1.4 Key Moral Principles - scholars

Question 1

Martine Batchelor: how the three approaches to ethics from Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana are complementary

Answer 1

sometimes it is best to restrain ourselves to prevent harm, sometimes it is important to look beyond moralistic categories of good and bad to do what is skilful, sometimes we have to sit with the messiness of our minds and actions and try to transform form within

Question 2

Erricker: overview of the five precepts

Answer 2

the heart of Buddhist ethical practice - not commandments but the minimum essential prescription for treating the human condition

Question 3

Sister True Virtue: the two key components of right speech

Answer 3

loving speech, deep listening

Question 4

Sister True Virtue: over and example of loving speech

Answer 4

telling the truth in a way that brings love and joy into the world; never being slow to express appreciation of someone or to apologise when we do something unskilful
- ‘thank you for being here. your presence enriches my life. please tell me how I can love you better’

Question 5

Sister True Virtue: what is deep listening and how can we train in it

Answer 5

listening and understanding the suffering of others so we can help with compassion
- listen to ourselves until we know our deepest aspirations, shortcomings, sufferings, joys, then listen to loved ones without judgement or reaction, asking then what we can do to make them happier

Question 6

Sister True Virtue: requirements and importance of good communication

Answer 6

• time and energy
• without peace and harmony in our own relationships, how can we bring peace into the world

Question 7

Sister True Virtue on the topic of white lies

Answer 7

right practice is to always tell the truth - but must examine your motivation for telling the truth if it is hurtful, and be careful how you tell it

Question 8

Sister True Virtue on when and how it is inappropriate to express anger

Answer 8

when your mind is clouded in the grip of the emotion - need to take time to calm and control your mind, and let the other person know you were upset about the incident rather than state hurtful things about them

Question 9

Sister True Virtue on topic of whether gossip is ok

Answer 9

if it is genuinely skilful, beneficial in light of right speech, then say it - otherwise or if you are unsure do not, as gossip can waste energy bring harm

Question 10

Bodhi: the foundation for teh entire path is…

Answer 10

…the training in moral discipline - sila

Question 11

Bodhi: the three levels of meaning of sila

Answer 11

• inner virtue - qualities such as kindness, patience etc
• virtuous actions - outward expression of the inner virtues through body and speech
• rules of conduct - govern actions to bring them into accord with the ethical ideas

Question 12

Bodhi: importance of the Three Jewels - going for refuge in the Three Jewels is the…

Answer 12

…door of entrance to the Buddha’s teachings

Question 13

Bodhi: harmony achieved by maintaining sila

Answer 13

harmonises our actions by bringing them into accord with our own true interests, the well being of others, and universal laws such as the higher law of kamma

Question 14

Bodhi: how we make decisions when observing the panca sila

Answer 14

take ourselves as the standard, considering what would be pleasant and painful for ourselves, and applying the same to the subject of the decision

Question 15

Bodhi: the two aspects each of the precepts contain

Answer 15

negative aspect: rule of abstinence
positive aspect: virtue to be cultivated

Question 16

Bodhi: benefits of sila pertaining to future lives

Answer 16

wholesome kamma fruits favourable rebirth

Question 17

Bodhi: benefits of sila pertaining to the present life

Answer 17

grants us a clear conscience, so we have the ability to die peacefully, without fear or confusion

Question 18

Bodhi: benefits of sila pertaining to the ultimate good

Answer 18

part of the path to the attainment of nibbana

Question 19

Bodhi: negative and positive aspect of the first precept

Answer 19

negative: do not take life / do harm
positive: developing conscientiousness and sympathy through granting immeasurable safety and security to countless living beings

Question 20

Bodhi: the four sublime states (immeasurables) behind all of the precepts

Answer 20

metta, karuna, mudita (sympathetic joy), upekkha (equanimity)

Question 21

Bodhi: examples of how seriousness of transgression of precept relates to recipient of transgression

Answer 21

first precept: killing fellow human more serious ethically than killing animal
second precept: stealing alms bowl from a monk greater moral weight than cheating a con artist out of thousands of dollars owing to the character of the person affected

