What is Buddhist law?

Answer 1

Don't speak divisively.

Don't speak abusively.

Don't engage in idle chatter.

Don't tell lies.

Abandon greed.

Abandon ill will.

Cultivate right views.

Don't kill.

Don't steal.

Answer 2

In Theravada Buddhism, any person who has awakened from the "sleep of ignorance" (by directly realizing the true nature of reality), without instruction, and teaches it to others is called a Buddha, while those who achieve realisations but do not teach others are called Pratyekabuddhas. All traditional Buddhists agree that Shakyamuni or Gotama Buddha was not the only Buddha: it is generally taught that there have been many past Buddhas and that there will be future Buddhas too. If a person achieves this awakening, he or she is called an arahant. Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, is thus only one among other buddhas before or after him. [24] His teachings are oriented toward the attainment of this kind of awakening, also called liberation, or Nirvana. Part of the teachings ascribed to the Buddha regarding the holy life and the goal of liberation is constituted by the "The Four Noble Truths", which focus on dukkha, a term that refers to suffering or the unhappiness ultimately characteristic of unawakened, worldly life. The Four Noble Truths regarding suffering state what is its nature, its cause, its cessation, and the way leading to its cessation.[25] This way to the cessation of suffering is called "The Noble Eightfold Path", which is one of the fundamentals of Buddhist virtuous or moral life. Numerous distinct groups have developed since the passing of the Buddha, with diverse teachings that vary widely in practice, philosophical emphasis, and culture. However, there are certain doctrines that are common to the majority of schools and traditions in Buddhism, though only Theravada regards all of them as central. Few valid generalizations are possible about all Buddhists.[26] The Top 5 are 1. No Killing any living organism 2.No Robbing, stealing, etc. 3.No Sexual misconduct (doctors and patients, teachers and students etc.) 4.No Lying 5. No Drinking wine or beer

Answer 3

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The Eight Precepts are the precepts for Buddhist lay men and women who wish to practice a bit more strictly than the usual five precepts for Buddhists. The eight precepts focus both on avoiding morally bad behaviour, and on leading a more ascetic lifestyle. The five precepts, however, focus only on avoiding morally bad behaviour.

In Theravada Buddhist countries such as Sri Lanka and Thailand, Buddhist laymen and laywomen will often spend one day a week (on the Uposatha days: the new moon, first-quarter moon, full moon and last-quarter moon days) living in the monastery, and practicing the eight precepts. The Buddha gave teachings on how the eight precepts are to be practiced,[1] and on the right and wrong ways of practicing the eight precepts.[2] # I undertake to abstain from taking life (both human and nonhuman). # I undertake to abstain from taking what is not given (stealing). # I undertake to abstain from all sexual activity. # I undertake to abstain from telling lies. # I undertake to abstain from using intoxicating drinks and drugs which lead to carelessness. # I undertake to abstain from eating at the wrong time (the right time is eating once, after sunrise, before noon). # I undertake to abstain from singing, dancing, playing music, attending entertainment performances, wearing perfume, and using cosmetics and garlands (decorative accessories). # I undertake to abstain from luxurious places for sitting or sleeping.

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| The Five Precepts (Pali: Pañcasīla, Sanskrit: Pañcaśīla Ch: 五戒,Cantonese: Ng Gye, Mandarin: wǔ jiè, Japanese: go kai, Sinhala: පන්සිල්, Thai: ศีลห้า) constitute the basic Buddhist code of ethics, undertaken by lay followers of the Buddha Gautama in the Theravada and Mahayana traditions. The laity undertake to follow these training rules at the same time as they become Buddhists, taking refuge in the Triple Gem: In the Buddha (teacher), in the Dharma (teaching) and thirdly in the Sangha (community of monks and nuns). In Mahayana countries a lay practitioner who has undertaken the precepts is called an Upasaka. In Theravada countries any lay follower is in theory called an upasaka (or upasika, feminine), though in practice everyone is expected to take the precepts anyway. The Buddha is said to have taught the five precepts out of compassion, and for the betterment of society. Thus they are to be undertaken voluntarily rather than as commandments from a god. The precepts are intended to help a Buddhist live a less complicated life, so that they can progress more easily on the Path. The Buddha said that undertaking the precepts is a gift to oneself and others [1]. He also described the rewards of following the precepts [2] and the negative consequences of breaking the precepts [3]. The following are the five precepts rendered in English and then Pali. # I undertake the precept to refrain from taking the life (killing) of living beings.

Pānātipātā veramani sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi # I undertake the precept to refrain from stealing. (lit. "taking what is not offered")

Adinnādānā veramani sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi # I undertake the precept to refrain from sexual misconduct (adultery, rape, exploitation, etc).

Kāmesu micchācāra veramani sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi # I undertake the precept to refrain from false speech (lying).

Musāvāda veramani sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi # I undertake the precept to refrain from intoxicants which lead to heedlessness. (Can include intoxicating ideas)

Surā meraya majja pamādatthānā veramani sikkhāpadam samādiyāmi The precepts are often misunderstood by both "Buddhists" and "non-Buddhists". In the written form, the precepts appear to be similar to the Christian commandments. However, the first precept for example does not mean thou shall not kill. Rather, the precept of not killing highlights with deeper understanding that one cannnot see things in these terms. That is to say one cannot find anything fixed to call a victim, nor a specific entity that one can call a killer. In fact, one can find nothing fixed at all. It is this flux that the precepts point to. By engaging these precepts, one is engaging in the effort to be awake in the non conceptual, non dualistic reality. for more info,go to link "Buddhanet Audio" on left then click "Narration" |}

Answer 4

Guatama Buddha told his followers to not just do whatever he told them to, but to listen to his teachings and then meditate on them, and come to the truth about the best way to act themselves. So there aren't really Buddhist "laws", although many cultures which are predominantly Buddhist have laws based on Buddhist concepts. The Buddha did offer some precepts that guide how we should behave in order to more skillfully find our way to enlightenment. The most basic of these are:

Don't kill.

Don't steal.

Don't engage in illicit sex.

Don't speak divisively.

Don't speak abusively.

Don't engage in idle chatter.

Don't tell lies.

Abandon greed.

Abandon ill will.

Cultivate right views.

Answer 5

I suppose one could say that "the law of the Buddha" is the law of kamma (karma), the law of cause and effect. Good actions have beneficial effects, bad actions have detrimental effects.

Answer 6

A+ls its dharma

Answer 7

dharma