Buddhism - moral conduct (5 precepts, 6 perfections and ahimsa) Flashcards
1
Q
5 precepts
A
- part of monastic code
- ritual cleansing
- middle way
- +ve and practical
- thanissaro bhikkhu: ‘formulated in such a way that they proved just a set of standards’
2
Q
what are the 5 precepts
A
- ahimsa
- do not take what is not freely given
- no sexual misconduct
- no false speech
- no intoxicants
3
Q
ahimsa
monks and alms rounds
A
- loving kindness: all beings connected by sharing life, developing an attitude of loving kindness (metta), increasing happiness –> mindfulness
- non violence to all living things
- ideally should be veggie but not in practice for all
- bhikkus: eat what lay buddhists give them –> wasteful and ungrateful not to eat meat
- against violent, aggressive or harmful behaviour
4
Q
do not take what is not freely given
A
- stealing, exploitation –> attitude of taking what belongs to others (disrespect)
- generosity: attitude of wanting others to succeed –> popularity, good rebirth, reputation, self confidence
- jealousy is damaging, can lead to ruthlessness
5
Q
no sexual misconduct
A
- overindulgence, some are celibate for no distractions in spiritual path
- no strict rules to express sexuality, causing harm/taking advantage
- in control of life and being controlled by desires + attatchment
- sex is good responsible and loyal relationships
- applied to friendships too
6
Q
no false speech
genuinety
A
- -ve, lying, slandering, gossiping, harsh speaking, unfair
- honesty, pretending vs being yourself
- cultivating helpful, gentle and kindly speech
7
Q
no intoxicants
A
- meditation are more effective and less harmful than intoxicants to recreationally
- drink and drugs are harmful due to effects (other 4 broken)
- bud: must stay ‘awake’, clouds mind, mindfulness, meditation, awareness
- intention: kamma, sound mind, no diminished responsibility
8
Q
mahayana 6 perfections
A
- ‘awakening mind’
- working towards buddhahood
9
Q
what are the 6 perfections
A
- perfect giving, dana
- perfect morality, sila
- perfect patience, kshanti
- perfect vigor, virya
- perfect meditation, samadhi
- perfect wisdom, prajna
10
Q
perfect giving
concerning wisdom and enlightenment
A
- M: helping others to enlightenment
- generosity, renounce attatchment to the material, immaterial (knowledge, dhamma) –> giving emotionally
- helps improve understanding, wisdom gained
- without expectation, removes ego and attatchment
- bodhisattva: no attachment to giving
11
Q
perfect morality
doing good until it is a natural activity
A
- 5 precepts, keeps harmony, obtain good fruit
- trying to be a moral agent until it is natural
- honesty in actions, predisposition to do good –> immaculate stage, perf morality
- free of impurities
12
Q
perfect patience (noble truth, meditation, bodhis)
A
- accepting the first noble truth, dukkha, helps them develop this quality
- perfection of patience aided by meditation on loving kindness (metta), compassion (karuna), fortitude
- provides emotional basis for good intention required for ethical action
- key to enlightenment journey, Bodhis employ patience in their lives
- meditation requiring patience: takes time to know how to focus
- thoughtful behaviour, individual ability and needs
- patience with yourself –> knowing limitations
- overcome anger, impatience, intolerance –> disturb state of mind
- patience allows us to help others get better = key for bodhis
- endure personal hardship + accept difficult truths about yourself + the truth of the illusory nature of our existence
13
Q
perfect vigor
A
- inflammation stage, consume all remains of ignorance and craving
- actions need a lasting effect
- energy towards doing good, guided by meditation
- stage where someone may be ordained and taking 8FP more seriously
- symbol = dwarf
- love and kindness to all
14
Q
perfect meditation
clarity and insight
A
- cultivate the mind, concentrations for clarity and insight
- meditations is important, can recognise important things, perfect M=perfect wisdom
- samatha: tranquility, concentration
- vipassana: insight, contemplating perspective –> mental orientation, plight of others suffering and lives
- overcome destructive habits, long lost home found in meditation
15
Q
perfect wisdom
link with right view
A
- see fabric of existence and see its nature
- insight, can reflect others on other’s plight and become bodhisattvas
- nothing is permanent, life is suffering
- all beings can have it if practices are observed
16
Q
ahimsa concerning ethical actions
why do people follow the precept of ahimsa
A
- non violence to all living things, first precept
- hindu, jain, dharmic –> how can one cause suffering and be happy?
