1. Buddhism and Ethics on WarfareBy
Luke Mythen
Dominic Kidney

2. Buddhist View on War
Keown (2005) discusses that Buddhist believe in a pacifist way of life; violence is not excepted within Buddhism.
One of the main goals of following Buddhism is to cultivate limitless compassion and goodwill to all living beings.

3. What do you see in this picture?

4. Buddhist Ethics
Buddhist ethics can be described as traditionally based on what Buddhists view as the enlightened perspective of the Buddha.
These can also be the values and opinions held by Buddhists on various ethical dilemmas so that one can achieve Buddhahood/Nirvana.
Furthermore, these ethics can be found in various Buddhists scriptures that have been held sacred by Buddhists for centuries.

5. The 5 Precepts…
The 5 Precepts can be described as Buddhist practice that involve living an ethically/morally good life in order to abstain from harming any living thing.
They include:
1. Do not kill
2. Do not steal
3. Do not indulge in sexual misconduct
4. Do not indulge in false speech
5. Do not indulge in intoxicants

6. ‘Do not kill’ applied to Warfare
Can be further explained from Pali translation ‘veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami’ which relates to abstaining from taking life.
Within warfare it is apparent that lives are taken in times of conflict for various reasons, many would state in wars such as World War two a lives can be taken in order to defeat an evil tyrant.
However Buddhist would disagree with this as it contradicts the first Precept and also Right Livilihood as it is performing an act that is un-ethical and harmful to life.
Buddhism teaches that killing is a moral wrong; it is not acceptable even in self defence (Keown., 2005).

7. Example… Tich Quang Duc

8. Buddhist Belief on Causation
Keown (2005) argues that Buddhists believe the cause of War and conflict derive in creating boundaries amongst people.
Therefore this can further explain the fact that Buddhist ethics would disagree with war in any circumstance even if the majority even if it could be argued that it is for a ‘Just Cause’.

9. Any Questions?