Buddhist Ethics: Some Reflections

The unique trait of Buddhism lies in transforming and ethicization of human consciousness. This is possible through three pronged strategy of sila, samādhi and prajñā. The Bodhisattva is the highest ideal of Mahāyana Buddhism, and this is neither worldly happiness nor achievement of a transcendental position, rather here the entire life is devoted to the suffering humanity. Morality, in Buddhism, is practical and empirical enterprise not a priority derived from any metaphysical principle. Brahmavihāra refers to moral principles of Buddhism which includes loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity. The salient features of Buddhist ethics incorporates human dignity, non-attachment, tolerance, non-violence and practical orientation. The karunā,muditāand maitri reflect eco-friendliness and this is the need of hour to overcome the problem of environmental pollution and ecological imbalance. We must have to realize the sameness and interdependence of man and nature, its intrinsic worth through destruction of ignorance. This deep rooted ignorance can be destroyed only by meditative insight (panna), and thus by the rise of wisdom (prajñā), craving (tanhā) and ignorance (avidyā) both are destroyed.