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Mahapanaya Vidayalai
An Affiliated Institute of MCU
Semester I
2011
Part VII
Buddhism perspective on Common social practices
Substances Abuse (Alcohol or drug or Smoking)
Symptoms
•An inability to adequately take care of your responsibilities
•The frequent use of substances in situations where it might be
dangerous to do so
•Repeated legal problems due to substance use
•The continued use of substances even though the substance
use is causing considerable problems in your life.
History of substance abuse
Ancient period: Alcoholic by Neolithic period, Egypt, China, India.
Religion purpose. Smoking in Maya civilization, Cannabis is popular in
middle east and Drugs like Marijuana was used in 2000 BC.
Middle Period: Colonization period: Alcoholism and Smoking were
increased dramatically.
Modern Period: Increase of modern drugs abuse: LCD, Opium,
Heroin, Cocaine
Disadvantage of Drugs abuse: Health, Society, Family, Country,
Ethics, Moral values
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people or groups that
creates kinship. It is an institution relationships which are acknowledged in
variety ways.
Types of Marriage in Hindu text: Brahma, Daivya, Rishis, Prajapati, Asura,
Gandharva, Rakshawa, Pichacha
Polygamy exists in three specific forms: polygyny - wherein a man has
multiple simultaneous wives; polyandry - wherein a woman has multiple
simultaneous husbands; or group marriage - wherein the family unit consists
of multiple husbands and multiple wives.
Same-sex marriage (also known as gay marriage) is marriage between
two persons of the same biological sex or social gender.
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual
services to another person in return for payment. People who
execute such activities are called prostitutes. Prostitution is
one of the branches of the sex industry. The legal status of
prostitution varies from country to country, from being a
punishable crime to a regulated profession. Estimates place
the annual revenue generated from the global prostitution
industry to be over $100 billion.
Social violence
Domestic violence
Sexual harassment
 Rape
 Riot
 Vigilantism
 Family split
Suicide
Terrorism etc.
Buddhism Perspective
Buddhism is often criticized as a religion that, being mainly
concerned with personal salvation, lacks a social ethics.
It is well-known that Buddhism is the most ethical of "religions". An
important part of the Noble Eightfold Path relates to the development of
ethical conduct;
There is not really any ‘good’ and ‘bad’ in Buddhism; there are just actions
that bring us greater happiness and those that bring us greater pain.
Buddhism views human psychology as being mostly driven by two innate
impulses : desire, or attraction [craving] and repulsion or aversion [hatred].
Ten Akusala Kamma or Ten Evil Deeds
1. Physical deed -three(3)
i) Killing -ending the life of another living being
ii) Stealing - robbing of others’ property or belongings
iii) Unchaste – non confining to one’s own wife/husband or children
2. By word or speech –four (4)
iv) Lying -telling the untruth
v) Slandering – talk ill of others
vi) Harsh speech - using bad words or abusive language
vii) Frivolous talk – utterly vain speech (useless or empty talk)
3. By thought (mind) – three (3)
viii) Avidyaa or Abhijjaa (Covetousness) – delusion or not seeing the truth.
ix) Vyaapaada (Illwill) – hatred, resentment and anger.
x) Michchaaditthi (False view) – living with false concepts.
Five Abuses
1. Killing any living beings, harming, battering, beating
2. Stealing, robbing, cheating, wrong living.
3. Raping, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct
4. Telling lies, using harsh words, using malicious words and talking uselessly.
5. Consuming drugs, drinking alcohol, other addictions.
Physical abuse such as kicking, punching, biting, slapping, strangling, choking. In
Buddhism, these matters are absolutely wrong. Following the first precept, which
doesn’t allow us to kill, batter, beat or harm others.
Psychological abuse such as intimidation, verbal abuse, humiliation, putdowns,
ridiculing, threats, threatening to hurt victim's family and children. In Buddhism, those
acts are considered as mental violence. Perpetrators have lost their mindfulness,
consciousness and like to act for their own entertainment. It is mostly caused by their
bad habit or alcohol addiction. This is misconduct of the fourth or fifth precept.
Sexual abuse such as rape, forms of sexual assault such as forced masturbation,
sexual humiliation, refusing to use contraceptives and coerced abortions. These acts
are wrong and breaks the third precept which prohibits sexual misconduct or sexual
harassment.
Financial/economic abuse such as withholding of money, refuse to allow victims to
open bank account, all property is in the perpetrator's name or not allowing the victims
to work.
Three Roots of Evil
Lobha : greed, desire or ambition is the cause leading
to restlessness, distress and stress when they don’t get
what they want.
Dosa : when Lobha increases, anger or hatred ignited
the mind leading to the destruction of themselves and
others.
Moha : when Dosa increases, delusion or ignorance
empowers itself making the perpetrators loss their
mindfulness, responsibility and do the evils vigorously.
Ten Kusala Kamma or Ten Good Deeds
(I)Generosity - Daana, which yields wealth.
(ii) Morality - Siila, which gives birth in noble families and in state of happiness.
(iii) Meditation - Bhaavanaa, which gives birth in Realms of Form and Formless
Realms, and which tends to gain Higher Knowledge and Emancipation.
(iv) Reverence - Apacaayana, the cause of noble parentage.
(v) Service - Veyyaavacca, which tends to produce a large retinue.
(vi) Transference of merit - Pattidaana, which serves as a cause to give in
abundance in future births.
(vii) Rejoicing in others' merit – Pattaanu Moodanaa, which is productive of
merit wherever one is born.
