Buddhist Lay Ethics

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Buddhist Lay Ethics

• Mettanando Bhikkhu
• Introduction to Thai Buddhism
• Assumption University GS1061

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Morality siin tham

• siin from Pali sila (moral precept)
• tham from Pali dharma (virtue)

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For most Buddhists in Thailand

• The Five Precepts (benca siin)
• The Five Principles of Moral Conduct (benca tham)
• Instruction for Sigala
• Wealth allocation
• The 38 Mangalas

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Five Precepts

• abstinence from killing
• abstinence from stealing
• abstinence from sexual misconduct
• abstinence from false speech
• abstinence from alcoholic drink

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The Five Principles of Moral Conduct

• Compassion
• Right means of living
• Restrain of sensual pleasure
• Truthfulness
• Mindfulness

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10 Kusala-kammapada

• abstinence from killing
• abstinence from stealing
• abstinence from sexual misconduct
• abstinence from false speech
• abstinence from malicious speech
• abstinence from harsh speech
• abstinence from senseless speech

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10 Kusala-kammapada (cont.)

• abstinence from covetousness
• abstinence from ill-will
• Cultivation of the Right View

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Sigalovada Sutta

• Sigala was a young man who followed his father
  last wish that he worship directions. He did so
  literally every morning. The Buddha challenged
  the practice of the young man and offered another
  way to interpret the last wish of Sigalas father.

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Six directions of human relations

• East parent/child
• South teacher/pupil
• West man-wife
• North friend-friend
• Nadir boss-employee
• Zenith man-religious people

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East a childs expression of love to parents

• having been supported by parents, in return give
  them support
• assist them in their work
• keep up the honor and family tradition
• making oneself deserve for heritage
• offering merit to them after their death

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East parents expression of love to a child

• keeping him/her from evil
• training him/her in virtue
• giving him/her education
• giving him/her advice for marriage
• inherit him/her wealth in proper time

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South pupils love is properly expressed

• rising to greet him/her
• waiting upon him/her
• enthusiastic to learn from him/her
• rendering him/her personal services
• attentively learning arts and science

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South teachers love to pupils

• training them to their best
• making sure that they master the lessons
• thoroughly instructing them in arts and science
• introducing them to friends and companions for
  further training
• providing security and safety for them in all
  quarters

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West mans love to his wife

• honoring her in public
• never look down upon her
• faithful to her
• authorizing her power in domestic affairs
• buying her ornaments from time to time

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West wifes love to her man

• manage all the household works with efficiency
• being hospitable to his relatives
• faithful to him
• take good care of things he brings home
• industrious and skillful in all her duties

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North friends love is expressed

• being generous
• speaking kind words
• helping them on their works welfare
• treating them on equal terms
• being sincere to them

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North a friends return of love

• protect him/her when he/she is off his/her guard
• taking care of his/her property when he/she
  cannot
• offering him/her a refuge when needed
• never leave him/her in time of trouble
• respect his/her relatives

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Nadir bosss responsibilities to employees

• assigning them jobs according to their strength
  (skill)
• giving them proper food and wages
• caring for their health
• sharing with them the gains
• giving them holidays and leave in proper occasions

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Nadir employees services to their boss

• start work before him/her
• rest after him/her
• take only what is given from him/her
• responsible for their assignment
• spreading his/her good name

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Zenith mans respect to his religious people

• being kind to them in action
• being kind to them with words
• being kind to them in thoughts
• welcome them at home
• supply them material needs

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Zenith religious peoples treatment for a layman

• protecting him from evil
• encouraging him to do good
• being kind to him
• teaching him what he has not learned
• updating what he had learned
• showing the way to heaven

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Six faces of doom

• addiction to intoxication (alcohol)
• roaming the street in the night hours
• frequenting entertainment shows
• indulgence in gambling
• associating with bad people
• laziness

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Four kinds of false friends

• opportunistic
• minimizing his lost
• maximizing his gain
• not available when needed
• volunteer to help only in trouble
• boaster
• flatterer
• evil companion

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Four kinds of true friends

• sponsor
• companion in crisis
• good counselor
• sympathizer

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Wealth allocation

• money should be divided into four equal parts
• one quarter for personal spending
• two quarters for investment
• one quarter, saving for rainy days

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Five immoral businesses

• trading of weapon
• trading of human beings
• trading of flesh (animals for slaughtering)
• trading of intoxication
• trading of poison

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