Ethical teachings
Karma
Actions, and the consequences of actions. An important concept in Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism. (or Kamma) is a belief present in several Eastern philosophies, especially Hinduism. The Buddha was raised and educated in Hindu beliefs and culture. The focus here is on the Buddhist conception of karma.
Karma, which is Sanskrit for ‘action’, means that all actions have consequences. Just like seeds planted now will grow into plants in the future, all actions will yield positive or negative outcomes in the future.
In Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism, this is the cycle of life, death and rebirth. is the cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth. Buddhists aim to escape from this cycle. Rebirth brings the soul into another life of suffering. Increasing positive karma can mean a favourable rebirth in the cycle of samsara, and can even move a person a step closer to The realisation of the truth about life. In Buddhism it releases a person from the cycle of rebirth. and An indescribable state, held by Buddhists to be the ultimate goal of religious practice, involving breaking free from the cycle of samsara.. In contrast, negative karma creates negative consequences, and these can become apparent in this life or future lives.
The law of karma is a law of the universe, like gravity. Decisions are not made by an all-powerful god. Positive and negative actions automatically yield positive or negative karma.
Karuna (compassion)
Developing One of the four brahmaviharas, it means compassion or mercy. , or ‘compassion’, is one way to avoid samsara and rebirth. Karuna is the desire to see an end to all beings’ suffering. However, this is contrasted with ‘pity’, which is a desire to end others’ suffering in order to relieve one’s own sadness or discomfort. Karuna, true compassion, is a desire to relieve others’ suffering for their own sake. A person who has achieved enlightenment following the Buddha’s teaching. and In Mahayana Buddhism the bodhisattva is one who has vowed to obtain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. must attain perfect compassion.
Metta (loving kindness)
The Buddhist term for loving kindness. A pure love which is neither grasping nor possessive., or loving kindness, is another way to avoid samsara and rebirth. It involves developing an attitude of perfect love towards all others. During metta Thinking quietly as a spiritual or religious exercise. Connection of the mind and soul with the Divine using breathing and other techniques. In Buddhism, using one of a set of techniques or exercises for calming the mind, developing positive emotions and understanding the way things are., Buddhists might try to bring feelings of love and compassion to people they struggle to like. They might also try to develop universal loving kindness. Metta means finding joy in others’ happiness and involves a desire for all beings’ happiness.
In the Karaniya Metta Sutta (a Meaning ‘teachings of the elders'. It is primarily focused on the Arhat path to enlightenment. This branch of Buddhism can be found in Sri Lanka and South East Asia. scripture), a passage offers an explanation of loving kindness, or metta. It says that loving kindness is the wish that all living beings should be happy and safe. It is compared to a mother’s love for her child, where the child always comes first.
The Five Moral Precepts
The In Buddhist teachings, the Five Precepts are five guidelines for living to help achieve positive karma. , or principles for living, are rules that all Buddhists should follow, whether they have become monks/nuns or not. Underlying the Five Moral Precepts is a desire to avoid harm. The Five Moral Precepts help Buddhists to develop positive attitudes such as compassion and loving kindness, which are essential for positive karma.
The Five Moral Precepts are:
- do not harm living things
- do not take what is not given
- do not engage in sexual misconduct
- do not engage in lying or gossip
- do not take intoxicating substances
The Six Perfections, or paramitas
The word Paramita means ‘perfection’. Buddhists aim to develop the Six Perfections of character and other attributes. means ‘perfection’ or ‘completeness’. There are many references in One of the major schools of Buddhism, it includes Tibetan and Zen Buddhism. Buddhist texts to the ‘Six Paramitas’, or ‘Six Perfections’, of the character and understanding. The Theravada path seeks a total of ten perfections, including the six of Mahayana teaching.
To gain A Buddhist’s ultimate goal is to attain Buddhahood, or become a Buddha. A Buddha is an enlightened being. , a Buddhist must achieve both perfect compassion and perfect understanding. The Six Perfections offer a clear method of practising these perfections. They are:
Developing the Six Perfections
Each paramita develops a particular aspect of a Buddhist’s character or understanding. Below the Six Perfections are set out in practice. The Pali words for each paramita are given:
| GENEROSITYDana paramita | Willingness to give others what they need, whether that is time, possessions or skills; to give without regret and with joy; to give without expectation of reward. |
| MORALITYSila paramita | Following the Dhamma, or Buddha’s teaching, in all aspects, but not like a robot; working the Dhamma into daily life with intelligence and understanding. |
| PATIENCEKsanti paramita | Also translated as ‘tolerance’ or ‘endurance’. Being patient with others, enduring hardship and accepting the truth of life’s unsatisfactoriness (dukkha). |
| ENERGYVirya paramita | Dedicating oneself into attaining Buddhahood; being devoted and determined. |
| MEDITATIONDhyana paramita | Meditation is the foundation of wisdom. Inner focus and calm are essential for the deep understanding required for Buddhahood. |
| WISDOMPrajna paramita | The understanding that all existence is emptiness (sunyata) underpins all of the paramitas. This is often described as ‘unlocking understanding’ or ‘transcendent understanding’. Awareness of sunyata is achieved through the previous five paramitas. |
| GENEROSITYDana paramita |
| Willingness to give others what they need, whether that is time, possessions or skills; to give without regret and with joy; to give without expectation of reward. |
| MORALITYSila paramita |
| Following the Dhamma, or Buddha’s teaching, in all aspects, but not like a robot; working the Dhamma into daily life with intelligence and understanding. |
| PATIENCEKsanti paramita |
| Also translated as ‘tolerance’ or ‘endurance’. Being patient with others, enduring hardship and accepting the truth of life’s unsatisfactoriness (dukkha). |
| ENERGYVirya paramita |
| Dedicating oneself into attaining Buddhahood; being devoted and determined. |
| MEDITATIONDhyana paramita |
| Meditation is the foundation of wisdom. Inner focus and calm are essential for the deep understanding required for Buddhahood. |
| WISDOMPrajna paramita |
| The understanding that all existence is emptiness (sunyata) underpins all of the paramitas. This is often described as ‘unlocking understanding’ or ‘transcendent understanding’. Awareness of sunyata is achieved through the previous five paramitas. |
Question
What are karuna and metta?
Karuna is compassion and metta is loving kindness.
