Buddhist ethics and ethical teachings
There are several ethical teachings that govern how Buddhists behave. These teachings impact Buddhists鈥 daily life and tell them how they can change their future through their actions in the present.
Karma
Buddhists believe that their actions today will impact their happiness in the future. This principle is called Actions, and the consequences of actions. An important concept in Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism. and it encourages Buddhists to be generous, kind and compassionate towards others. It affects a Buddhist鈥檚 rebirth, as Buddhists attempt to make sure every action is right (according to the belief known as the Buddhist practises that can lead to the end of suffering and the cycle of rebirth: right views, right thinking, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness and right meditation.) in order to break the cycle of In Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, this is the cycle of life, death and rebirth. and be reborn in a higher realm.
If one speaks or acts with a wicked mind, because of that, pain follows one. If one speaks or acts with a good mind, because of that, happiness follows one.
Compassion
The Buddhist word for compassion is One of the four brahmaviharas, it means compassion or mercy. . Being compassionate is part of a Buddhist鈥檚 spiritual path, and they attempt to show compassion for everyone in the world who is suffering. Buddhists accept that there is suffering in the world. Karuna teaches that a Buddhist should care for others even though they are also attempting to overcome their own suffering.
Metta
The Buddhist term for loving kindness. A pure love which is neither grasping nor possessive. means loving kindness. Buddhists attempt to show loving kindness towards others and themselves without expecting anything in return. It is important to Buddhists to have this selfless attitude as it helps them overcome the Three Poisons, which are ignorance, greed and hatred.
The five moral precepts
The five moral precepts are the five principles that Buddhists follow in order to live ethically and morally good lives. They also help Buddhists to overcome the Three Poisons.
The five moral precepts are:
- to refrain from taking life, ie killing any living creature
- to refrain from taking what is not freely given, ie theft
- to refrain from misuse of the senses or sexual misconduct, ie overindulgence in sex or committing sexual offences
- to refrain from wrong speech, ie lying or gossiping
- to refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind, ie drugs or alcohol
Buddhists do not believe in a deity, so the five precepts are suggested ways of living rather than commandments given by a god. A Buddhist must want to behave in a morally good way in order to achieve The realisation of the truth about life. In Buddhism it releases a person from the cycle of rebirth..
Question
What do the five moral precepts help a Buddhist overcome?
The Three Poisons of ignorance, greed and hatred.