1. Wall Boards a) What is meant by the Threefold Way? b) What is the Eightfold Path? c) Explain what Buddhists mean by: 1. Right Intention 2. Right Speech 3. Right Action 4. Right Livelihood Use an example.

2. T HE THREEFOLD WAY Linking thoughts and actions. Wisdom Putting beliefs into action. Morality Training mind to have correct thoughts & beliefs. Meditation

3. THE NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH Right View Right Intention Wisdom Right Speech Right Action Right Livelihood Morality Right Effort Right Mindfulness Right Concentration Meditation These are not to be seen in isolation.

4. Think of a time when your intentions had been good but things didn’t work out like you had planned…

5. When was the last time you hurt someone with your words?

6. When was the last time you hurt someone with your actions?

7. What kind of career would you like to have in the future? What might a Buddhist feel about this livelihood?

8. REAL-TIME TEST 1. Rule for all Theravada Buddhists 2. Rule for Theravada monastics only 3. Expelled from Theravada Buddhism! a) To eat untimely meals b) To have sex c) To watch TV d) To lie e) To claim enlightenment and not be f) To wear perfume g) To handle money

9. precept noun A general rule intended to regulate behaviour or thought. "the legal precept of being innocent until proven guilty"

10. If you had to come up with 5 Precepts what would they be? Explain your own reasoning. Evaluate others.

11. If a Buddhist had to come up with 5 Precepts what would they be? Explain your own reasoning. Evaluate others.

12. 1. Do not take life 2. Do not take what is not given 3. Do not distort fact 4. Refrain from misuse of the senses (sensual desire) 5. Refrain from self-intoxication through alcohol or drugs THE 5 PRECEPTS from Buddhism

13. Vote with your feet The 5 Precepts are a sound basis for living a good life.

14. THE MEANS (6) Which practices help to achieve the goals? Human beings progress towards Enlightenment by following the Eightfold Path.

15. The Noble Eightfold Path — focus on Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood; the Threefold Way. Ethics — the Five Precepts in principle and practice; the Bodhisattva and Arhat ideals. Meditation and worship — purpose and practice. (The differences in Theravada and Mahayana practice should be addressed). T HE M EANS (6)

16. B UDDHIST E THICS Buddha gave advice on what is harmful and should be avoided. Buddhist rules are never dogmatic or rigid. General feeling of moral tolerance because kamma will ‘balance’ everything. Buddhist ethics can be divided into: guidelines for lay people guidelines for monastics

17. LAY MORALITY - Theravada As well as taking the Three Refuges, lay people can choose to take one or several of the Five Precepts. These are the basic moral guidelines that underpin the Buddhist way of life: 1. Do not take life 2. Do not take what is not given 3. Do not distort fact 4. Refrain from misuse of the senses 5. Refrain from self-intoxication through alcohol or drugs

18. What do you think might be some similarities and differences between lay and monastic morality in the Theravada tradition?

19. MONASTIC MORALITY - Theravada Buddhist monks and nuns have these additional rules to follow. To abstain from taking untimely meals To abstain from dancing, music, singing and watching mime To abstain from using perfumes and personal adornment To abstain from the use of high seats To abstain from handling money As a monastic there is a higher expectation placed on you with regards to your behaviour.

20. A fully ordained monk in the Theravada tradition takes 227 precepts e.g. not preaching to women alone or promising to take care of sick monks. If a monk has infringed on a rule they are expected to confess publicly to the community that is supporting them. The senior monks give punishments according to the Buddha’s teachings. MONASTIC MORALITY - Theravada

21. There are only some cases where a monk can be expelled from the monastic order and asked to disrobe: 1. sexual intercourse 2. serious theft 3. murder 4. making false claims about supernatural powers MONASTIC MORALITY - Theravada

22. What are the similarities and differences between lay and monastic morality in the Theravada tradition?

23. Ahimsa – ‘To cause no harm’ MORALITY in Theravada Buddhism

24. MONASTIC MORALITY – Theravada for the girls Buddha took a radical step by accepting women at all as monastics. In the Theravada tradition Nuns have more rules than monks which emphasises the fact that monks, no matter how young, outrank nuns.

