How Buddhists Interpret Ethical Behavior

How does Buddhism Perceive Moral Behavior?

In Buddhism, moral behavior is believed to flow naturally from mastering the ego and human desires and cultivating them through loving-kindness [Metta] and compassion [Karuna].

The foundational teaching of Buddhism expressed through the Four Noble Truths, is perceived as the stress and unhappiness in life [Dukkha] is caused by the human knack to cling egotistically and desire.

The Buddhist method for detaching from the ego and desire is known as the Eightfold Path.

According to BBC (2009), the Eightfold Path consists of:

• Right Understanding - Sammā Ditthi
• Right Intention - Sammā San̄kappa
• Right Speech - Sammā vācā
• Right Action - Sammā Kammanta
• Right Livelihood - Sammā ājīva
• Right Effort - Sammā vāyāma
• Right Mindfulness - Sammā sati
• Right Concentration - Sammā samādhi (BBC, 2009)

Through these acts of Ethical conduct, it is believed that detachment can be achieved.

Surprisingly, these Buddhist precepts are sometimes compared to the "Ten Commandments" of the Abrahamic faiths. In contrast, these perceptions are not commandments, but sacred principles, and it is left up to humanity to determine how to effectively apply those principles to daily living.

Buddhists also receive guidance from their teachers, clergy, scriptures and other Buddhists. They are extremely mindful of the rules of karma as well. They believe that what the person does is what will happen to them.

Moral behavior can be summed up in words of the Theravada Buddhist teacher Ajahn Chah:

"We can bring the practice altogether as morality, concentration, and wisdom. To be collected, to be controlled, this is morality. The firm establishment of the mind within that control is concentration. Complete, overall knowledge within the activity in which we are engaged is wisdom. The practice, in brief, is just morality, concentration, and wisdom, or in other words, the path. There is no other way." — Ajahn Chah

Further questions

(1) Upon reading the article, what is your conclusion of morality in Buddhism?

(2) How might the Buddhist' Eightfold Path method apply to your life?

(3) How is the Buddhist concept of moral behavior different or similar to other religions?

References

Ajahn Chah - Biography - Forest Sangha. (2019, January 1). Retrieved from https://forestsangha.org/aj...

BBC - Religions - Buddhism: The Four Noble Truths. (2009, January 1). Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/religi...