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A firefly gets caught in a spider web. The spider would weave the web intending to consume the firefly. However, due to the light blinking at the back of the firefly the spider leaves its prey. The firefly falls to the ground. Then a person can free the firefly by untangling the web around it. Morality is like the light of the firefly that helps a person untangle the tangles due to internal craving and grasping and due to external objects.
All religions and philosophies advocate morals or ethics of some kind or the other. These ethical codes are not of the same category or level but they vary. Then there are some behaviors accepted by society. These are what we call social norms that are accepted behaviors of the society. These social norms change from time to time. Also there are some beliefs, feelings and attitudes among people in the society. These feelings, attitudes and beliefs differ also. Regarding morality also we have different opinions, feelings, attitudes.
There is a tendency for people to think some morals are outdated with the passage of time. Some in the society tend to think practicing morality is difficult. They apply this to Buddhist morality as well. Some tend to think practicing morality is a weakness. So there are different views about morality. If we talk to different people we can find that differences exists in what is taken as morality by different persons. Ask different people what is ethical and moral, they will give different answers. Criteria of the principals of morality differ in different belief systems.
Buddhist texts show the evolution of the society showing examples of how moral conduct becomes norms of the society or how moral conduct ceases to be norms of the society.
Ultimate moral code taught by the Buddha is beyond these changing conditions. The word ultimate moral code here because there is a code of discipline prescribed by Buddha and then there is natural moral code, discovered, followed and declared by Buddha. The natural moral code can be referred to as the ultimate moral code. It differs from that of other religions. It is unique due to the objectives and how it is practiced.
The practice of it is done gradually with the objective of taming the verbal and bodily actions, then purifying the mind for freedom from suffering.
Relevant questions to be asked and to seek answers
What are the benefits of morality? What is morality? Why morality? Who
practices morality? When and how to practice morality?
What are the benefits of morality?
There are worldly benefits, benefits in later lives and basis for liberation
of the mind.
A virtuous person becomes stronger. She/he does not get into trouble
in the society and gain more confidence (faces society without fear). Most
valuable is the inner strength that develops due to morality. This
helps in the meditation. A person practicing morality finds it easy
to calm the mind for meditation, less confusion in the mind.
If dhamma, Buddhist teaching, is a huge lake, morality is like the bank or the place of entry to the lake. Dhamma is onward leading. As a person practices and understands the dhamma further understanding occurs leading to further realization and Nirvana.
The moral conduct in Buddha’s teaching is centered around internal or individual rather than on the things external to the individual. Buddhist practice of morality is not done out of fear of any person/individual or God. An external agent does not impose it. It has to come from within. It is the basis for further mental development.
Morality is the practice of taming bodily and verbal behaviors. It is directed towards others and oneself but originates within a person. Not done due to external forces but practiced due to internal reasoning and ability.
Natural moral conduct is categorized as three factors of the noble eightfold path. They are (1) right words - samma vaca, (2) right bodily behavior or actions - samma kammanta, and (3) right livelihood - samma ajiva.
Refraining from false speech, slander, harsh speech and gossip is the practice of right words. Right actions are refraining from killing other beings, stealing and sexual misconduct. Right livelihood is refraining from livelihood or jobs that harms other beings, such as selling weapons, poison etc. that could harm others. All these eight (4 - right speech, 3 - right actions, and 1- right livelihood) are observed as eight precepts
Lay people observe five precepts, which are: refraining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech and taking intoxicating drinks and drugs that cause heedlessness. A lay disciple undertakes the practice of precepts voluntarily and not out of fear of any external force or person.
Buddha highly valued the morality when instructing the monks.
Four kinds of morality for Purification of monks.
(1) Following the prescribed disciplinary code – seeing danger even
in the slightest wrong a monk trains him.
(2) Discipline of senses – does not adhere to the objects perceived from the sense. Letting go of them.
(3) Purification of livelihood – A monk should not use means unsuitable for monks when finding livelihood, e.g. doing magic or deceiving others for livelihood etc.
(4) Discipline as to the four requisites - Reflect the purpose of using the four requisite before utilizing them. For example, food is consumed to suppress the pain of hunger at present and for non-arousal of hunger in the near future.
Vinaya pitaka or collection of code of discipline contains the details, also contents of the collection of long discourses – digha nikaya such as brahmajala sutta, smanna pala sutta explains monks’ moral behavior. Morality is not limited to the above discourse only but every discourse contains the element of morality.
Why morality?
Morality of disciplined senses is the basis for development of concentration
and wisdom. Morality nurtures the mind and helps calm the mind.
We use the word restraining – to explain morality. Actually it is
the opposite of restraining that happens. The society and individuals
are restrained or bonded by their own clinging and desires. Examples
– getting into fights, other kind of temptations. As an example consider
a hawk carrying a piece of meat, which is being chased by other hawks.
Suppose a hawk is carrying a piece of meat and the rest of flock of hawks
gives chase to the first to get hold of the meat. In that process,
they also peck the first hawk. He releases it due to pain, and then
another would grab it. The second one also will have the same experience
as the first. Desire is like that piece of meat carried by the hawk.
Morality lays the foundation for the freedom from these bondage or binding forces.
A person who wants to lead a good life, a person who is intending to have a good life after rebirth and most importantly a person who wants to find liberation from suffering and have a peaceful mind. We tend to measure others. But when practicing morality one takes care of ones own morality before trying to find out others morality.
It is difficult to know the morality of another person. It can be only known after associating for a long time. Even then it cannot be known by foolish only through reflective thinking morality of another person can be known well enough.
When and how to practice morality?
There are no specific times to practice morality; the intention should
be present consistently. Culturally, when practicing eight precepts Buddhist
lay people observe eight precepts on specific days of a month. This
is good for the beginning as training.
But this practice has to be continued and consistent practice of morality
brings much value. Practicing morality in a society where there is
lot of immorality or un-virtuousness sometimes become difficult.
On the other hand, morality itself can be used as strength for further
development of morality.
For example a person can reflect as follows
Others may harm but I will become harmless, others may slay living
beings, but I will become non-slayer, others may wrongly take things, but
I will not, etc. slander, harsh speech, gossip, false hood -> words that
promote concord, harmony, harmless, agreeable to hear, heart pleasing,
courteous, worthy of being borne in mind, …etc.
Non-violence, non-reviling (not physically or verbally abusing others), moderation in eating, moderation in sleeping (not over sleeping), trained senses (tamed senses)
Reflections upon ones own morality becomes a meditation. Such a meditation serves as the basis for development of mindfulness.
Other elated points that were discussed:
(1) Analogy of taking precepts like letting go of the unwholesome thoughts.
(2) "White lies" or lying by omission
(3) When does a verbal behavior become a lie?
(4) Recollection of morality - how it leads to concentration of mind,
and why such reflections do not lead to pride, conceit etc.
(5) Bottom line of moral vs. immoral behavior - practices leading to
growth of delusion, greed and hatred in mind