Comparative Ethics in Hindu and Buddhist Traditions

The exploratory volume in the new field of comparative ethics serves the

diverse goals of groups variously interested in International law and

morality, in comparative religious ethical ideals, or simply in

cross-cultural literature and drama. The author draws moral ideals from

primary Hindu sources–popular and formal, literary and spiritual. The

same method is applied for Buddhist moral texts. Introducing method in

comparative ethics with a synopsis of Hindu mystical tradition, the author

diiscusses in detail ethics in the Rgveda, Upaniisads, Laws of Manu,

Ramayana, Gita, other popular classics, poetry, drama, philosophers, and

reformers. After summarizing pluralism in Hindu ethiics, the author

sketches ethical thought in Mahayana Buddhiist texts. The book contains

elaborate notes, two appendices, critical textual matter, a diagram of

topical parallels, a bibliography, and an index.

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