Recently there has been widespread discussion in Singapore about the pros and cons of euthanasia. The government originally broached the subject, probably in response to rising health costs, and various medical and religious bodies have given their opinions on the … Read the rest
The Vejjavatapada is a vow or oath to be taken by Buddhist doctors and other professionals working with the sick. It is derived from statements attributed to the Buddha and dating from between the 5th and 3rd centuries BCE. The … Read the rest
Recently there has been some discussion in the newspaper about the Buddhist doctrine of anatta. In one letter written in response to an article by Prof. Carlo Fonseka, Mr. Leo Fernando mentioned that he failed “to comprehend the logic … Read the rest
What the Greeks called philia is what the Buddha called mittata. Both words mean loving friendship or brotherly love. Until recently, even in Western societies, friendships were much closer and deeper than is expected today. The friendships between Achilles … Read the rest
Until fairly recently almost all societies considered women to be inferior to men, some still do. This lower status was reflected in the teachings of most religions as well. The Bible holds women responsible for the fall of humankind (1 … Read the rest
Virtually every reference to sex in the Pali Tipitaka is condemnatory. However, there are two passages which could be said to have a mildly erotic content. The first of these are the unusual verses in the Sakkapanha Sutta of the … Read the rest
If prostitution is the oldest profession, them that of the executioner is the second oldest. Some of the most ancient written documents and certainly the oldest legal documents, mention death as a punishment for various crimes, often very minor ones. … Read the rest
The Five Precepts consist of the bare minimum of Buddhist moral behaviour. Being a sincere Buddhist involves much more than just following the precepts, but anything less than that disqualifies one from honestly calling oneself a Buddhist. If you ask … Read the rest
As understood in most cultures, marriage is the union of two persons which is recognized by some authority be it religious, legal or social. There are and always have been many types of marriage – polygamous and polyandrous, there are … Read the rest
The Buddhist virtue of generosity (dana) or sharing (caga) are well-known. That food is the main thing given is also well-known and a well-established custom. However, the Buddha often spoke of giving things other than food … Read the rest
