Nearly every work written on Buddhism contains something about Buddhist ethics and morality. But there is no work especially devoted to the study of this single subject. The object of this dissertation is to explain the practical morality of Buddhism. In doing so the author investigates the cardinal virtues of Buddhism than merely to abstract its moral ideas and philosophize it. This indeed is the best way of elucidating the practical side of morality.
The work is divided into two main bodies. The first book recounts-the short account of the Buddha's life, outlines of Indian Thought previous to the rise of Buddhism, Classification of Buddhist Morality, and Characteristics of Buddhist Morality. The Book two elucidates the Buddhistic ethical concepts of self-Restraint, Abstinence, Temperance, Contentment, Patience, Benevolence, Humility, Liberty, Gratitude, Toleration, Celibacy, Chastity, Purity etc.
This book forms basic guide to any study of Buddhism, as an interpretation of the ethics of Buddhism is an interpretation of the Buddhism in general. |
