International Buddhist College

Thailand

Course name: Early Buddhist ethics (BP207)

Instructor: Bhikkhu Gyanabodhi

Topic’s name:
Significance of ethics in Buddhism

Submitted by: Shawon Barua (BA. 2nd year)

ID No: 1911031

Date: 30th November, 2020

Table of Contents
Introduction.........................................................................................................................................2
What is ethics?.....................................................................................................................................3
Buddhist perspective of ethics............................................................................................................4
Identification of good and bad action.................................................................................................5
Significance of ethics to the individual life.........................................................................................7
Significance of ethics to the Social life................................................................................................8
Conclusion............................................................................................................................................9
Bibliography......................................................................................................................................10
Introduction

From ancient times the people are social animals. People can never live alone.

Therefore, it is very important for human beings to have moral qualities for the welfare of the

society and themselves. In general sense ethics means choosing good and bad deeds and

always building a moral life by devoting oneself to good deeds. So, we can say that ethics is

based on moral thought and action. Morality has been discussed in every religion in the

world. Equally, Buddhism also discussed morality in detail. Buddhism shows the way of life.

The main goal of Buddhism is to get rid of misery and achieve ultimate happiness (Nibbāna)

by living an ethical life. So, we can say that the principle of Buddhism is to live a meaningful

ethical life. So here I will discuss Ethics and its significance to Buddhism.

What is ethics?

Ethics is a branch of philosophy that discusses and analyses the good and bad aspects

in human beings and society. It defines and seeks to solve all the questions about good and

bad, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime of human life. In one word, Ethics

influences human conduct with how people make decisions and lead their lives. “The English

word ‘ethics’ is derived from the Ancient Greek word ‘ēthikós’ meaning "relating to one's

character", which itself comes from the root word ‘êthos’ meaning "character, moral nature.

Morality is divided into three parts- Meta ethics, normative ethics, and applied ethics.”1

1
“Ethics”, Web. 17th November, 2020 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics#cite_note-iep.utm.edu-2
 Meta-ethics: It is mainly an analytical process of human conduct or action or

behaviour. It tries to discuss the questions such as where ethical principles or standards come

from. That means it’s concerning the theoretical meaning of ethical propositions.

Normative-ethics: It is more practical than Meta ethics. It tries to formulate or

determine the ethical principle or standard, which regulates the course of action to the man,

and further discuss and interpret their applicability to human life.

Applied- ethics: It concerns only the specific issues, not all the fields of ethics. Some

limited issues and problems that come under ethics such as abortion, animal rights,

environment concerns, capital punishment, and nuclear war.

These three types are recognized as the modern ethical philosophy. The goal of modern

ethical philosophy is to create emotional motivation among us to do good deeds. When we

are motivated to do good deeds then we always try to avoid the bad deeds like: killing,

stealing, telling lie etc.

Buddhist perspective of ethics

Buddhism shows the way of life or how to live an ethical life by avoiding all kinds of

bad deeds. In Buddhism, the issues of morality or observance of morality has been

highlighted in a very deep way. The first equipment in Buddhism is ‘Sīla’ or morality.

Secondly Noble Eightfold Path is only one way for the ultimate goal of all Buddhist people.

The ultimate aim of Buddhism is to achieve ethical perfection known as ‘Nibbāna’, which is

described as ‘pāramam sukham (the highest happiness).

Ethics is the integral part of Buddhism because Buddhism and ethics are interconnected and

always combined together. In the Dhammapadā, the sum and substance of Buddhist ethics is

summed up as follows:

“Sabbapāpassa akaraṇaṃ, kusalassa upasampadā,

Sacittapariyodapanaṃ etam buddhāna’ sāsanaṃ.”

“Not doing any bad deeds, undertaking wholesome deeds,

And purifying one’s mind, this is the teaching of the Buddha.”2

There are two types of methods mentioned here. Since we are ordinary human beings, we can

never be completely pure. So according to Buddhism the first task is avoiding (vārita) the bad

deeds and the second is keeping or following (cārita) good deeds. In another perspective, The

Buddha mentioned that,

“Yattha sīlam tattha paññe, yattha paññe tatha sīlam”

Where is morality, there is knowledge. Where is knowledge there is morality. If we develop

our morality or ethical conduct, wisdom automatically comes to us. Through wisdom we can

get the ultimate goal, Nibbana. So, the Buddha dominated to lead an ethical life.

