ETHICAL TEACHINGS

OF BUDDHIST FIRST UP
CONSULTANTS

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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?
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BUDDHIST ETHICS
• 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 FIRST UP 3
CONSULTANTS
away from their goal.
• 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.
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 BUDDHIST
ETHICS .

• Known as the “middle way of wisdom” and

compassion
• Śīla (Sanskrit - The Indian term for ethics or
morality used in Buddhism .
• Śīla in Buddhism is one of three sections of the
Noble Eightfold Path, and is a code of conduct that
embraces a commitment to harmony and self-
restraint with the principal motivation being
nonviolence, or freedom from causing harm.
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THE ETHICS OF BUDDHISTS

• The Three Jewels are:

• the Buddha, the fully enlightened one
• the Dharma, the teachings expounded
by the Buddha
• the Sangha, the monastic order of
Buddhism that practice the Dharma

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Karma and rebirth
• A central foundation for
Buddhist morality is the law
• Karma is a word which
literally means "action" and
is seen as a natural law of
the universe which manifests
• as cause and effect. In the
Buddhist conception, Karma
is a certain type of moral
action which has moral
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consequences on the actor. CONSULTANTS 7
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS

1. “blissful stage of meditation”

2. “beyond reasoning”
3. “attentive & conscious, with equal mind
to joy or aversion”
4. “beyond pain & pleasure, with equal
mind to joy and aversion”
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CONSULTANTS
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
• dukkha (suffering, incapable of satisfying,
painful) is an innate characteristic of existence
with each rebirth;[web 2][3][4]
• samudaya (origin, cause) of this dukkha is the
"craving, desire or attachment";[web 3][5][6]
• nirodha (cessation, ending) of this dukkha can
be attained by eliminating all "craving, desire,
and attachment";[7][8]
• his marga (path, Noble Eightfold Path) is the
means to end this dukkha.[9][10][11]
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THE FIVE PERCEPTS
1.To undertake the training to avoid taking the life of beings.
This precept applies to all living beings not just humans. All
beings have a right to their lives and that right should be
respected.
2) To undertake the training to avoid taking things not given.
This precept goes further than mere stealing. One should
avoid taking anything unless one can be sure that is intended
that it is for you.
3) To undertake the training to avoid sensual misconduct. This
precept is often mistranslated or misinterpreted as relating
only to sexual misconduct but it covers any overindulgence in
any sensual pleasure such as gluttony as well as misconduct of
a sexual nature.
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4) To undertake the training to refrain from false
speech. As well as avoiding lying and deceiving,
this precept covers slander as well as speech
which is not beneficial to the welfare of others.
5) To undertake the training to abstain from
substances which cause intoxication and
heedlessness.
This precept is in a special category as it does not
infer any intrinsic evil in, say, alcohol itself but
indulgence in such a substance could be the cause
of breaking the other four precepts. FIRST UP
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THE NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH
1. Right Views
2. Give the knowledge of Pain, its Cause,
Cessation & the Path
3. Right Motive
4. Gives aspiration to renunciation &
benevolence
5. Right Speech
6. Abstains from lies and slander
7. Right Action
8. Abstains from stealing, killing & self-
indulgence FIRST UP
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• 5. Right Livelihood
• Follows right pursuits
• 6. Right Effort
• Turns against evil states and towards good
• 7. Right Mindfulness
• Looks on mind & body with self-control
• 8. Right Contemplation
• Rises above evil and abides in equanimity & bliss

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