AQA · GCSE · Religious Studies
Course version: 8062 · Version from Sept 2018
Buddhism - 3.1.1.2 Practices: morality
Morality (Sila) is a fundamental practice in Buddhism, forming a core section of the Eightfold Path through Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood.
Checked against the AQA 8062 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 25 of 29
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Morality (Sila) is a fundamental practice in Buddhism, forming a core section of the Eightfold Path through Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood. It provides the ethical foundation required for meditation and wisdom. Buddhists cultivate morality by observing the Five Moral Precepts, which include abstaining from taking life, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, and intoxicants. In Mahayana Buddhism, morality is also one of the Six Perfections (Paramitas) that a Bodhisattva develops to achieve enlightenment. Practising morality is not about following strict commandments, but rather undertaking voluntary training rules to reduce suffering (dukkha) and generate positive kamma, ultimately moving closer to Nibbana.
What earns the marks
- Identify morality (Sila) as a key division of the Eightfold Path, encompassing Right Speech, Action, and Livelihood.
- Explain the role of the Five Moral Precepts as voluntary training principles rather than divine commandments.
- Describe how practising morality generates positive kamma and reduces suffering (dukkha) for oneself and others.
- Recognise morality as one of the Six Perfections (Paramitas) in Mahayana Buddhism, essential for the Bodhisattva path.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Describing the Precepts as strict laws or commandments from the Buddha.
Put it right: Explain that they are voluntary training rules undertaken by individuals to aid their spiritual development.
Confusing morality with wisdom or meditation in the Eightfold Path.
Put it right: Clearly categorise Right Speech, Action, and Livelihood under morality (Sila), distinct from meditation (Samadhi) and wisdom (Panna).
Stating that breaking a precept results in divine punishment.
Put it right: Clarify that breaking precepts results in negative kamma and increased suffering, not punishment from a god.
Exam tips
- Use the Pali term 'Sila' alongside the English word 'morality' to demonstrate precise subject knowledge.
- Link the practice of morality directly to the concept of kamma and the ultimate goal of reaching Nibbana.
- When evaluating the importance of morality, contrast it with meditation to discuss which practice might be more crucial for a Buddhist.
Try the lesson
The start of the Buddhism - 3.1.1.2 Practices: morality lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
What does the perfection of morality (sila) primarily involve in Buddhist practice?
Listen
Morality (Sila) is a fundamental practice in Buddhism, forming a core section of the Eightfold Path through Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood. It provides the ethical foundation required for meditation and wisdom. Buddhists cultivate morality by observing the Five Moral Precepts, which include abstaining from taking life, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, and intoxicants. In Mahayana Buddhism, morality is also one of the Six Perfections (Paramitas) that a Bodhisattva develops to achieve enlightenment. Practising morality is not about following strict commandments, but rather undertaking voluntary training rules to reduce suffering (dukkha) and generate positive kamma, ultimately moving closer to Nibbana. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identify morality (Sila) as a key division of the Eightfold Path, encompassing Right Speech, Action, and Livelihood. Explain the role of the Five Moral Precepts as voluntary training principles rather than divine commandments. Describe how practising morality generates positive kamma and reduces suffering (dukkha) for oneself and others. Recognise morality as one of the Six Perfections (Paramitas) in Mahayana Buddhism, essential for the Bodhisattva path. A common slip: Describing the Precepts as strict laws or commandments from the Buddha. Instead, Explain that they are voluntary training rules undertaken by individuals to aid their spiritual development. Exam tip: Use the Pali term 'Sila' alongside the English word 'morality' to demonstrate precise subject knowledge.
Key words
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Sila (Ethics)
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The Eightfold Path
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The Five Moral Precepts
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See every definition
- Sila (Ethics)
- Morality forming a core section of the Eightfold Path through Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood, providing the ethical foundation required for meditation and wisdom.
- The Eightfold Path
- Path whose core section is morality, comprising Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood.
- The Five Moral Precepts
- Voluntary training rules observed by Buddhists, including abstaining from taking life, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech and intoxicants.
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