Volume-XI, Issue-V, September 2025 |
ধম্মপদের আলোকে বৌদ্ধদর্শনসম্মত পঞ্চশীলের প্রাসঙ্গিকতা জ্যোতি পান্ডে, ছাত্রী, এম. এ., দর্শন বিভাগ, কাজী নজরুল বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়, আসানসোল, পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, ভারত |
Received: 07.08.2025 | Accepted: 20.08.2025 | Published Online: 30.09.2025 | Page No: 10-17 | ||||
DOI: 10.29032/ijhsss.vol.11.issue.05W.0125 | |||||||
Relevance of the Five Precepts in Buddhist Philosophy in the Light of the Dhammapada Jyoti Pandey, Student, M.A., Dept. Of Philosophy, Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol, West Bengal, India | ||
ABSTRACT | ||
This paper critically examines the continued significance of Pancasila (The Five Precepts) within Buddhist Philosophy, primarily through the lens of the Dhammapada. As a foundational scripture in Buddhism, the Dhammapada holds a canonical status comaparable to the Bhagavad Gita or the Bible in other major religions, representing the direct teachings of the Buddha. The analysis underscores the pivotal role of Sila (moral conduct or ethical purity) as the initial and essential stage of the Eightfold Path (Astangika Marga) towards liberation from suffering. By encompassing right speech, right action, right livelihood, Sila establishes Buddhism as a “Sila-based religion,” emphasizing ethical purity as the bedrock of spiritual advancement. The paper meticulously distinguishes between the exoteric (physical and verbal) and esoteric (mental) dimensions of Sila, asserting their intrinsic interconnectedness for achieving comprehensive purity. Furthermore, the paper delineates the historical evaluation of monastic regulations and the specific application of Pancasila for lay adherents. It offers a critical exegesis of each of the five precepts – abstinence from taking life, stealing, sexual misconduct, false speech, and intoxicants – by integrating pertinent verses from the Dhammapada. The study argues that these seemingly prohibitive directives possess profound affirmative implications, fostering virtues such as compassion, veracity, and mental clarity. By drawing parallels to contemporary societal challenges, including violence, corruption, and addiction, the paper elucidates the perennial practical utility of these precepts. Ultimately, the inquiry posits that Sila transcends mere discernment between right and wrong; its ultimate objective is the purification of the mind from defilements like greed, hatred, and delusion, thereby facilitating the attainment of Nirvana. | ||
Keywords: Dhammapada, Buddhist Ethics, Astangika Marga, Sila, Pancasila, Nirvana. |