How to lead a Buddhist life 1: Why virtue?

Dhr. Seven, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Ashley Wells (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

The fundamental message of Buddhism or "Awakenism" (of all previous and future buddhas or "supremely awakened teachers") was summarized by Shakyamuni Buddha.

He was the Scythian prince who became an enlightened world teacher (Dharma-chakra-vartin or dhamma-cakka-vati), in The Dhammapada ("Dharma-path"):

To refrain from doing any harm,

To cultivate all that is good,

To purify one's mind --

This is the teaching of all buddhas.

Goddess of Compassion Kwan Yin (123Chic)

The instruction is simple, which does not of course mean the practice of it is easy. Even a 7-year-old child knows this much, which is not to say that child can practice it. Not at 17, not at 27, maybe never.

Even a 100-year-old can hardly manage to put it into practice in daily life.

Virtue (sila) is the preliminary stage on the path-to-enlightenment whether as a disciple (savaka, "hearer"), the fully awakened (arahant), or as a supremely-awakened teacher (buddha).

It is a necessary but insufficient condition, a foundation for the unification of mind (samadhi, "concentration") and wisdom (prajna or vipassana, "insight") essential for liberation.

Virtue in Buddhism is practical, ethical, and based on personally-verifiable individual experience in this very life.

It is regarded as the one of the world's best moral codes ever taught, for it avoids extremes on both sides. What is the criteria of "virtue" in Buddhism?

In one admonition given by the historical Buddha Gautama to his son, Rahula the new and very young monk, an answer is discernible:

"Rahula, if there is a deed that you wish to do, first reflect: 'Is this deed conducive to my harm, to another's harm, or to the harm of both?' If so then this is an unprofitable deed (unskillful karma) leading to suffering (ill, woe, disappointment) when it eventually comes to fruition. From such a deed (an act of karma), wishing to avoid suffering, you should desist.'

"If, however, there is a [skillful] deed you wish to do, first reflect: 'Is this deed neither conducive to my harm, to another's harm, nor to the harm of both?' If so this is a profitable deed leading to happiness (peace of mind, calm, satisfaction) when it eventually comes to fruition. Such a deed do again and again."

So Buddhists take into consideration the interests of everyone involved -- oneself, the other, and "both" [the collective or everyone impacted, which includes future generations, animals, unseen beings, and the environment.]

To better understand this standard of virtue, one may study the Dhammapada, the collection of Buddhist aphorisms preceded by their origin story.

Many other sutras (discourses) are also very helpful. The most useful to lay Buddhists is the "Advice to Householders" (Sigalovada Sutra), the "layperson's code of ethics," a discourse with additional fragments that form a long sutra explaining the reciprocal duties of everyone in society, our:

• children (like Sigala),
• parents,
• teachers,
• monastics,
• bosses,
• workers,
• servants, and
• friends (good and bad).

Also see:

• Vyagghapajja Sutra
• Mangala Sutra
• Mutta Sutra
• Parabhara Sutra
• Vassla Sutra
• Dhammika Sutra
• suttacentral.org is excellent for translations