An ethical and moral life is the basis for the Buddhist model of behavior.
Respect, love and compassion are highly valued in Buddhism, and to this end,
Buddha established several guidelines to help followers stay true to the
Buddhist path.
The Noble Eightfold Path
To help followers on the path to spiritual transformation, Buddha outlined a
set of principles designed to foster moral behavior, contemplation and wisdom.
These principles are key to living the kind of life through which greater
spiritual awareness can be attained, and are called The Noble Eightfold Path:
Right understanding: knowing
the key principles of Buddhism.
Right intention: embracing an
attitude of selflessness, compassion and goodwill.
Right speech: always telling
the truth.
Right action: not hurting or
killing other living beings.
Right livelihood: avoiding
occupations that hurt other people.
Right effort: developing a
strong will that is conducive to wholesome emotional states.
Right mindfulness: being
aware of what goes on in one’s body and mind.
Right concentration: using
meditation to achieve greater mental awareness.
The Five Precepts
Central to Buddhism is the idea of living an ethical and moral life. While Buddhists
do strive for spiritual enlightenment, the primary focus is on the here and
now. It is imperative to treat others with respect, and to behave in a way that
promotes harmony among all living things. The essence of Buddhist ethics is
represented by The Five Precepts, which are recited often by Buddhists. These
precepts illustrate Buddhism’s practical nature: the focus is on the earthly
life, not on achieving salvation after death. The Buddha did see the precepts
as steps towards spiritual transformation, however, because they provided a
model for living the ideal life: