Questions tagged [ethics]
Skillful and unskillful thought, speech and action. These questions include but are not limited to questions on the vinaya and precepts.
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What are the limits of Buddhist compassion?
Compassion seems to be a central insight in Buddhist thought. When someone truly grasps Buddhist ideas they find themselves de-emphasizing their own ego, and understanding that they're interconnected ...
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how to deal with dogmatic people
Quick question.
How do I deal with the kind of people who do not know THE first thing about a topic and they would pretend as if they are experts in it; and impose their opinions on the conversation ...
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True versus Correct in uttered speech
In the below passage from MN 58
In the same way, prince, the Realized One does not utter speech that he knows to be untrue, false, and pointless, and which is disliked by others.
The Realized One ...
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Answering Zizek's challenge to Buddhism
Slavoj Zizek is a little unusual I think among English-speaking philisophers, in expressing substantial sympathy for Buddhist ideas, but challenging them at a basic level. Eg
The Problems of Buddhism (...
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Is it correct view, as in renunciation, or desire, to want to die
I am not asking about depression or suicidal thoughts but the actual aspiration for this life/human experience to end.
So of course the desire for material and immaterial existence (rebirths) are ...
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In what form or fashion might it be ethical to "bestow" consciousness on an AI? A question and conversation with ChatGPT:
Given the dramatic progress in Artificial Intelligence over the last year (ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion, Bing, etc) I have been thinking about the ethical implications of attempts to replicate human-like ...
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Merit versus Virtue
What is the difference between merit and virtue from a Buddhist standpoint? Is it the difference between being and doing? Which is better from a karmic perspective? I think the idea of merit in ...
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When was *sila* first interpreted/translated as ethics?
I am curious about the idea of calling sila (all precepts and vows) as ethics. When did this translation appeared? Or who interpreted sila as ethics or something similar to ethics? This is not to say ...
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What do "contradictions" mean in Buddhist philosophy?
I read another answer here which discussed avoiding actions that lead to "contradictions" (such as lying, stealing), which are considered "evil". The answer was in response to ...
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Where does morality come from in Buddhism?
I have a hypothetical question.
Let's say I don't believe in karma, reincarnation, or any deities of any sort. I also saw in some texts and videos that, to achieve higher awareness, I should not ...
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Is exposing immoral behavior divisive speech?
Imagine a journalist writing about the crimes of a mafia boss or corruption in a dictatorial government, and other people pounce on history and share it on social media. Is what the Jornalist and/or ...
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Difference between optimism and expectation
In vipassana we are asked to be optimist. But buddha said expectation is the cause of all suffering. .
Is there any difference between expectation and optimism?
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Two contradictory passages in the Majjhima Nikaya
In MN 22 in the end of the simile of the raft the Buddha says that the arahant has relinquished both what is skillful and what is unskilful:
"Understanding the Dhamma as taught compared to a ...
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How to deal with immense guilt over past acts of cruelty? Is sincere repentance and striving really enough?
I won't go into details, but I am dealing with horrible guilt and shame over cruel acts I have committed in the past. It feels like I am now come to terms with the significance of these actions, and ...
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Are the titles “lama” and “rinpoche” given or self-proclaimed?
Are the titles “lama” and “rinpoche”, referring to a Buddhist teacher or leader, titles that are granted? Or are they titles that someone can give themselves? Or both?
By “granted” I mean they require ...
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Is identifying with the good always a problem?
When a person or a group of people identify themselves with "the good" (in opposition to "not so good" or even "the evil" of others), quite often this can lead to "...
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Is Buddhism a teaching of ethical neutrality
In situations involving lies and/or violence, does Buddhism teach siding with truth and peace against lies and violence, or does it teach ethical neutrality i.e. not taking stance on such subjects?
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False Virtue and True Virtue [closed]
Does any Buddhist school teach about False (fake, hypocritical) Virtue (goodwill, goodness)?
What it is, how common it is, how it differs from the true authentic virtue, perhaps its causes and its ...
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Sexual Misconduct involving Breast (Women)?
I have read somewhere (possibly Dalai Lama) that certain sexual activity comes under sexual misconduct (like Oral, Anal ...). So my question is whether using breast for sexual activity is considered ...
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How closely aligned are Buddhist ethics and Nietzschean values?
How closely aligned are Buddhist ethics and Nietzschean values? I know a little about both, and may even have read a comparative study (some time ago). Was hoping to harmonise them via 'karma': the ...
user19950
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Will working for a company that engages in animal experimentation to alleviate suffering of humans be wrong livelihood?
I have been lurking here for a long time, but I made an account just to ask this because I am very conflicted, and I think some of you here maybe able to help me like you have many times before ...
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Isn't giving to attain good Kamma "greedy" and therefore Unwholesome (akusala)?
I'm currently reading In the Buddha's Words by Ven. Bikkhu Bodhi. In the introduction to The Way to a Fortunate Rebirth he states that the roots of what make an action unwholesome (akusala) are:
&...
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Can someone be literally reborn in lower realms due to unskillful thoughts and emotions?
I often wonder myself if the buddhist teachings says that realms are mental states, realities based on external conditions or a combination of the two. Why is that? For example:
"There's the ...
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Did Buddha endorse caste system in kannakathala sutta
Some Brahmins say Buddha endorsed caste system in kannakathala sutta
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Are the Five Precepts a gradual training?
In this answer it's said that the Five Precepts are not a form of gradual training.
Are they are a gradual training? If not, why?
