Buddhist ethics

Foundations

Sources of guidance

• Three Jewels/Treasures/Refuges/Gems (of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha) - compare to the Proofs of Manifestation, His Word, His followers (and enemies); see sources of guidance, (also Types of proofs, Modes of determining truth and Qualities of the seeker)
  • Buddha - compare to Baha'i rejection of authoritative status for any pilgrim's notes on Life of Manifestations of God (including its own or the Buddha) though value for these notes and study of history (including "authoritative" histories); meditations acquired by Buddhas not seen by Baha'is as through their effort but divine inspiration
  • Dharma (teachings) - Oral traditions systematized after Buddha, not written until centuries later; see Writings Buddhist authenticity indicating lack of Buddhist scriptural trustworthiness; compare to Baha'i rejection of authoritative status for any of its own pilgrim's notes and uniqueness of Faith in having Tablets in own hand of Author, etc. though consider Baha'i respect for pilgrim notes still being of value
  • Sangha (community, especially monoastic) - compare to Baha'i rejection of monasticism, importance for independent investigation of truth (no priestly domination or binding interpretation of Holy Writ), as well as explicit rejection of community as being an infallible source (whether as a whole, or of scholars, etc.); however, also consider the need for consulting the community, how association with believers to be source of example and refreshment (?), the need to respect and benefits of acquiring knowledge from the learned, and how individual interpretation and conscience are still of value or necessity (though fallible)
• Prioritization among these sources by Theravedan Buddhaghosa
  • Vinaya scriptures (monastic)
  • That which is "in conformity with scripture" - Scriptures seen in Baha'i Faith as true, though subject to fallible human reason
  • the commentarial tradition - See learned, higher criticism, and individual interpretation (not authoritative but potentially insightful)
  • personal opinion based on logic and intuition - See Modes of determining truth regarding fallibility (but usefulness) of reason and intuition (as well as senses and Holy Spirit); see also See WikiPedia:Kalama Sutta; see conscience and individual interpretation on fallible but potentially use or necessity
• Role of individual responsibility
  • In learning
    • Need for teachings to be understood, practiced, and confirmed - compare first two to understanding and fulfilling (and also conveying to others) mentioned at Meditation#Meditation_on_the_Teachings_is_one_of_6_.22Essential_Requisites_for_Spiritual_Growth.22. For third, see Confirmation by experience and also compare to Proofs#Need_to_know_proofs_not_merely_through_susceptibilities. See WikiPedia:Kalama Sutta
    • Lay people to assess monks for greed/hate/delusion, then repose trust in him - Compare to Baha'i Faith's literal and figurative description of ascertaining trust in a physician and then complying with the prescription (quotes on this?), but not acceptance of priesthood; but to use judgment in determining with whom to associate (see Association with righteous), marry (see Dating#Role_of_couple), etc.
  • In adherence
    • Use of publicly recited vows (administered by monk) - cf. promises/oaths; no congregational prayer in Faith; anything else in Faith about public vows (besides marriage with witnesses)?; cf. another means of remembering one's spiritual commitments: bringing oneself to account, exhortation
    • conscience - see shame
      • Self-respect (cf. honor, gracefulness, dignity)
      • Regard for consequences (see consequences, reward, punishment)
      • Heedfulness (energy and mindfulness (including awareness of own's intentions and motives and "clear comprehension" to align behavior with goals (cf. hypocrisy)))

