BUDDHIST ETHICS (SĪLA) IN THERAVĀDA BUDDHISM

The present study argues that Buddhist ethical precepts (sīla) are the Universal law of cause and effect and fundamental principle of all Buddhist practices. Furthermore, sīla is the first in the sequence of threefold trainings (ti-sikkhā), the other being samādhi (concentration), and paññā (wisdom). It is with the practice of sīla that one is expected to gain samādhi, and with the development of samādhi, paññā is gained, which is to see things in its reality. Sīla is categorized into three themes, namely: Five Ethical Precepts (pañca-sīla), Eight Ethical Precepts (aṭṭha-sīla) and Ten Ethical Precepts (dasa-sīla). Buddhist Ethical Precepts are not a mandatory like the other religious laws and teachings. It occurs naturally, and is not promulated by any gods. Therefore, there is no reward or punishment from any gods either for breaking or observing it. According to Buddhist teaching, the ethical precepts are concerned with everyone regardless of race, nation, religion, colour, sex, caste and belief. To put it in another way, the teachings of the Buddha is like a lamp.