Buddhist veiws

Buddhist veiws

1. Buddhist believe that there are 2 main sources of suffering. Natural and moral. Moral is the one regarding man

   • Greed, anger and ignorance are the three things that Buddhists believe that cause suffering. They also stop people from reaching enlighnetment
     • However it is a natural thing in life as Siddhartha found out when he left his home and saw suffering in the outside.
     • "But this present generation takes delight in attachment, is excited by it, enjoys it." Ayacana Sutta

2. As for punishment and crime Buddhist do believe in compassion to other men. However they do see that some do cause harms to others, so they do believe in punishment however they don't in inhumane punishment and prefer to reform the criminal instead.

   • Five Precepts teach Buddhist to not kill, stealing and sexual misconduct.
   • Some Buddhist countries still have capital punishment as the politicians believe it is good for deterrence and retribution. However it is very criticised by many Buddhists.
     • "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." The Buddha

3. Buddhist believe that life starts at conception and that birth is part of a never ending cycle of life and death, therefore Buddhist don't really support abortion.

   • Goes against the first percept of not killing a living being. Furthermore Tibetan Buddhists believe that it wastes human rebirth
   • "I think abortion should be approved of or disapproved of according to each circumstance". Dalai Lama, 1993
     • This has a bad karma therefore most Buddhist countries do not allow abortions.

4. Similarly euthanasia is not encouraged as it again goes against the first percept. “I undertake to abstain from taking life.”

   • Buddhists believe that suffering before death is because of bad karma, therefore it might be bad for the person who helps for their karma and also for the person who receives the euthanasia, as they might be punished with something worse than re-birth.

5. As for a multicultural society Buddhist support this kind of society as they believe that prejudice come from ignorance. Furthermore the Buddha was born in a world that had the cast system, something that Buddhism doe not support

   • Ignorance and craving caused by prejudice causes suffering (dukkha).
   • They believe in equanimity, this is the belief that all people are equal. Furthermore every human is able to achieve enlightenment, therefore things like culture, race, sexuality, beliefs, etc. do not matter as they do not matter after enlightenment.
   • The Dalai Lama states that this world and society that only through love can we cure many of the world's problems. He preaches about removing prejudice and hate in the world.