct knowledge about reality. Right Thought, Right

Understanding

Nirvana Nirvana is beyond definitive

description. Achieving Nirvana is to escape from

the cycle of death and rebirth as well as the cycle of suffering caused by attachments.

Once Gautama Buddha died, after 80 years of life in this world, having achieved Nirvana and teaching multitudes his way of life, he ceased to exist as a distinct being. Buddhism is non-theistic: Buddha is

not the Buddhist God – he is simply a revered teacher.

Questions regarding Ethics What ethical values do you see present in

Buddhism?

What connections have you made between Buddhism and the other philosophical theories we have studied?

Please provide examples