Buddhism and Medical Ethics - A bibliographic introduction.
Buddhism and Respect for Parents - Extensive sutra analysis
of Buddha's teaching on respecting one's parents.
Buddhist Morality - The basic concepts of Buddhist morality.
Buddhist Precepts - An explanation of the Precepts by Robert
Aitken Roshi.
Consequences of Your Actions - Online Chinese Buddhist tract
with simple illustrations of the moral consequences of actions.
Continuity and Change in the Economic Ethics of Buddhism: Evidence
From the History of Buddhism in India, China and Japan -
A paper in the Journal of Buddhist Ethics considering Buddhist
values with regard to wealth and economic activity, either within
society or within the sangha.
Criteria for Judging the Unwholesomeness of Actions in the Texts
of Theravaada Buddhism - Journal of Buddhist Ethics paper
reviewing the role of ethics on the path in Theravāda texts
and discussing the various criteria for distinguishing between
gradations of wholesome and unwholesome actions, and considering
the question of the relation between precept-taking and the
moral worth of actions.
Cutting the Cat Into One: The Practice of the Bodhisattva Precepts
in Zen - Kai, jo, e. Sila or precepts, samadhi or complete
practice, prajna or wisdom. Call them what you will, these are
the basis and the ground of healthy practice. They are also
the Path itself. And the results? Well, they are also kai, jo,
and e.
Economics in Buddhism - To live in this world, wealth is
very essential. So everyone has to work for money as society
depends on economics. But we should not regard wealth to be
like a god. Trying to get wealth through right means is not
wrong. Competition can be bad if it is directed by ulterior
motives. But it is very helpful and effective concerning success
and progress where the motive is good and correct. The man who
has no selfish attachment to wealth is able to do a lot of things
for society with wealth that was either accumulated by his own
effort or inherited.
Golden Rules of Buddhism - The too prevalent ignorance among
even adult Sinhalese Buddhists of the ethical code of their
religion lead H.S. Olcott to issue this little compilation.
It consists of quotes from Therevada sources on daily life,
organized by topic.
The Importance of Sila (Virtue) - "In order to practice
meditation with any great success, one is required to practice
sila."
Journal of Buddhist Ethics - Journal that promotes the study
of Buddhist ethics through the publication of research articles,
discussions and critical notes, bulletins, and reviews.
Karma - The Law of Karma explained.
Karma Ghost - A cartoon about karma that seems to imply
a kind of Newton's first law of ethics for every action, there
is an equal and complementary response. A Sundance Film Festival
winner.
Lay Morality - The Buddhist perspective of morality is given
in a nutshell in the little Pali verse. "Sabba papassa akaranam
- kusalassa upasampada sachitta pariyodapanam - etam buddhanu
sasanam" "To keep away from all evil, cultivate good, and purify
one's mind is the advice of all Buddhas."
The Meaning of Sin and Evil - "Buddhism has a completely
satisfying answer to evil and sin. The Buddhist approach would
be to question your "desire" to be without sin or evil, to look
at the question itself. Why would you limit your life? To trap
you into an experience that western language finds difficult
to say directly. To direct your search to the real truth. Here
our normal "logical" English language just breaks down. What
is this "illogical" experience that is not linear and deductive?
The answer is "There is - in fact - a life that can be experienced
outside of the level of thinking." I call that the essential
teaching of Buddhism."
Questions and Answers on Buddhist Moral Issues - Topics
include: good and evil, marriage, divorce, birth control and
abortion, suicide, war, military service, mercy killing, killing
for self protection, stealing from the rich to feed the poor,
extramarital sex, white lies, intoxicants.
Sila - Sila (virtue, moral conduct) is the cornerstone upon
which the entire Noble Eightfold Path is built. The practice
of sila is defined by the middle three factors of the Eightfold
Path: Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood.
Sila -- Moral Conduct - Sila or moral conduct is the principle
of human behaviour that promotes orderly and peaceful existence
in a community. Rules of moral conduct are to be found in every
religion. They may resemble other codes of conduct to a greater
or lesser degree depending on the Teacher or religious system
from which they originated. Usually they comprise lists of actions
from which to abstain, implying that any actions not covered
by the prohibitions are permissible. A good example is afforded
by the five Silas (of Buddhism), namely to abstain from taking
the life of sentient beings, to abstain from taking possession
of anything that has not been given by its owner, to abstain
from sexual misconduct, to abstain from lying or evil speech,
and to abstain from intoxicating drinks which are a primary
cause of negligence.
Engaged Buddhism
Engaged Buddhism - Comments on engaged Buddhism and practicing
in everyday life.
Engaged Buddhism Resources - Links to pages on Engaged Buddhism
related topics including environmentally aware Buddhism, Gay
and Lesbian, hospice projects, prison projects, development,
women's groups.
Joanna Macy | Engaged Buddhism - Teachings from an eco-philosopher
and student of Buddhism on engaged Buddhism.
Strong Lessons for Engaged Buddhists - Critique of socially
engaged Buddhism from a situationist perspective.
Vegetarianism
Are Buddhists vegetarian? - Part of a FAQ page.
A Buddhist Perspective on Vegetarianism - Three reasons
to be vegetarian. Reprinted on the Web by the International
Vegetarian Union (IVU).
Buddhist Resources on Vegetarianism and Animal Welfare -
Buddhist information about vegetarianism and animal welfare.
Includes both doctrinal and practical materials and links to
sites with general resources.
Buddhist vegetarianism - Articles from Theravada and Mahayana
Buddhism.
Chinese Vegetarianism and Buddhist Roots - An essay tracing
the roots of Chinese vegetarianism to Buddhism.
The First Precept: Reverence for Life - Article asserting
that when people appreciate and honor the beauty of life, they
will do everything in their power to protect all life.
Vinaya
eVinaya - An organised collection of materials and links
concerning the Vinaya, the Buddhist Monastic Discipline. It
also has its own material.
Vinaya Pitaka - An introduction to the Vinaya and an outline
of the Vinaya Pitaka along with concise descriptions. Includes
an English translation of the Patimokkha rules and certain sections
of the pitaka.