Good Moral Conduct Flashcards
What evidence is there that intention is important in Buddhist morality?
It is a step on the Eightfold Path (Right Intention)
Buddhists believe that intention affects the karma we generate
No intention or a bad intention will lead to bad choices
Intention more important to Mahayana Buddhists (see Upaya)
What evidence is there that intention is not important to Buddhist morality?
Actions can harm people, intentions cannot
Karma means ‘action’
Action is more important to Theravada Buddhists (lots more rules about actions)
Good actions create habits which shapes intentions
What are the Six Perfections of Mahayana Buddhism?
Generosity
Morality
Patience
Energy
Meditation
Wisdom
Why do Mahayana Buddhists focus on perfections rather than precepts/rules?
1) because it allows a freer use of Upaya
2) because they believe they are more spiritually mature and do not require as many rules
3) because these are more useful for Bodhisattvas
What are the two main types of karma in Buddhism?
Kusala
Akusala
What is meant by ‘kusala’ and ‘akusala’?
Kusala = healthy, wholesome, skilful
Akusala = unhealthy, unwholesome, unskilful
Which three steps on the Eightfold Path concern moral conduct?
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Give examples of positive and negative examples of Right Speech
Positive: support, encouragement, teaching Dharma, telling the truth, silence when appropriate
Negative: lies, gossip, idle chatter, harsh or offensive words or tone
Give examples of positive and negative examples of Right Action
Positive: following the Five Precepts
Negatives: actions which break the Five Precepts; actions which demonstrate the Three Poisons
Give examples of positive and negative examples of Right Livelihood
Positive: monastic life, therapist, owner of an ethical business, vet, etc.
Negative: butcher, weapons manufacturer, pub landlord, etc.
What are the Five Precepts?
Do not harm or kill
Do not take what is not freely given
Refrain from false speech
Do not commit sexual misconduct
Do not take intoxicants which cloud the mind
What is Ahimsa?
No harm: the first Buddhist precept, covering any actions which kill or harm any living creature
How would Ahimsa apply to weapons of mass destruction?
- WMDs totally inexcusable due to the scale of suffering and bad karma - there is always a less destructive option
- Some Buddhists may justify the use of WMDs as a deterrent however most would believe that suffering will only end once we show loving-kindness by reaching full disarmament
- WMDs particularly bad due to the harm to animal life - even during testing
How would Ahimsa apply to the embryo and the unborn child?
Generally see abortion as wrong but may make exceptions for life of the mother (there will be harm in either case so ahimsa means minimising harm).
Embryo research may be justifiable if it leads to a greater good e.g. curing a serious disease would reduce dukkha for many.
Japanese Buddhists allow abortion but follow it with a ritual (Mizuko Kuyo) to relieve the parents of their bad karma and guide the child to a safe rebirth
How would Ahimsa apply to the use of animals?
Many uses of animals are not kusala - exploitation of animals is wrong as ahimsa applies to them as well as humans
May still be considered worse to harm a human due to their greater karmic merit. However lots of Buddhist scripture (e.g. Hungry Tigress) show that it is noble to die for animals too.
Most Buddhists are vegetarian and view working in the meat industry as against Right Livelihood (e.g. Cruel Butcher)
