Surf these sites: Buddhism and Human Rights -- According to Buddhism, all men are equal in that they are all subject to the same law of nature. All are subject to birth, old age and death. The law of Karma is binding on everyone. Everyone reaps what he sows and the world keeps going on after the Karma activities contributed to by everyone. Buddhism and Medical Ethics -- A bibliographic introduction. Buddhist Ethics -- The Buddhist ethics covers both mundane and supramundane actions. It emphasizes helping others but acknowledges the special abilities of human beings. It works on the principles of democracy and equality and stresses on the eradication of defilements which is guided by wisdom. In fact to dispel the sufferings of all beings is the actual and only objective of Buddhist ethics. Continuity and Change in the Economic Ethics of Buddhism: Evidence From the History of Buddhism in India, China and Japan -- Buddhist economic ethics--that is Buddhist values with regard to wealth and economic activity, either within society or within the sangha play a significant role as a part of overall Buddhist philosophy regarding social life and even enlightenment itself. Criteria for Judging the Unwholesomeness of Actions in the Texts of Theravaada Buddhism -- The perspective of early Buddhism views morality as part of a spiritual path which largely consists of cultivating a more wholesome character: by undermining moral/spiritual defilements and cultivating counteractive virtues. This process of--generally gradual-- transformation is seen to culminate in a state of liberation from all traces of greed/attachment, hatred and delusion, and their consequent suffering, through the experience of Nirvana. Such a vision assumes that people have no fixed, unchanging Self, but are capable of radical transformation, brought about by attention to the nature of one''s mind and actions. Dana -- Buddhist Charity -- Giver, Gift and Recipient No Separation Economics in Buddhism -- To live in this world, wealth is very essential. So everyone has to work for money as society depends on economics. But we should not regard wealth to be like a god. Trying to get wealth through right means is not wrong. Competition can be bad if it is directed by ulterior motives. But it is very helpful and effective concerning success and progress where the motive is good and correct. The man who has no selfish attachment to wealth is able to do a lot of things for society with wealth that was either accumulated by his own effort or inherited. Essays on Buddhist Ethics -- By Ron Epstein. *Animals for Dinner--A Karmic Tale *Buddhism and Biotechnology *Buddhist Ideas for Attaining World Peace *Genetic Engineering: A Buddhist Assessment *The Inner Ecology: Buddhist Ethics and Practice *Pollution and the Environment: Some Radically New Ancient Views Individual and Society -- "How do we contribute to society through the practice of morality? By practicing morality buddhists can grant freedom from fear to the society. Even a cursory glance at many of the societies in the world would show us that they are torn apart by violence and other behaviors harmful to their members. Due to this situation the societies we live in today are engulfed in fear. Several fears always worry everyone in the world. Fear of loss of wealth, fear of loss of life, fear of losing loved ones, and fears of war are few we have to face everyday. All these fears could occur due to the actions of others who do not have morally disciplined behavior. In other words, these fears could arise in a society due to individuals not practicing morality. These fears do not arise in the society due to buddhists who practice morality. By practicing morality an individual grants the freedom from fear to the surrounding society." Intro to Buddhism -- Buddhism has been described as a very pragmatic religion. It does not indulge in metaphysical speculation about first causes; there is no theology, no worship of a deity or deification of the Buddha. Buddhism takes a very straightforward look at our human condition; nothing is based on wishful thinking, at all. Everything that the Buddha taught was based on his own observation of the way things are. Everything that he taught can be verified by our own observation of the way things are. If we look at our life, very simply, in a straightforward way, we see that it is marked with frustration and pain. This is because we attempt to secure our relationship with the "world out there", by solidifying our experiences in some concrete way. Journal of Buddhist Ethics -- An online academic electronic journal devoted to theoretical and applied issues in Buddhist ethics. Lay Morality -- The Buddhist perspective of morality is given in a nutshell in the little Pali verse. "Sabba papassa akaranam - kusalassa upasampada sachitta pariyodapanam - etam buddhanu sasanam" "To keep away from all evil, cultivate good, and purify one’s mind is the advice of all Buddhas." Life Without Sila is like a Car Without Brakes -- The subject of sila, or virtuous, beautiful conduct, is a very tricky area which people often misunderstand. Why bother with the provisional teachings, the kindergarten stuff, when we can go for enlightenment just by the use of these powerful insights selflessness and emptiness, or into the essential Buddha nature of all beings? This aspect of the teaching, that all beings are Buddhas and everything is perfect just as it is, was stressed in Buddhism''s early years in the West. "We just have to awaken to the perfection that comprises everything around us. And once we have that realisation we can act in whatever way pleases us. If we are all Buddhas, then we act as Buddhas and everything that a Buddha says and does is perfect." So, the teaching was often interpreted in a way to justify any kind of activity. Sila -- Sila (virtue, moral conduct) is the cornerstone upon which the entire Noble Eightfold Path is built. The practice of sila is defined by the middle three factors of the Eightfold Path: Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood. Sila -- Moral Conduct -- Sila or moral conduct is the principle of human behaviour that promotes orderly and peaceful existence in a community. Rules of moral conduct are to be found in every religion. They may resemble other codes of conduct to a greater or lesser degree depending on the Teacher or religious system from which they originated. Usually they comprise lists of actions from which to abstain, implying that any actions not covered by the prohibitions are permissible. A good example is afforded by the five Silas (of Buddhism), namely to abstain from taking the life of sentient beings, to abstain from taking possession of anything that has not been given by its owner, to abstain from sexual misconduct, to abstain from lying or evil speech, and to abstain from intoxicating drinks which are a primary cause of negligence. The Ethical Basis of Buddhism -- Ultimately, all the Buddhist schools regard ethics as a means of keeping one''s mind and life pure and free from negative influences. Rather like the concept of keeping the blood and liver clean and fresh to maintain and preserve good physical health, so the mind is regarded as a stream or river, which must be kept clean and constantly checked for pollution, which must be removed, if good spiritual health is to be maintained. This view if often is presented in the old adage ascribed to a Buddhist monk who was asked what a Buddhist does: ''do good, avoid evil and keep the mind pure.'' Everything we are is the result of our past, and how we have dealt with or failed to deal with that determines very much our state of mind. Buddhism views its own teachings as a form of therapy for impure minds. The Importance of Sila (Virtue) -- "In order to practice meditation with any great success, one is required to practice sila." The Meaning of Sin and Evil -- "Buddhism has a completely satisfying answer to evil and sin. The Buddhist approach would be to question your "desire" to be without sin or evil, to look at the question itself. Why would you limit your life? To trap you into an experience that western language finds difficult to say directly. To direct your search to the real truth. Here our normal "logical" English language just breaks down. What is this "illogical" experience that is not linear and deductive? The answer is "There is - in fact - a life that can be experienced outside of the level of thinking." I call that the essential teaching of Buddhism." Wholesome and Unwholesome Deeds -- Many wrong deeds and unwholesome actions are committed by people due to the ignorance of truth. Ignorance or foolishness is a pardonable mistake according to other religions. But there isn''t an excuse in Buddhism for ignorance. An unwholesome act committed due to ignorance of law of Kamma (dittigata sampayutta) is heavier than that one committed with the knowledge of it, according to the analysis of consciousness in the Abhidhamma.
Help build the largest human-edited
directory on the web.