Question 22

Bodhi: what constitutes ‘false speech’

Answer 22

the wrong volition with intent to deceive, occurring through either body or speech

Question 23

Bodhi: why the fifth precept (intoxicants) deals with a person’s relationship to themself

Answer 23

what a person does to his body and mind can have a decisive effect on his relations with others

Question 24

Harvey: why it is important for a Buddhist to act virtuously

Answer 24

foundation of the spiritual path, generates freedom from remorse which helps one develop through goodness and joy to meditative calm, insight, and liberation

Question 25

Harvey: how Buddhist ethics has two levels

Answer 25

levels of commitment differ for monastic and lay communities - monastics undertake ruling out things that are acceptable for the lay (eg sexual intercourse)

Question 26

Harvey: the principle on which Buddhist ethics is based

Answer 26

it is inappropriate to inflict on other beings what oneself find unpleasant - suffering is a common lot which we should not add to

Question 27

Harvey: acrobat analogy explaining how the benefit of the self and others are intertwined

Answer 27

rely on each other, contribute to looking after their partner by mindfully looking after themselves

Question 28

Harvey: effect of anicca on an individual's morality

Answer 28

always respect people as capable of change for the better, and see Buddha-nature in their depths no matter the surface

Question 29

Harvey: how belief in rebirth influences Buddhist morality

Answer 29

stimulates compassion and positive regard for others as any suffering one witnesses they will have undergone themselves in one of their past lives

Question 30

Harvey: how belief in kamma and rebirth stimulates compassion in Buddhists for evil people

Answer 30

acknowledge these people will undergo great suffering in future lives as karmic result of actions

Question 31

Harvey: how anatta supports ethics

Answer 31

undermines 'self-ishness' which is the source of lack of respect, and dissolves the barrier which keeps us within our own self-interest, widening it to include all beings

Question 32

Harvey: how the monastic - lay relationship depends on giving

Answer 32

monastics rely on laity for alms - food, robes, medicine, etc, and return to the laity by teaching and providing example of 'the gift of dhamma' which 'excels all gifts'

Question 33

Harvey: how all acts of giving generate karmic fruitfulness

Answer 33

even if initially just for sake of material karmic results, it still brings joy and contentment so eventually becomes motivated by this purer motive of joy and contentment instead, becoming even more fruitful

Question 34

Harvey: ways in which giving aids spiritual development

Answer 34

reduces possessiveness and expresses non-attachment and renunciation. cultivates open-hearted and sensitive attitude to others. the basis for moral restraint

Question 35

P Morgan's retelling of Jataka tale describing the Buddha's reaction to being asked to rely on stealing for a livelihood

Answer 35

master asked his students to steal for him under the conditions they would not hurt anyone, and would never be seen. The Buddha refused, because 'there is never a time when no one sees. I see what I am doing, and I should be ashamed'

Question 36

Cush: why monastic sangha have shaved heads and wear robes

Answer 36

head is shaved when one is a candidate for ordination, while meditating on the experience as a lesson in impermanence and humility. robe is necessary covering only, to ensure material clothing not a source of ornamental use and attachment

Question 37

Cush: why lay Buddhists in Theravada countries traditionally seen as inferior in religious status to monastics

Answer 37

their religion can only be part of a life which has many other concerns such as family life and earning a living

Question 38

Cush: the religious goals of typical lay buddhists in Sri Lanka

Answer 38

recognise nibbana as an ultimate goal for some other lifetime, focusing on the religious task in this life to amass merit / good kamma so the next life will be a good one

Question 39

Cush: the different but mutually inter-dependent roles of lay and monks in Sri Lanka

Answer 39

lay people involved in practicing morality, piety, generosity, supporting monks with material needs and sons to keep the sangha going - monks concentrate on morality, meditation, wisdom, conserving and spreading the Buddha's teachings

Question 40

Cush: overview of the Thai custom for every young man to spend time as a monk

Answer 40

ordained as novices usually between 12 and 18 at an elaborate social ordination ceremony before the rains retreat begins - many stay only for the four month rain retreat as a social rite-of-passage into adult life