Buddhism & Ethics | Religion, Philosophy & Ethics for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Kamma (Karma) & Rebirth

The concept of kamma

• Kamma is the foundational principle of Buddhist ethical teachings.
• The term kamma refers to an individual’s deeds or actions.
• Kamma is the Pali term, while its Sanskrit equivalent is karma.
• It embodies the belief that the intentions driving a person’s actions determine whether they experience joy or distress.
• This understanding encourages Buddhists to act in ways that foster happiness for themselves and others.
• Actions are categorized as either skilful or unskilful, distinguished by their underlying intentions and outcomes.

Actions and their results

• Consistently engaging in skilful or unskilful actions forms habits that lead to either happiness or suffering.
• For instance, habitual anger transforms someone into an angry individual.
• Anger, being an unpleasant emotion, prompts actions that cause suffering for both the individual and those around them.
  • For example, angry individuals may yell, destroy property, or create an environment others avoid.
• Kamma illustrates that individuals face consequences from their actions, not merely for them.
• As stated in the Dhammapada (verses 1-2): “If a person acts or speaks with harmful intent, suffering follows. If they act or speak with good intent, happiness follows.”

Kamma and Rebirth

• Buddhist teachings suggest that a person’s actions in their current life influence not only their present happiness or suffering but also their future existences.
• Buddhists believe in anatta, meaning there is no permanent self or soul, so a personality may transition through various states.
• Their kamma accompanies them into these rebirths.
• Individuals may undergo numerous lifetimes before attaining enlightenment, which liberates them from the cycle of samsara.
• Based on their kamma, a person may be reborn into one of six realms, as depicted in the illustration of the six realms of rebirth.
• The human realm is considered the most favorable for achieving enlightenment, as humans can cultivate skilful mental states and actions to lead happier lives.
  

Buddhist Ethics

• For Buddhists, kamma is empowering because it allows them to shape their future through their actions.
• The realization that their behavior directly affects their happiness or suffering inspires them to live more skilfully.
• This approach not only enhances their own well-being but also reduces suffering for others.
  • For example, they may assist the needy, show compassion to others, and refrain from harming animals.
• The Dhammapada (verse 127) states: “No place in the sky, sea, or mountains exists where one can escape the consequences of their harmful actions.”

Compassion (Karuna)

• Karuna is the Buddhist term for compassion, signifying a concern for others’ suffering and a desire to alleviate it.
• It involves recognizing that true happiness is impossible while others suffer.
• It also entails acknowledging one’s own suffering and practicing self-compassion.
• Karuna is a vital aspect of every Buddhist’s spiritual journey.
• It holds particular significance for Mahayana Buddhists, who view it as a crucial quality for becoming a Bodhisattva.
• Karuna is one of the four sublime states, which are qualities the Buddha taught that all Buddhists should cultivate.
• As Tenzin Gyatso, the Dalai Lama, has said: “I believe compassion is the key to a happier and more successful world at every societal level.”

The importance of Karuna in Buddhism

• Karuna is one of the four sublime states in Buddhism, guiding how Buddhists should interact with themselves and others.
• These four sublime states include:
  • Loving-kindness (Metta)
  • Compassion (Karuna)
  • Sympathetic joy – feeling joy for others’ happiness
  • Equanimity – maintaining calmness and stability in both joy and suffering
• One way Buddhists demonstrate compassion is by supporting ROKPA, a charity whose name means “help” or “friend” in Tibetan.
• Established in 1980, ROKPA undertakes projects to provide education to children and lift families out of poverty in countries like Nepal, Tibet, and Zimbabwe.
• A key goal of ROKPA is to instill the value of compassion in children, fostering a desire to help others and create a more equitable world.

Loving Kindness (Metta)

What is Metta?

Metta refers to loving-kindness, a wish for others to experience happiness and freedom from suffering. Metta cultivates happiness and peace.
Metta is characterized as:

• One of the four sublime states in Buddhism
• A warm, kind, and friendly attitude toward oneself and all beings
• A selfless wish for all beings to be happy and free from suffering, without expecting reciprocation
• An attitude that persists even toward those who act unskilfully

The Difference Between Metta and Karuna

• Metta is a broad wish for everyone’s happiness, reflecting kindness and warmth.
• Karuna arises when metta encounters someone who is suffering.
• For instance, one might wish happiness for a friend (metta), but if that friend experiences misfortune, such as an accident, that wish transforms into compassion and a desire to ease their suffering (karuna).
• As the Dalai Lama explains: “Just as compassion is the wish for all beings to be free from suffering, loving-kindness is the wish for all to experience happiness.”

Loving-Kindness Meditation (Metta-bhavana)

Loving-kindness meditation is a Buddhist practice that helps individuals develop metta, first toward themselves and then toward all others. It typically involves five stages, directing loving-kindness toward:

• Oneself
• A close friend
• A neutral person (someone who evokes neither strong positive nor negative emotions)
• A difficult person (someone disliked)
• All four of these individuals, eventually extending to all beings

How to Practice Loving-Kindness Meditation

• During meditation, the practitioner visualizes or imagines one of these individuals appearing happy.
• They may reflect on the person’s positive traits or kind actions.
• They might repeat phrases like, “May I be happy. May I be well. May I be safe. May I be peaceful.”
• These phrases are then extended to others.
• As the Dalai Lama notes: “When practicing loving-kindness, start with a specific person as the focus of meditation, then gradually extend this concern to encompass all sentient beings.”