Buddhism

Ethics

A primary place in Buddhist ethics is reserved for the act of giving. Buddha's teaching emphasized the positive results that generosity generated in this life and the next: “Who gives food gives four things to the receiver thereof. What four? She gives life, she gives beauty, she gives happiness, she gives strength. Moreover, giving life she is a partaker of life, be it as deva or human: giving beauty she is a partaker of beauty, be it as deva or human: giving happiness she is a partaker of happiness, be it as deva or human: giving strength she is a partaker of strength, be it as deva or human” (Anguttara Nikaya 2.62 [a Buddhist holy text]). The constant practice of giving produces an openhearted, sensitive, and wholesome attitude: doing to others as one would do to oneself and as they wish one to do to them. By contrast, the radical vice of human nature exists in selfishness.

Loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity are called the four divine abidings. Loving-kindness toward all living beings in the universe aims to reduce hatred and fear: “Worse of the two is one who, when reviled, reviles again. Who doth not, when reviled, revile again, a two-fold victory wins” (Samyutta Nikaya 1.162 [a Buddhist holy text]). Compassion for all sentient creatures is expected to eliminate cruelty. Sympathetic joy should suppress jealousy and discontent, while equanimity should eliminate partiality.

The code of ethical conduct prescribed for laypersons regulates proper relationships between wife and husband, parent and child, worker and employer, teacher and pupil, friend and companion. In general, women are regarded as less capable of perfect morality, because of their alleged natural weakness and defects. Parents are exhorted to cultivate virtue in their children, while the latter should take responsibility for the maintenance of parents in old age. Husbands should courteously respect their wives, while wives should love their husbands. Friends should give mutual assistance and advice. Attention on the part of pupils toward their work complements the responsibility of the teacher to give instruction in every art.

The employer is expected to treat workers in a considerate and humane manner; the employee is expected to give good service. The pursuit of wealth is actively encouraged in order for the individual to bring happiness to others. Buddhist texts objected to both miserliness and prodigality. Infatuation with gambling was frowned on, as a channel leading to the dissipation of one's wealth. An amusingly stated peril was that a gambler would not be sought after by those desiring to give or take in marriage because such a man could not afford to keep a wife.

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