25. REAL-TIME TEST 1. Rule for all Theravada Buddhists 2. Rule for Theravada monastics only 3. A Theravada monk will be expelled from the Sangha! a) To eat untimely meals b) To have sex c) To watch TV d) To lie e) To claim enlightenment and not be f) To wear perfume g) To handle money

26. RMPS in the news: Man walks free from death row after decades in US jail http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada- 26540910

27. E THICS – M AHAYANA TRADITION The principles for Mahayana ethics are basically the same as for Therevada. The key difference is bodhichitta : the realisation of ultimate wisdom and limitless compassion which gives rise to the path of the bodhisattva. Mahayana Buddhist also have a principle of ‘ skillful means ’ or upaya e.g. burning monk

28. E THICS – M AHAYANA TRADITION Upaya - What is morally correct will depend on the Bodhisattva making a decision based on compassion and wisdom. A bodhisattva is not necessarily constrained by the ethical guidelines of Buddhism The story of the burning house.

29. Bodhichitta – ‘enlightened mind’ (ultimate compassion and wisdom) MORALITY in Mahayana Buddhism

30. Which principle is a better one for making moral decisions? A. Ahimsa B. Bodhichitta

31. Buddhism and Capital Punishment Because Buddhism exists in many forms, under many organisations, there is no unified Buddhist policy on capital punishment. In terms of doctrine the death penalty is clearly inconsistent with Buddhist teaching. Buddhists place great emphasis on non-violence and compassion for all life. The First Precept requires individuals to abstain from injuring or killing any living creature. The Buddha did not explicitly speak about capital punishment, but his teachings show no sympathy for physical punishment, no matter how bad the crime.

32. Buddhism and Capital Punishment An action, even if it brings benefit to oneself, cannot be considered a good action if it causes physical and mental pain to another being. The Buddha If a person foolishly does me wrong, I will return to him the protection of my boundless love. The more evil that comes from him, the more good will go from me. The Buddha

33. Buddhism and Capital Punishment Buddhism believes fundamentally in the cycle of birth and re-birth (Samsara) and teaches that if capital punishment is administered it will have compromising effects on the re-birth of both offender and the punisher.

34. Buddhism and Punishment As far as punishment in this world is concerned, Buddhism has strong views: inhumane treatment of an offender does not solve their misdeeds or those of humanity in general - the best approach to an offender is reformation punishment should only be to the extent to which the offender needs to make amends, and his rehabilitation into society should be of paramount importance

35. Buddhism and Punishment As far as punishment in this world is concerned, Buddhism has strong views: punishing an offender with excessive cruelty will injure not just the offender's mind, but also the mind of the person doing the punishing it is impossible to administer severe punishment with composure and compassion if the crime is particularly serious, the person may be banished from the community or country

36. Buddhist countries and Capital Punishment Despite these teachings several countries with substantial Buddhist populations retain the death penalty, and some of them, for example Thailand, continue to use it. http://www.deathpenaltyworldwide.org/country-search- post.cfm?country=Thailand http://www.deathpenaltyworldwide.org/country-search- post.cfm?country=Thailand These are no states that have Buddhism as their official religion.

39. Buddhist countries and Capital Punishment Some suggest that this apparent paradox partly stems from the difference between popular and monastic Buddhism. The majority of lay Buddhists in these countries follow Buddhist practices and are entirely sincere in their commitment, but commentators have argued that "the genuine study of Buddhism, its rituals, and carryover to daily life is superficial for most Buddhist followers."

40. Buddhist countries and Capital Punishment Other reasons Buddhist countries retain the death penalty are: belief by politicians that capital punishment is necessary for retribution, cultural customs, or for deterrence value a long tradition of capital punishment in a particular country keeping order in society is seen as more important than Buddha's teaching reaction to long periods of political unrest or economic instability

41. RMPS in the news: CCTV footage shows policeman punching woman http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26536795 150hrs community service???