Buddhist Morality

Buddhist Morality–Key teachings

– Dharma– Karma– Precepts– Vinaya– Virtues– Mahayana ‘Perfections’– Skilful Means

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The 4 Noble Truths

Duḥkha All existence is

sufferingMārga

the Noble Eightfold Path

NirodhaSuffering can have

an end

Samudaya suffering is caused

by craving

Dharma

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The Eightfold Path

Morality

Meditation

Wisdom

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The Five PreceptsI undertake the precept to refrain from harming living creatures

I undertake the precept to refrain from taking what has not been given

I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual immorality

I undertake the precept to refrain from speaking falsely

I undertake the precept to refrain from taking intoxicants

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The PrātimokṣaPārājika dharmas

Sanghāvaśeṣa dharmas

Aniyata dharmas

Naiḥsargika-pāyantika dharmas

Pāyantika dharmas

Pratideśanīya dharmas

Śaikṣa dharmas

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‘Cardinal’ Virtues and Vicesa

rāgaadveṣa

amoha

rāga

dveṣa

moha

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Three Categories of Buddhist Virtues

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Content of the three categories– 1) Foundational (e.g.mindfulness)– 2) Self-Regarding

– Humility– Self-mastery– Equanimity

– 3) Other-Regarding– Solicitude– Non-violence– responsibleness

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The Six PerfectionsGenerosity

Morality

Patience

Perseverance

Meditation

Wisdom

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AvalokiteśvaraThe embodiment of compassion, with 1000 arms and multiple heads and faces

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ManjusriThe embodiment of wisdom with sword and scripture

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4 Styles of Buddhist Ethics

Ethics of Discipline

Ethics of Virtue

Ethics of Altruism

Ethics of Engageme

nt

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Systems of Ethics

Deontology

Virtue EthicsUtilitarianism

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Immanuel Kant (1724-1804)

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Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) John Stuart Mill(1806-1873)

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Aristotle (384-322 BCE)

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Books on Buddhist Ethics

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The ‘Buddhist View’?1. Authority in canonical sources2. Support in non-canonical or commentarial

literature3. the absence of contradictory evidence or

counterexamples in these two groups of sources

4. evidence that the view is pan-Buddhist 5. confirmation that the view has a broad

cultural base6. has been held consistently over time

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Karma and Rebirth–Does it make sense to

believe in reincarnation? If "no," are people like the Buddha deluded when they claim to remember past lives? If "yes," what evidence is there for it?

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What is the source of morality for Buddhists?– Can Buddhist moral teachings have any

force if Buddhism does not believe in a divine lawgiver? Are there any universal moral values or is morality determined primarily by local culture?

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Buddhism and Plato–Are acts bad because they

are punished by karma?–Or are they punished by

karma because they are bad?