Foundations of Buddhist Social Ethics Although the ethics of Buddhism is widely discussed today, its treatment is frequently misconceived or lopsided, even when offered by Buddhist scholars. In order …
Social Relationships and Responsibility Within the Monastic Order In comparison with society as a whole the sangha, or monastic fellowship, is a very small community. It is intended to be the completi…
Attitudes Toward Poverty and Wealth The term poverty may sometimes be misleading. The familiar Buddhist concepts are rather contentment (santuṭṭhi) or limited desires (appicchatā). Poverty (daliddiya)…
The System of Buddhist Ethics Buddhist social ethics will be understood more adequately if we understand its place in the whole system of Buddhist ethics. As mentioned earlier, the whole of Buddhist e…
Conclusion The foundations of Buddhist social ethics can be schematized in the following diagram, which outlines the whole system of Buddhist ethics: magga paññā Enlightened world view (based on insig…
Notes 1. See the two kinds of extremes, the ten kinds of lay people or enjoyers of sense-pleasure, and the three kinds of ascetics in the Rāsiya Sutta S.IV.330ff. Buddhist thought is characterized by …
Abbreviations AAṅguttara Nikāya DDīgha Nikāya DhDhammapada DhACommentary on the Dhammapada ItItivuttaka KhKhuddakapāṭha JJātaka JAJātaka Commentary MMajjhima Nikāya Nd2Cullaniddessa SSaṁyutta Nikāya S…
Original Volume Editors’ Section Introduction Phra Rājavaramuni’s essay represents an interpretation of Theravada Buddhist ethics by a noted Thai monk-scholar. Although Rājavaramuni (recently elevated…