GS4 PYQ (Mains Answer Writing): Gautam Buddha, Morality & Rationality | UPSC Mains: Ethics, Integrity & Aptitude PDF Download

(A) What teachings of Buddha are most relevant today and why? Discuss. (UPSC Mains GS4)

• Today, Buddhism continues to gain ever wider acceptance in many lands far beyond its original home. People throughout the world, through their own careful choice, are adopting Buddhism’s peaceful, compassionate and responsible ways. The teachings and principles of Buddhism become even more important in today’s world where people and nations are more connected because of the advancement in technology, economic and social interdependence, and due to the changed perception of people towards day to day and overall life The Buddhist teachings are considered effective for the overall development of individuals and are essential for a peaceful society and world order.
• For example, the Buddhist teaching of the law of karma offers people a just, incorruptible foundation and reason for living a moral life. It is easy to see how a wider embracing of the law of karma would lead any country towards a stronger, more caring, and virtuous society. The teaching of rebirth places this present short lifetime of ours in a broader perspective, giving more meaning to the vital events of birth and death. The understanding of rebirth removes so much of the tragedy and grief surrounding death and turns our attention to the quality of a life, rather than its mere length.
• From the very beginning, the practice of meditation has been at the very heart of the Buddhist way. Today, meditation grows increasingly popular as its proven benefits to both mental and physical wellbeing are becoming more widely known. When stress is shown to be such a major cause of human suffering, the quieting practice of meditation becomes ever more valued. Today’s world is too small and vulnerable for us to live angrily and alone, and thus tolerance, love, and compassion are so very important. These qualities of mind, essential for happiness, are formally developed in Buddhist meditation and then diligently put into practice in everyday life.
• The teaching of Cause and Effect also becomes very much relevant in developing the rational scientific temperament in individuals. This provides the base for not following any thought blindly and to find the truth in a more rational manner which is essential to bring peace and tranquility to society. Forgiveness, gentleness, harmlessness, and peaceful compassion are the well-known “trademarks” of Buddhism, and they are given freely and broadly to all beings, including animals of course, and also, most importantly, to oneself.
• There is no place for dwelling in guilt or self-hatred in Buddhism, not even a place for feeling guilty about feeling guilty. Similarly, the teaching of non-violence also becomes effective to harness peace and stability at the societal, national, and international levels. The teaching of the Middle Path also guides individuals and society not to go on an extreme path and living life in a balanced manner.
• It helps people to find out ways to live a healthy and stress-free life. Teachings and practices such as these are what bring about qualities of gentle kindness, unshakeable serenity, and wisdom, identified with the Buddhist religion for over 25 centuries and sorely needed in today’s world. In all its long history, no war has ever been fought in the name of Buddhism. It is this peace and tolerance, growing out of a profound yet reasonable philosophy that makes the Buddha’s message timeless and always vitally relevant.

Topics Covered- Relevance of Buddha Teachings

(B) The will to power exists, but it can be tamed and be guided by rationality and principles of moral duty. Examine this statement in the context of international relations. (UPSC MAINS GS4)

• Morality consists of moral principles which are endorsed by a number of nations. The rules of customary international law reflect international morality. One of the major sources and sanctions of international law has been international morality Morality acts as a factor or limitation of international relations.
• It acts as a limitation on national power. But at the same time it can enable a nation to project and justify its policies based on moral principles. Human behavior in society is regulated by moral and legal norms which are the basis of order in society. These impose duties on each man to respect the rights of others and hence enlarge the freedom of all. Moral norms are based upon social sanctions, whereas legal norms are based upon the sanctions of force.
• Together these perform the function of regulating human behavior in the interest of social good Likewise, in the international community, the behavior of states is regulated by international law and morality, the former as the legal code and letter as the moral code. Both these codes constitute important and valuable limitations on the national power of each state and, as such, perform the essential function of maintaining order in international relations.
• Since rules of international law do not enjoy the sanctions of force, these are quite near to international morality. In fact, morality (customs, principles of state behavior, and international comity, as parts of international morality), has been an important source of international law The morality of states approach involves states relating to each other in a similar way as individuals relate to each other in domestic society. States are taken to have rights to the integrity of their territory and to political sovereignty in a comparable way to how people have rights to life and to personal liberty. 
• States have a right to non-interference; it is a crime for one state to violate another’s rights; and a state is justified in using use force to defend itself and to punish another state that has violated its rights . A moral world is not the same as a world in which everyone acts with perfect ethical result. This is not possible. However, it is possible to have a world in which the idea of morality is central to decision making. If we can create a world where pluralism, responsibility, and fairness are taken seriously, then the study of ethics and international affairs may indeed be a useful and practical art.

Topics Covered - Ethics and International Relations