Morality
Since buddhism has no god or supernatural being laying down the rules, morality is grounded in human experience. In order to weigh what is good or what is bad, buddhists weigh what is beneficial and what is harmful. An action would be judged morally wrong if it caused harm to an individual or a group of sentient beings. But if the action would be beneficial, then it is judged to be morally good. Intent is a major factor in weighing morality. If an action is made with pure intent, regardless of the outcome, the action would be considered good. Likewise with harmful intent. Below are the descriptions of the Six Paramitas, and the Five Precepts. The Six Paramitas are a list of actions that the Buddha thought we should strive for. The Five Precepts are a list of things that we should try not to do.
The Six Paramitas
1. Generosity (Dana) - There are three aspects to Dana. The first is on the material level, not being attached to material things, helping others in need. The second is on the level of protection. If someone is in danger we act to protect them without hesitating or thinking that it's none of our business. The third aspect is in teaching and advice. The one imparting a teaching should do so only if the recipient wants to be taught. It is not generosity to try to teach someone who is not interested. The teacher should always teach with pure intent and not with the notion that they are smarter or are somehow better than the student. The intent should always be to help.
2. Ethics (shila) - There are three aspects to shila. Restraint, Wholesomeness, and Acting to benefit others. In restraint, we avoid acting in a harmful ways such as lying and stealing. We cultivate wholesomeness in order to go beyond mere restraint and act in beneficial ways.
3. Patience (Kshanti) - Patience toward ourselves, patience toward others, patience toward life. Impatience creates feelings such as anger and hostility. Cultivating patience helps us to allow life to unfold without trying to force anything or become restless.
4. Vigor (Virya) - Working toward enlightenment takes a lot of effort. When one acts with vigor, difficult tasks become effortless and fluid.
5. Meditation (Dhyana) - Meditation is the link between the first four paramitas and the sixth one, wisdom. Meditation helps us to practice the first four with pure intent, and to let go of egocentric attitudes. It helps turn practice into understanding and wisdom.
6. Wisdom (Prajna) - Developing an understanding of the nature of self and existence.
The Five Precepts (Pancha-shila)
1. Abstain from causing harm - This does not just mean humans, this does not just mean animals. This includes plants, insects, the environment. It is understood that some harm must come as a part of life. We must eat, and therefore we must take life. We must breath, and therefore risk breathing in an insect. The important thing is your intent. The intent should be to avoid causing harm if it is unnecessary.
2. Abstain from that which is not given - This does not just refer to outright stealing. It refers to using coercion, trickery, or manipulation to convince someone to hand over that which you desire.
3. Abstain from sexual misconduct - This does not mean sex is bad or used only for procreation. Having a healthy sex life is fine. The warning in this precept is to avoid becoming obsessed or engaging in sexual activities that cause harm, such as having an affair with a married person. As with all moral topics in buddhism, the real criterion is in how much harm is being caused, not in the sex itself.
4. Abstain from false speech - Lying, spreading rumors, gossiping, backbiting, character assassination. Basically, speech that is harmful to yourself or others or both.
5. Abstain from alcohol and other intoxicants - It is not the alcohol or the drugs that are seen as bad. It is recommended that we avoid intoxicants because they can hender our judgement, lessening our ability to follow through with the other precepts and paramitas that we're trying to follow. There is a parable that the buddha told that illustrates these reasons: A monk was out begging for food one day when he came across a woman selling alcohol. She offered him three choices. The first one was to drink alcohol, the second to kill a goat, and the third to have sex with her. He said,"No, I can't kill the goat, a buddhist monk would never do such a thing. I can't have sex - I'm a monk, I'm celibate. So I'll take the alcohol." He drank the beer, and once he got drunk, he killed the goat and had sex with the woman.
*This parable was found in "The Essence of Buddhism" by Venerable Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche
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