Marriage and the Family - Buddhism

Question 1

What is a Buddhist’s overall view on marriage

Answer 1

It is a secular matter and regarded a personal choice

Question 2

Give 3 reasons why a Buddhist should get married

Answer 2

• prevents the breaking of the third precept ( sex before marriage - promiscuity)
• positive relationships help cultivate metta and karuna
• buddha did not condemn marriage explicitly

Question 3

Give 3 reasons why a buddhist would be against marriage

Answer 3

• aim of buddhism is to rid oneself of attachment - marriage does not do this
• buddha left his family for enlightenment
• causes desire which should be avoided as it prevents one from nibbana
• ideal is celibacy

Question 4

Give 3 reasons why celibacy is an ideal.

Answer 4

• the buddha lived a celibate life ( left his family to reach enlightenment)
• prevents the breaking of the 3rd precept
• sexual relationships inhibits nibbana therefore to reach enlightenment, one should be celibate

Question 5

Give 2 atheist arguments in favour of marriage

Answer 5

• marriage shows a significant commitment to one another

- shows responsibility for one another

Question 6

Give 2 atheist arguments against marriage

Answer 6

• love is what matters not a legal ceremony

- cohabitation is just as good

Question 7

What is a humanist view on marriage?

Answer 7

the principles of marriage are what is most important , eg freedom of choice or equality in a relationship

Question 8

Give 3 Buddhist attitudes towards cohabitation ( 2P/1N)

Answer 8

• permitted as long as it follow the key principle of ahimsa
• cultivates metta and karuna
• could be breaking the third precept ( sex before marriage)

Question 9

What is Buddhagosha’ s interpretation of the Third Precept?

Answer 9

provides a conservative interpretation

- forbids sex outside of marriage and homosexual sex

Question 10

What is Sangharashita’s interpretation of the Third Precept?

Answer 10

• provides a liberal interpretation

- avoid sexual activity that harms others

Question 11

Theravada monks view on sexual relationships

Answer 11

monks are not permitted to have any sexual relationships and should remain celibate and rather focus on attaining enlightenment

Question 12

Jodo Shinshu monks’ view on celibacy

Answer 12

monks are permitted to marry and have children

Question 13

Give 3 Buddhist views in favour of homosexual relationships

Answer 13

• no buddhist teachings which explicitly state that homosexuality is wrong
• way to cultivate good kamma if metta and karuna are shown
• permitted if the relationship avoids dukkha

Question 14

Give 3 buddhist views against homosexual relationships

Answer 14

• breaks the 3rd precept - Buddhagosha
• the sigalovada sutta references only heterosexual relationships
• relationships leads to attachment which inhibits nibbana

Question 15

Give one atheist view in favour of homosexuality and a buddhist response to it

Answer 15

for : two consenting adults should do what they want

response : ‘ be a refuge unto yourself’ use your own judgments about moral teachings ( your choice)

Question 16

Give one atheist view against homosexuality and a buddhist response to it

Answer 16

• a child should have both a mother and a father

response: agrees - the sigalovada sutta references only heterosexual relationships

Question 17

What is a humanist’s view on homosexuality?

Answer 17

• no issue with it as they believe inn freedom of choice and equality

Question 18

Name 5 family models and briefly define them

Answer 18

• nuclear family- mother ,father, children
• single parent family
• same sex family
• extended family- children, grandparents, aunts, uncles
• blended family - divorced parents marry, their children

Question 19

Give 3 views on the importance of having a family in buddhism- its benefits

Answer 19

• families donate to the monastic sangha, without this , monks would not survive
• children can learn about buddhism
• Having a family helps grow the Sangha

Question 20

Give 3 reasons against having a family in buddhism- mention Theravada)

Answer 20

• inhibits the chances of achieving enlightenment.
• In Theravada Buddhism the celibate life who is unrestricted by family obligations is more likely to reach enlightenment
• The Buddha left his family to focus on gaining enlightenment.

Question 21

What are the three refuges?