Karma/Reincarnation

Aspects of rebirth

• No discernible beginning
• No life is eternal - cf. Faith on how unbelievers may progress in next world (see Life after death/soul)
• Leads from:
  • Realm of sense-desire: unpleasant hells, to ghostly being, to animal, to relatively pleasant (though not perfect life of) human, to god in six lowest heavens
  • Realm of (elemental) form: 16 heavens with deep meditative calm, various deities live, without desire, but with faults as pride
  • Formless realm: 4 extremely subtle and purely mental realms (cf. valleys after the Seven Valleys)
• Rebirth not created or for stated purpose; simply to strive to avoid if not transcend rebirths (Nirvana)
• Rebirth is orderly per law of karma - Baha'i teachings also do accept (relatively) fixed nature of God's law though not reincarnation and with possibility of intercession to obtain God's mercy over His justice
  • Past actions to welcome one in a future life - all good deeds saved up and return to himself (?)
  • "Deeds divide beings" in Majjhima Nikaya (Middle Length Discourses) - cf. Life after death/soul#The_differentiation_of_status_between_souls_follows_their_passing_away on station evident in next world; cf. Christ's words on coming to divide (see sword); re: prior deeds (even of others) shaping a human being, see Consequences on future generations
  • Emphasis in Buddhism on deeds being ethically right rather than ritually right (as in Upanishads) - cf. Faith on emphasis on importance of good intentions (see also Service#Service_to_humanity_is_a_reflection_of_service_to_God)
  • Actions can lead to consequences in this life or future lives - cf. Life after death/soul re: murderer in differences between consequences accepted now vs. in the future: Rev. of Baha'u'llah pp. 296-297: http://www.peyman.info/cl/Baha%27i/Others/ROB/V3/p275-307Ch13.html ; "Speak no evil, that thou mayest not hear it spoken unto thee, and magnify not the faults of others that thine own faults may not appear great; and wish not the abasement of anyone, that thine own abasement be not exposed." (Hidden Words, Persian, no. 44)
  • Specific consequences in this world or future lives (related to action); ability to notice pleasant or unpleasant things:
    • Killing/harming -> short lived (this world or future lives)
    • Striking living -> frequent illness in future lives
    • Sensual misconduct -> rivalry and hatred by others
    • Easily angered -> ugly in a future life
    • Harsh words -> need to listen to unpleasant sounds
    • Jealous/spiteful -> becoming of no account in a future life
    • Backbiting -> friendships breaking up
    • Frivolous chatter -> ineffective speech
    • Lying -> eating one's words
    • Intoxication -> madness
    • Haughty -> lowly family in a future life
    • Not inquiring into what is moral or immoral -> unwise in a future life
    • Stingy -> poor in a future life
    • Giving with faith -> handsome
    • Giving carefully -> family or workpeople listening carefully and being helpful
    • Giving at right time -> Wealth arriving at right time
    • Giving without reluctance -> Mind enjoying best sense-pleasures
    • Giving without harm to self/others -> future wealth free from destructive harm
  • Encouraging others to abstain from evil -> heavenly rebirth - cf. Exhortation
  • Mahayana view: obstructing Bodhisattva -> terrible consequences - cf.

• Per the Majjhima Nikaya (Middle Length Discourses), "right view" includes belief that:
  1. sacrifice is worthwhile
  2. there will be future consequences for good and bad deeds
  3. there is a real world beyond to which one goes after death - life after death/soul
  4. important to respect parents (who establish one in the world)
  5. there are spontaneously arising beings, e.g., who populate heavenly worlds without prior birth - cf. Baha'i Faith of soul beginning at conception
  6. there are renunciants and brahmins who practice rightly and who know of the next world; spiritual development is real and can lead to calm of deep meditation, memory of and awareness of rebirths. - cf. encouragement from good role models (including those godly) but contrast with Baha'i prohibition of asceticism and disbelief in reincarnation (though belief in Return)

Possible Baha'i interpretation

• A Baha'i interpretation might be that the origin of such beliefs lay in return (not the literal return of creatures, but their essence) and/or that the negative aspects of rebirth relate to failing to see the end in the beginning, becoming entrapped in birth of material desires which lead eventually to disappointment, etc.

See also 'Abdu'l-Baha in London, p. 73 on superstitions that may be positive.

Four Noble Truths and Noble Eightfold Path

• Note: include reference to Detachment (greed, hatred/anger, delusion)

References (for inspiration)

• Harvey, Peter. An introduction to Buddhist ethics foundations, values, and issues. Cambridge, UK New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Print.

See also

• Ethics
• Buddhism

To-dos for this page

• Add in re: emulation of monks vs. emulation of 'Abdu'l-Bahá