The Centrality of Ethics in Buddhism: Exploratory Essays

This book, through extensive textual study, explores the Buddha’s and Buddhism’s uncompromising and unflinching emphasis on the centrality of ethics as against any pernicious dogmas and metaphysical beliefs, and theirattempts to causally relate moral perfection to soteriological or eschatological goal. What is most admirable about Buddhism is that it integrates the vertical development of human consciousness, for which the other is the necessary condition, with the gradual development of morality. It was this emphasis which separated Siddhartha, before he attained the Awakened Wisdom (bodhi), from his teachers – Alara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputta – and it is for this reason that the Buddha calls himself and his Dhamma Patisotagami, i.e. going against the currents of the prevailing dogmas and pernicious beliefs. In brief, Buddhism is about overcoming of suffering, the greatest evil, through ethicization of human consciousness and conduct, which also takes care of the ethicization of the society and the universe. Besides, some of the essays of this book explore many other themes like Buddhist epistemology, nature of self, time, and interculturality.

Review(s)

The Centrality of Ethics in Buddhism: Exploratory Essay-by Hari Shankar Prasad- Being well-versed with the original sources of Buddhism and being its hard core advocate, the author has given an authentic Buddhist response to these issues, yet they remain

About the Author(s)

Hari Shankar Prasad (b. 1953) is currently working as Research Scientist in professor’s category, awarded by the University Grants Commission, and teaches philosophy at Delhi University since 1983. He did Ph. D from the Australian National University under Professor J. W. de Jong in 1982 on the topic “The Concept of Time in Buddhism.” He has published in Philosophy East and West (Hawaii), East and West (Rome), Journal of Indian philosophy (Dordrecht), Journal of Indian Council of Philosophical Research (Delhi), Indian Philosophical Quarterly (Pune), and various anthologies. His edited books are: Amala Prajna: Aspects of Buddhist Studies (with N.H. Samtani), Essays on Time in Buddhism, Time in Indian Philosophy, Grammar and Indology, and Santaraksita: His Life and Work.