Thank you for your time.
user21421
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Compulsive desire to correct others
I'm often trying to correct others' views, opinions, and lifestyles.
I feel a strong urge to correct when their actions are clearly bringing negative consequences for themselves and others. For ...
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Is masturbation a sin when we do it to avoid intercourse with other people?
I masturbate to avoid having sex with other people. I've masturbated quite a lot. I don't want to have sexual intercourse with anyone else though I love sex. I've been keeping my body away from sexual ...
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Attitude towards harmful behaviors
Whenever I'm confronted with behaviours I find potentially harmful, I get angry. One example of this is when I witness motorists speeding or otherwise making risky maneuvers (going after the light has ...
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In Buddhist ethics, where does personal responsibility end?
Regarding the teachings on virtue, not considering the more advanced teachings (such as Dependent Origination), did the Buddha ever speak of where the sphere of personal responsibility ends?
The ...
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Is it ok to watch a media that promote homosexuality?
this is my first post
I have researched what the buddhist sutra says about Homosexuality...I found Saddhama Smrty Uposttana sutra and Upasakasila sutra that said homosexuality is sexual misconduct and ...
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Right action when being lied to
If a family member has been dishonest with me, and upon discussing the issue denies the lie, what is the best action?
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Is actively reporting wrongdoing considered divisive speech?
I've been reading through the newest version of the code of conduct of the company I work for, and I've been weighing each rule against my Buddhist ethics, and it has brought up some interesting ...
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Is this considered wrong? (Related to art)
I have a question. I like to draw, and recently think of selling my art (commisssion). But I mainly draw fanart (fanart of celebrities, movie characters, etc).
My question is, in Buddhism, is selling ...
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Is this considered sexual misconduct?
If a person have a small Buddha statue in their room and they (sorry) masturbated in that room, is it considered sexual misconduct?
Sorry if this question is unappropiate.
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How to deal with people who try to prove your compassion is fake? [closed]
Some people believe that their compassion is holier than yours. Firstly they do not understand what compassion is and Secondly they question your genuineness of compassion.
I will not explain ...
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Are accepted social norms and the law of the land moral sexual conduct according to Buddhism?
I read the following on the internet:
In my opinion, Buddha looks at sex from four angles.
Hindrance to attain Nibbana or even one-pointedness
Generally accepted social norms.
Kindness towards ...
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Vaccination, Ethics and Morals
During the present times, there is an excessive need to vaccinate people, but what I have noticed is that when one wishes to scrutinize this action, when one wants to ask viable, pertinent and ...
user17652
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Translation of Akkosa Sutta: Insult - ."He who repays an angry man in kind Is worse than the angry man"
Listed below are three translations of Akkosa Sutta provided in access to in access to insight
Which translation has the correct meaning?
The third translation is not far from the common ethics i.e., ...
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Is inventing "defensive" biological weapons right livelihood?
I read the following on the internet:
Working for DoD contractors could give a very fat paycheck. However,
there're ethical issues involved. If you decide to work for them, make
sure to make it clear ...
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There is no benefit and there is no intrinsic positive nature in a pleasant sensation
I am a beginner and I stumbled upon the sentence in a video given by a monk.
There is no benefit and there is no intrinsic positive nature in a
pleasant sensation
I will give you the context
We ...
user20021
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You are simply seeing light touching your eyes
I was listening to a buddhist monk talking about masturbation addiction and his advice about it:
When you see the human body or these sexual acts on a screen or
magazine page you are not actually ...
user20021
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How to learn to trust one's fundamental goodness?
In this answer it says "Learning to trust one's fundamental goodness" is one of the way to practise seclusion.
I want to understand what this means in context of the question on Rhinocerous ...
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How to deal with people and colleagues who are angry, complaining or seeking attention?
For some reason I'm a magnet to bad people or people who are chronic complainers or attention seekers. They often come to me when they need to talk or vent. Especially at work. I don't really want to ...
user19910
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The New Age Philosophy of Evolution stating that working towards Thoughtlessness and Nothingness is fundamentally Flawed
Though this video is in Hinglish - some casual dialogues are in Hindi but most of the conversation happens in English https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uf-eoAij5o , Anand Gandhi - Director and ...
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Wrong meanings commonly associated with the notion of Gratitude
What are the common/widespread wrong meanings that people associate with or assign to the word 'gratitude'?
As we know, the society is made up largely of families, and those in turn are made of up ...
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Is making art bad or sinful?
I would not be writing this if I had another way of knowing the answer. Unfortunately, I cannot talk to anyone due to quarantine. Even though I have thought a lot about it, I am still unsure. My ...
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For an "advanced practitioner" (sorry), how to view "addictions" (or bad habits) correctly? How to practice?
Sorry but I will talk about attainments and mention some stuff that are sometimes considered hard to get to, you are free to not read. I will probably abandon this account after this post.
Well... I'm ...
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Compassion vs the invisible hand and capitalism
Compassion and empathy encompassing all beings seems to be the Buddhist ideal. How do Buddhists reconcile this today with Adam Smith's invisible hand? I.e., the idea that following our self-interest ...
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What is prajna?
In the west, when we talk about wisdom we tend to mean knowing the value of things. As far as I tell, prajna is about emptiness, at least in its perfected aspect. So does it also allow us knowledge of ...
user2512
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What are the differences between sex cults and the tantric tradition?
What is the difference between sex cults, and the tantric tradition? I understand that the latter has a lot of tradition and ritual behind it
And while there is a strict monastic code, I imagine, in ...
user2512