How do Buddhists Live?

Ethics

The teaching of the Buddha also includes practical teaching about how people should live their lives and what Buddhists should avoid. These are known as The Five Precepts.

The Five Precepts

The Five Precepts are guidance to help Buddhists avoid creating suffering in the world.
They offer guidance on violence, theft, relationships, lying, and drugs.

No killing or causing harm to any living being

Violence causes suffering to the victim and their loved ones.
It also damages the violent person because over time they may become angry or frightened.
These are negative emotions, and Buddha teaches that the person needs to let them go.

Not taking what is not given

Stealing indicates two struggles in the thief. They are jealous, and they are overcome with desire.
As we have seen, both of these things cause a person to suffer because they focus on things that are not permanent.
The victim also suffers, especially if it was something they needed such as money to buy food.

Avoiding sexual misconduct

Buddhist monks and nuns do not have sex. Most Buddhists live family lives where they get married and have children.
What is important is that those relationships are acts of love, not acts that cause others to suffer.
Rape is an example of an interaction that is harmful because it denies the other person’s freedom and choice.
Buddha teaches that the state of mind of someone who commits sexual misconduct is not healthy because the mind lacks control and focuses on harming others.

Avoiding false speech

We can also cause harm through our words.
If we tell lies about someone we can harm their reputation. Some people try to hurt others by finding ways to insult them, which can cause distress.
This is also a problem for the person who tells lies. They need to consider why they would want to say hurtful things.
This may be because they are angry, which is a negative emotion in some cases.

Abstaining from drink and drugs

The Buddha recognised that alcohol and drugs can be harmful by causing a person to lose control of what they do.
They also cloud the mind, when enlightenment can only be achieved with a mind that is calm and clear.

Karma

Bad actions are ones that are ill-considered and unkind.
They cause suffering which has bad consequences. It can affect how our life unfolds, and it can also carry those consequences into the next life.
This is because bad actions damage the mind and can cause us to see life in a negative way. Performing good actions can help to make us happy and positive.

1Year 7

1.1Origins of Abrahamic Faith

1.2Judaism

1.2.1The Nature of God

1.2.2Creation

1.2.3What Do Jews Believe?

1.2.4Moses

1.2.5Abraham & Moses

1.2.6Tenakh & Talmud

1.2.7Rabbis & Rabbinic Literature

1.2.8The Jewish Scriptures - The Written Law

1.2.9The Jewish Scriptures - The Oral Law

1.2.10The Tradition of Discussion & Debate

1.2.11Orthodox Judaism

1.2.12Reform Judaism

1.2.13The Daily Practices of Orthodox & Reform Jews

1.2.14Morality & Living a Good Life

1.2.15Ethical Duties of Jews

1.2.16Prayer & Acts of Worship

1.2.17Written & Oral Jewish Law

1.2.18Afterlife

1.2.19The First Temple

1.2.20The Tabernacle's Journey & End

1.2.21Orthodox & Reform Synagogues

1.2.22The Daily Service

1.2.23What is Shabbat?

1.2.24Traditional Rituals for Shabbat

1.2.25What is Pesach?

1.2.26What is Yom Kippur?

1.2.27How Have Jews Been Persecuted?

1.2.28The Persecution of the Jews Throughout History

1.2.29The Black Death

1.2.30Antisemitism in Nazi Germany

1.2.31Antisemitism in Nazi Germany 2

1.2.32The Holocaust

1.2.33Genocide

1.2.34How the Holocaust has Impacted the Jewish Identity

1.2.35Holocaust Memorial

1.2.36Global Diversity of Jews

1.2.37Jewish Practices

1.2.38Jewish Celebrations & Rituals

1.3Christianity

1.4Buddhism

1.4.1Religion in India

1.4.2The Caste System

1.4.3Meditation

1.4.4Caste & Religion

1.4.5Puja

1.4.6Karma & the Cycle of Rebirth