Identification of good and bad action

As an ordinary person we are always involved in good and bad deeds. Sometimes we

don’t understand whether a deed is a good or bad deed. Generally, we can morally determine

good or bad deeds. In Buddhist perspective, the Buddhist ethics is more precise, meaningful

and consistent than others. Further, identification of ethically good or bad pointes out with

2
BHIKKHU ANANDAJOTI, DAILY CHANTING (3rd edition), Taipei, Taiwan, The Corporative Body of the Buddha
Education Foundation, 2014. Page no: 44.
providing clear description in Buddhism. In Ambalatthikā Rāhulovāda Sutta of Majjhima

Nikāya the Buddha mentioned that, if any action: bodily, mentally or physically is good for

himself, others or both can be considered a good deed. Instead if any action is bad for

himself, others or both it is a bad deed. So here the Buddha explained the manner of defining

unwholesome (akusalā) and wholesome (kusalā) actions. Another important criterion the

Buddha figures out in Dhammapadā:

“Na taṃ kammaṃ kataṃ sādhu, yaṃ katvā anutappati, Yassa assumukho rodaṃi, vpākaṃ

paṭisevati”

That deed is not well done which, if one repents after having done it and the result of which

one suffers with tearful face and lamentations.

“Tañca kammaṃ kataṃ sādhu, yaṃ katvā nānutappati, Yassa patīto sumano, vipākaṃ

paṭisevati”

The deed is well done when after done it, one does not repent and when one is delightful and

happy with the result of that deed. 3

The definition of what is good and bad coming under Buddhist ethics has been

described in another way in Kalama sutta that if we perform a task on the basis of greed

(lobhā), hatred (dosā), illusion (mohā), it gives an impure result. On the other hand, if we

perform with non-greed (alobhā), non-hatred (adosā), non-illusion (amohā), it will provide

good results. Therefore, action with good intention is wholesome and action with bad

intention is unwholesome.

Hence, in deciding a complicated moral issue, Buddhism advocates that one should

consult three things, the first being one’s conscience (Attādhipateyya). Here, it’s important to

3
http://www.suttas.com/dhammapada-chapter-5-verse-60-75-fools.html (accessed on 07-11-2020)
note that Buddhism regards conscience as sometimes fallible, and not a sufficient criterion in

all situations. Therefore, it should be supplemented by two other moral guides. And so,

secondly, one must consult ‘the opinion of the world (Lokādhipateyya), and thirdly, one

should consult the Dhamma (Dhammādhipateyya).4

Significance of ethics to the individual life

The Buddha has imparted his teachings in an individual circumstance or way. He has

given the priority individually because the mind of a person is a great teacher for himself. So,

if one wants to make oneself morally good then one has to make oneself good. By performing

the good deeds and absenting from the bad deeds one person can achieve mundane and

ultimate happiness. Buddhism emphasize on two types of happiness:

1. Worldly happiness (lokiya sukha),

2. Ultimate happiness (lokattarā sukha).

Everyone is keen to get happiness in life. In order to achieve the happiness people can

necessarily pursue the ethics in life. The Exalted one elaborated the path of gaining worldly

happiness by following five precepts or by abstaining from five bad conducts (pañca-sīla) for

the laypeople. The Buddha dictated the guidelines not only for the lay people but also for the

monastic people as well. He instructed to follow 10 precepts for novices, 227 precepts for

monks and 311 precepts for nuns. In every precept, the Buddha has instructed us to discard

the bad deeds. In several Suttas, the Buddha gave clear explanations on how to live a moral

life. In Siṅgālovāda Sutta, the Buddha gave advice to young Sigāla by saying that “inasmuch,

young householder, as the noble disciple (1) has eradicated the four vices in conduct, (2)

inasmuch as he commits no evil action in four ways, (3) inasmuch as he pursues not the six
4
Dharmasiri Gunapala, Title: Individual and Social Morality, Fundamentals of Buddhist Ethics, GOLDEN LEAVES
PUBLISHING COMPANY, ANTIOCH, CALIFONIA, 1989, Page no: 33-34.
channels for dissipating wealth, he thus, avoiding these fourteen evil things, covers the six

quarters, and enters the path leading to victory in both worlds: he is favoured in this world

and in the world beyond. Upon the dissolution of the body, after death, he is born in a happy

heavenly realm.”5

In Sāmaññaphalasutta, the Buddha mentioned different Section of moral discipline for the

Sāmaṇera. All the discipline and instruction are written in details in Visuddhimagga (path of

purification) for the monastic people:

1. Pātimokkha-samvara-sīla (restraint with regard to the disciplinary code),

2. Indriya-samvara-sīla (restraint of the senses),

3. Ājīva-pārisuddhi-sīla (purification of livelihood),

4. Paccaya-sannissita-sīla (morality with regard to the 4 requisites).6

Furthermore, there are four states of mind called the four Brahma-viharas (cattāro

brahmavihārā) which is known as individual ethics in Buddhism. There are: Mettā (loving

kindness), Karunā (compassion), Mudīta (sympathetic joy or empathy), and Upekkhā

(equanimity).