Answer 21

• the buddha
• the dhamma
• the sangha

Question 22

Give three ways the Sangha helps families

Answer 22

• Many viharas provide meditation classes for Buddhists and non-Buddhist
• they provide counselling for adults
• They teach the dhamma to children

Question 23

Give three reasons why the sangha should help families

Answer 23

• monastic sangha are most likely to be enlightened and so should teach others to show metta and karuna
• should encourage others to join the monastic community as it leads to enlightenment ( Theravada )
• they rely on the donations of families to survive therefore should aid families in return with spiritual growth

Question 24

Give the difference between contraception and conception

Answer 24

contraception = birth control. The deliberate prevention of conception.
Conception = the action of conceiving a child.

Question 25

When do Buddhists believe life begins

Answer 25

Buddhism teaches that life or consciousness begins at conception

Question 26

Give 3 buddhist views in favour of contraception

Answer 26

• practices the third precept as you are having sex sensibly by protecting yourself.
• reduces dukkha as it prevents STIs, unwanted pregnancies
• shows metta and karuna if having another child were to be a burden

Question 27

Give 3 buddhist views against contraception

Answer 27

• It should be avoided as it allows desires to be fulfilled , preventing enlightenment
• easier to commit adultery due to lack of consequences
• leads to an increase in promiscuity - potential breaking of the third precept

Question 28

Give an atheist view for and against contraception and a buddhist response

Answer 28

for: health benefits as it reduces the risk of STIs
against: makes adultery easier due to the lack of consequences

buddhist response: a buddhist would argue that the prevention of STI’s reduces dukkha but as it makes adultery easier it does also cause dukkha

Question 29

Give a humanist view on contraception

Answer 29

Most Humanists have no ethical objections to birth control as long as it used responsibly

Question 30

Give a situation ethicist’s theory on contraception and divorce and a Buddhist response to it

Answer 30

When faced with an ethical problem, we should “Do the most loving thing in a given situation”
This is similar to the Buddhist view of showing metta and karuna and avoiding dukkha therefore one should use contraception or divorce depending on the situation

Question 31

What is a utilitarianist view when making decisions on contraception or divorce

Answer 31

utilitarianist view is ‘The Greatest Happiness for the Greatest number’
- this can be applied to contraception or divorce depending on whether it benefits the majority of people.

Question 32

Give 3 buddhist views that accept divorce

Answer 32

• An unhappy marriage could cause dukkha for the couple so it is more loving (metta) to allow a divorce
• The Buddha did not explicitly condemn divorce.
• no religious obligation to get married therefore the divorce is not a religious problem

Question 33

Give 3 buddhist views against divorce- reference to SOA

Answer 33

• • A divorce could cause dukkha to the family so it may be better to show metta and stay married
• the buddha taught that husbands should be loyal to their wives in the sigalovada sutta
• if metta and karuna were practised properly then divorces would not need to occur

Question 34

What is a humanist view on divorce?

Answer 34

• support liberal divorce laws.

- Some Humanists even conduct divorce ceremonies

Question 35

What was the role of woman at the time of the buddha

Answer 35

• women were seen as inferior

- subjected to domestic roles

Question 36

give 3 buddhist teachings that are in favour of gender equality ( reference to certain soa) include counter

Answer 36

• the buddha taught that both men and women are capable of spiritual development and enlightenment
• the buddha allowed women to become monastics
  counter: he did, however, first deny this three times and argued that his teachings would only last half as long if women were to be ordained
• the sigalovada sutta shows that men and women are equal and should share authority

Question 37

give 2 buddhist teachings that do not support gender equality and counter them

Answer 37

• the sigalovada sutta shows that women and men have different roles - counter- influenced by culture - doesnt make men and women unequal
• nuns have an additional 8 rules called the guru dhammas which demonstrates buddhism supports gender equality in belief but not in practice
  counter- some believe that the guru dhammas were written by later followers to suit traditional gender models

Question 38

how does the belief in buddha nature link to gender discrimination?

Answer 38

• Mahayana Buddhists believe that we should all be treated equally as we all have the ability to become enlightened

Question 39

Give an example of gender equality in action in buddhism and what it shows - case study

Answer 39

• Karuna Trust
• it is a charity which alleviates the suffering of women and teaches them vocational skills.
• which shows how metta and karuna in practice can fight against gender inequality

Question 40

Give three buddhist beliefs that promote gender equality?

Answer 40

• the belief in upekkha - an equal attitude towards everyone whether male or female
• the belief in anatta- as an individual has no permanent identity , gender is unimportant
• the 1st precept - a buddhist should avoid any form of discrimination that would cause harm or dukkha as it would break it