Question 1

What are the Five Precepts in Buddhism?

Accepted Answer

The Five Precepts are foundational ethical guidelines for lay Buddhists. They involve training oneself to abstain from: harming living beings, taking what is not given, sexual misconduct, false speech, and intoxicating substances that cloud the mind. They are not commandments but voluntary vows undertaken to support mindfulness and compassion. Each precept has both a negative aspect (abstaining) and a positive counterpart (e.g., cultivating loving‑kindness and generosity), helping Buddhists reduce suffering and create good karma.

Question 2

How does karma work in Buddhist ethics?

Accepted Answer

Karma in Buddhism is the law of moral cause and effect, where intentional actions (through body, speech, or mind) have consequences that shape one’s future experiences and rebirths. Wholesome (kusala) actions, rooted in non‑greed, non‑hatred, and non‑delusion, lead to happiness and good rebirths; unwholesome actions produce suffering. The key factor is intention (cetanā) – an accidental harmful act carries far less karmic weight than a deliberate one. Understanding karma encourages mindful ethical choices because present conduct determines future outcomes.

Question 3

Do Buddhists have strict rules like the Ten Commandments?

Accepted Answer

Buddhism does not have a fixed set of divine commandments. The closest equivalent is the Five Precepts for laypeople and the many additional rules for monastics (Vinaya). However, these are seen as training principles voluntarily adopted, not dictates from a creator God. Their observance varies; laypeople may not keep all precepts perfectly, and the focus is on gradual cultivation of virtue. In Mahayana Buddhism, the precepts can even be interpreted flexibly through skilful means (upāya) if motivated by great compassion.

Question 4

How does Buddhist ethics view abortion?

Accepted Answer

Buddhist views on abortion are complex. The first precept, ‘to abstain from taking life’, is generally applied to unborn beings, so most traditional schools see abortion as unwholesome because it involves intentional killing, which generates negative karma. However, many Buddhists recognise difficult circumstances and stress compassion for the mother. In some Mahayana contexts, if the pregnancy severely threatens the mother’s life, abortion might be seen as the least harmful action. Ultimately, intention and the absence of malice are the deciding factors in assessing karmic weight.

Question 5

What is the difference between metta and karuna?

Accepted Answer

Mettā (loving‑kindness) is the wish for all beings to be happy and safe, a boundless, impartial goodwill. Karuṇā (compassion) is the response to suffering – the desire to alleviate the pain of others. While mettā is an open‑hearted attitude of friendliness, karuṇā actively seeks to help. Both are cultivated through meditation (e.g., mettā bhāvanā) and underpin Buddhist ethics: mettā prevents harming, karuṇā motivates helping. Together they counteract anger, cruelty, and indifference.

Question 6

Why is intention so important in Buddhist ethics?

Accepted Answer

The Buddha taught that ‘mind precedes all mental states’ (Dhammapada v.1), meaning intention (cetanā) is the driving force behind actions and determines their moral value. Even an outwardly harmful act may have less negative karma if the intention was genuinely compassionate (e.g., a surgeon causing pain to heal). Conversely, a seemingly good act done with selfish motives is tainted. This emphasis on intention makes Buddhist ethics deeply psychological and flexible, focusing on inner purity rather than mere rule‑keeping.

Buddhist ethics

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Examiner Tips for Buddhist ethics

Common Mistakes in Buddhist ethics

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