Significance of ethics to the Social life

A society is a group of people involved with each other through faithful relations or a

large social grouping sharing the same geographical or social territory. When the people of

society are righteous and pious, the society becomes a virtual society. Every individual action

of wholesome and unwholesome gives a good or bad result to individual life as well as the

society. The main requirement of society is happiness. So as the Buddha mentioned, action

5
Bhikkhu GyanaBodhi, Class lecture sheet: Siṅgālovāda sutta, (dated on: 31-08-2020).

6
https://dhammawiki.com/index.php/Main_Page , (accessed on 07-11-2020).
with non-greed (alobhā), non-hatred (adosā) and non-delusion (amohā) known as wholesome

action, it refers to happiness to the individual life, peace and progress to the society. On the

other hand, action with greed (lobhā), hatred (dosā) and delusion (mohā) performed by

anyone, the result will be harmful and destructive for individual life and as well as society.

So, social benefit depends on individual morality. in addition to, in The Mahāparinibbāṇa

Sutta of Dīgha-Nikāya the Exalted one gave seven principle to prevent declining the

Licchavis society.

Not only for the lay society but also the Buddha gave instruction or rules for the monk

society. There are so many general instructions for the monk society. Here is some: respect

and obey to the senior monk, to serve them, to follow their advice, always attend in Sangha

meeting, with works that is not agitating, take care the parents etc. to maintain unity in

Sangha community, the Buddha mentioned Khamāpanā(asking for forgiveness):“Okāsa

dvarattayena kataṁ sabbaṁ aparādaṁ khamatha me bhante(please consent to forgive me,

venerable sir, for any offences I have committed by the way of the three doors of body,

speech or mind.), Khamāmi, khāmitabbaṁ!(I forgive you, you should forgive me!), Okāsa

khamāmi bhante!(with consent, I forgive you, venerable sir!)”7. By asking forgiveness all the

monks show their respect and make the unity with compassion for each other.

Conclusion
To sum up, it is very clear that Buddhist ethics is far more different from modern

ethics because Buddhism not only emphasizes on worldly happiness but also emphasizes on

the ultimate happiness. Basically, Buddhist ethics is on the basis of human characteristics. It

7
BHIKKHU ANANDAJOTI, DAILY CHANTING (3rd edition), Taipei, Taiwan, The Corporative Body of the Buddha
Education Foundation, 2014. Page no: 50.
is said that human happiness can be achieved by spiritual progress. According to Buddhist

perspective, human happiness is achieved by spiritual progress and prosperity of mundane

pleasure. Both aspects are collected equally for the development of satisfaction.

Overall, ethics is the foundation of Buddhist way of life. It can be strongly believed

that merely Buddhist ethics can demonstrate acquiring mundane pleasure and ethical

perfection by doping wholesome deeds.

Bibliography

1. BHIKKHU ANANDAJOTI, DAILY CHANTING (3 rd edition). Taipei, Taiwan: The

Corporative Body of the Buddha Education Foundation, 2014.

2. Dharmasiri Gunapala, Title: Individual and Social Morality, Fundamentals of

Buddhist Ethics. ANTIOCH, CALIFONIA: GOLDEN LEAVES PUBLISHING

COMPANY, 1989.

3. Bhikkhu GyanaBodhi, Class lecture sheet: Siṅgālovāda sutta. International Buddhist

College, Thailand, 2020.

Web references:

4. “Ethics”, 17th November, 2020.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics#cite_note-iep.utm.edu-2

5. “Dhammapada verse60-75”, 7th November,2020.

http://www.suttas.com/dhammapada-chapter-5-verse-60-75-fools.html
6. “Attādhipateyya, Lokādhipateyya, Dhammādhipateyya”, 7th November,2020.

https://dhammawiki.com/index.php/Main_Page