PHL 245 - Buddhist Ethics

Course Units: 1

(Fall; Nowakowski) Ethics is one of the three main components of the Buddhist path, the others being meditation and wisdom. In the centuries following the Buddha’s death, two main branches of Buddhism developed: Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. The older school, Theravada, emphasized moral guidelines and meditation practices that culminate in nirvana; the Mahayana school emphasized a morality of compassion and a metaphysical theory of emptiness. In the contemporary period, Buddhists are concerned about issues relating to the environment, social justice, war, medicine and health, gender, and race. Buddhist ethical theories emphasize selflessness, moral discipline, compassion, karma and awareness. This course draws from ancient ethical texts as well as contemporary works on applying basic Buddhist principles to today’s moral problems. CC: HUM, LCC