Buddhist Ethics: Principles and Realms

The Buddhism is an ethical religion which has practical concerns rather than theoretical ones. Buddha's concern was man's liberation from suffering, and his attainment to Nirvana (cessation, extinction). Introducing Buddhism in brief, the present paper discusses the principles, purpose, ranks, and scope of Buddhist ethics, and finally studies and criticizes some of its doctrines. The principles of Buddhist ethics are as follow: the ‘four noble truths,’ Karma (work, action) rule, and the principle of incarnation. Not all men can achieve complete moral perfection; a Buddhist must liberate himself from avarice, grudge, and deceit, and conduct with others friendly and sympathetically. According to Buddha, man will be liberated from suffering and reincarnation in this world and achieve eternal peace and salvation by liberating himself from personal and social concerns and by subduing of all sensual desires and drives.