Thursday, March 15, 2007

10 Commandments vs. 10 Precepts

(Originally written March 15, 2007 in Book 15)

The 10 Commandments

1. I am YHWH, you shall have no other Gods
2. You shall not bow down before graven images
3. Don't take the Lord's name in vain
4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy
5. Honor your father & mother
6. Thou shall not murder
7. Thou shall not commit adultery
8. Thou shall not steal
9. Thou shall not bear false witness
10. Thou shall not covet

Dalai Lama - "I believe all religions pursue the same goals, that of cultivating human goodness is bringing happiness to all human beings"

Duties in Religion

- Moral Norms
- Religious Norms
--> obligatory actions
--> ritual avoidances (defilement of self, defilement of the Holy)

10 Commandments

1 No other gods
2 No idolatry
3 No Lord's name in vain
4 Honor father & mother
5 Sabbath day
6 No killing
7 No adultery
8 No stealing
9 No lying
10 No coveting

10 Precepts (Buddhism)

1 Protect life
2 Sexual morality
3 No stealing
4 No lying
5 No alcohol
6 Don't eat in excess or at all after noon
7 No entertainment/shows
8 No jewelry/cosmetics
9 No comfortable beds
10 No touching Gold or silver

1-5 are for all people
6-8 are for monks always and the laity on holidays
9-10 are for monks alone

Principle of Ahisma - not to take any other life

The 10 commandments and 10 precepts overlap in 4 categories

No killing - Protect Life
No Adultery - Sexual Morality
No stealing - No stealing
No lying - No lying

Thou Shalt not Kill vs. Ahisma

- 6th commandment better stated as, "Thou shall not murder"
- Ahisma is a refusal to harm any living being whatsoever

Even superficial similarities are influenced by the religion of their context.

Within a particular religion the distinction between moral obligations and religious obligations is blurred.

Codes of morality may overlap to a certain extent between religions, but they are not the same.

Moral Purity Vs. Ceremonial Purity

Morality: Sin = Guilt
Ceremonial: Violation = Defilement

Moral guilt ultimately depends on intent. Ritual defilement does not depend on intent

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