- anatta –> no sense of self, interconnectedness, why would you harm something else if you are one?
- mental state, peaceful people = peaceful actions
- dhammapada: ‘by not harming living beings one is called noble’
- nalaka sutta: ‘as I am, so are these…never kill or get others to kill’
17
Q
ahimsa with embryos, abortion and experimentation
A
- life starts at conception –> but some believe that since there is no consciousness there is no life
- bhikkus: serious offense for them as it bring negative karma and is morally harmful
- about intention and situation
- B leaders dont get involved in public demonstrations
- damien keown and michael barnhart: not all life is equal in value, emb isnt a karmically advanced human
- japan: legal but a sense of shame and guily in society, mut go to shrine of jizo bosatsu
- sri lanka and thailand, saving mothers life/rape are exceptions –> trad values vs backstreet abortions
- dalai lama ‘approved or disproved according to each circumstance
- peter harvey –> ‘relieving as much human suffering in all stages)
18
Q
ahimsa and war (why is there war, M vs T, different countries approach to peace, just war + examples, contemporary challenges and responses, quote)
A
- conflict = hearts and minds of individuals
- acted up on and institutionalised by society and laws
- greed, hatred and attatchment to country (nationalism) is encouraged by war
- ‘he who was given up thoughts of both victory and defeat, he is calm and lives happily’ dhammapada
- criticisms of a nation are due to individuals not the entire nation
- national and ethnic conflict: greed hatred,ignorance, egotisim
- M: intention to care for other beings and unselfish reasons then no bad karma from war
- T: killing is never ok and can lead to serious karmic consequences
- nuclear war: B advocate for peace
- contemporary challenges: WOMD, violence multiplied, long term environmental impact, arms trading is innapropriate
- hiroshima and nagasaki bombing –> japanese buddhists active in peace movements
- interfaith peace pagodas –> belief that young peoples race and religion divides them
- B and terrorism: understand issues, compassion
- just war: B have used it in self defense, but in T no theory as monks dont get involved in politics
- sinhalese king Dutugamunu –> monks disrobed and joined army to defeat tamils
- freedom and national independence is essential for Bs –> aim is for pacifism but methods doesnt matter
19
Q
ahimsa and animals
A
- no difference between a human and an animal
- universal compassion towards all species without discrimination
- buddha: saved sheep from sacrificial slaughter, T follow actions
- animals exist in a real that causes them to suffer more than humans
- veggie: admired but not strict
- monks can eat meat if offered bc no waste
- fishing allowed (Japan main food source)
- tibetans: kill less eat more, himalayas too harsh for crops
- animal hierarchy: killing large means more bad karma, contradicts equality
- livelihood: butchers, slaughterer, hunters
- fishermen allowed
- any job that isnt avoided in the 8FP
- killing animals is bad karma to self due to anatta (interconnectedness, no fixed self)
- experimentation: compassionate to help humans but bad karma due to killing
20
Q
ahimsa and conception and reproduction
A
- conception: individual freedom and choice
- responsibility for having children is theirs, no coercion from state
- freedom: should be in harmony with ahimsa
- motives should have justified reason
- reproduction: fertility treatment shows compassion
- IVF, designer baby
- surrogacy: ahimsa, destroyed embryos which are alive from conception –> also depends on whether paid or free
- part of their karmic rebirth that they cant conceive