(viii) Hearing the Doctrine - Dhamma Savana, which promotes wisdom.
(ix) Expounding the Doctrines – Dhamma Deesanaa, which promotes wisdom.
(x) Straightening of one's own views – Ditthijju Kamma, which strengthens
one's confidence.
The Threefold Training
Training in Higher Morality or Ethics, Sila: consists of
right speech, right action and right livelihood.
 Training in Higher Mentality or Meditation, Samadhi:
consists of right effort, right mindfulness and right
concentration.
Training in Higher Wisdom or Insight, Panna: consists of
right understanding and right view.
Buddhist Perspective on Substances abuse (Alcohol or drug or
smoking)
 The
Buddha encouraged his followers to refrain from consuming any kind of intoxicant. This included
alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. These substances are said to be inconsistent with Buddhist beliefs as they
distort the mind. Buddhists regard the mind as precious; they work diligently, through meditation, to
master it.
The Buddha was against any form of alcohol consumption, even in moderation, because of the effect it
has on the mind. Mindfulness is central to Buddhist philosophy. This concept requires a constant
awareness of changes occurring in the mind and body. Mindfulness enables the individual to react wisely
to emotions and sensations when they arise. Alcohol distorts the mind and makes it impossible to
practice this tenet.
Karma is another Buddhist teaching inconsistent with the use of alcohol. The Buddha taught that each
individual must be responsible for one's own Karma. This involves being responsible for the
consequences of one's actions, speech and thoughts. Alcohol tends to encourage irresponsibility. It is
possible to generate much negative karma while under the influence of alcohol.
The Buddha also said: "Bhikkhus,... there are these four stains because of which samanas and
brahmans glow not, shine not, blaze not. What are these four? Drinking alcoholic beverages... indulging
in sexual intercourse... accepting gold and money... obtaining requisites through a wrong mode of
livelihood.”
Buddhism can help addicts of all kinds in various ways. Firstly, it encourages moderation, abstention
and self-control. That can lead to a degree of self-control. Secondly, it encourages a sense of self-identity
not based upon desires, but upon self-fulfillment and self-respect. A self-respect that seeks to do no
harm to oneself. It also encourages a harmless lifestyle, love, compassion and equanimity, which in turn
encourage reflection and self-analysis.
There is a story in Buddhism about a monk who came across a woman who
told her that he must either a) kill her goat b) sleep with her, or c) drink a
mug of beer (all of which are against the vows taken by Buddhist monks).
He thought to himself, well, surely if I kill the goat then I will be causing great
suffering since a living being will die. If I sleep with the woman then I will
have broken another great vow of a monk and will surely be lost to the ways
of the world. Lastly, if I drink the beer then perhaps no great harm will come
and I will only be intoxicated for a while, and most importantly I will only be
hurting myself. So the monk drank the mug of beer and then he became
very drunk. In his drunkenness he proceeded to kill the goat and sleep with
the woman, breaking all three vows and, at least in his eyes, doing much
harm in the world. The lesson of this story is that alcohol causes one to
break all of one's vows; in a sense we could say it is the cause of all other
harmful deeds.
Buddhist Perspective on Social characteristics
Capital Punishment: Buddhist is against 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.
Killing: Some religion only killing of human is sin, in Buddhism, killing all types of
living beings from knowingly or unknowingly
Sexual misconduct: sexual misconduct is that which would disrupt existing family
or love relationships. This is consonant with the general Buddhist principle that that
which causes suffering for oneself or others is unethical behavior.
Prostitution: Being a prostitute is not an obstacle to enlightenment if she is
willing and diligently practices dharma.
Domestic violence will be easily eradicated if individuals agree to live together
with loving kindness and compassion. They have to response to the Law of Kamma.
Buddhist Perspective on Social characteristics
Marriage: In Buddhism, marriage is regarded as entirely a personal, individual concern and
not as a religious duty. Even though the Buddhist texts are silent on the subject of
monogamy or polygamy, the Buddhist laity is advised to limit themselves to one wife. The
Buddha has said, "If a man can find a suitable and understanding wife and a woman can find
a suitable and understanding husband, both are fortunate indeed." According to Buddhist
teaching, in a marriage, the husband can expect the following qualities from his
wife:love/attentiveness/family obligations/ faithfulness/ child-care/ thrift/ the provision of
meals/ to calm him down when he is upset/ sweetness in everything.In return, the wife's
expectation from husband is: tenderness/courtesy/sociability/ security/ fairness/ loyalty/
honesty/ good companionship/moral support
Divorce: Men and women must have the liberty to separate if they really cannot agree with
each other. Separation is preferable to avoid miserable family life for a long period of time.
Celibacy is one of the requirements for those who like to develop their spiritual
development to perfection. However, it is not compulsory for each and every person to
observe complete celibacy in order to practice Buddhism.
Birth Control & Abortion: Although man has freedom to plan his family according to his
own convenience, abortion is not justifiable because it involves taking away or destroying a
visible or invisible life. Therefore, abortion is not justifiable.
The Sayings of the Buddha
With gentleness overcome anger. With generosity overcome meanness.
With truth overcome deceit.
The wise harm no one. They are masters of their bodies and they go to
the boundless country. They go beyond sorrow.
 All beings tremble before violence. All fear death. All love life. See
yourself in others. Then whom can you hurt?. What harm can you do?
He who seeks happiness by hurting those who seek happiness, will
never find happiness. For your brother is like you.
He wants to be happy. Never harm them and when you leave this life,
you too will find happiness.