An Introduction to Buddhist Ethics: Foundations, Values and Issues

The book is organized into ten major chapters. Chapter 1 presents the shared foundations of Buddhist ethics, including karma, rebirth, the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, wholesome and unwholesome action, intention, and comparisons with Western ethical systems. Chapter 2 examines key Buddhist values such as giving, merit-sharing, the five lay precepts, monastic discipline, lovingkindness, compassion, social ethics, engaged Buddhism, political ideals, and human rights. Chapter 3 focuses on Mahāyāna ethical emphases, especially the Bodhisattva path, compassion, wisdom, bodhicitta, the perfections, skilful means, and the ethical adaptations of Tantra, Pure Land, Zen, and Nichiren Buddhism. Chapter 4 studies Buddhist attitudes toward the natural world, including animals, meat eating, animal experimentation, forests, conservation, and environmentalism. Chapter 5 discusses economic ethics, right livelihood, wealth, distribution, Buddhist economics, consumerism, capitalism, Marxism, and modern Buddhist development movements. Chapter 6 examines war and peace, non-violence, patience, forgiveness, soldiers, Buddhist involvement in violence, and Buddhist peace activism. Chapter 7 analyzes suicide and euthanasia, while Chapter 8 discusses abortion, contraception, embryonic life, and the relation between morality and law. Chapter 9 treats sexual equality, women’s spiritual potential, female arahats, women’s ordination, nuns, and laywomen. Chapter 10 studies homosexuality, sex-change, paṇḍakas, queer identities, and Buddhist cultural responses to sexuality.