Abstract

        The Objective of this research is to study the concept of Buddhist ethics in Dhammapada Atthakatha and to analyze Buddhist ethics in Dhammapada Atthakathā. This research is the documentary  research emphasizing the academic documents in Dhammapada Atthakathā. The findings of research are as follows;

        The principles of Buddhist ethics are the teachings of Buddhism concerning with pursuit of the highest goodness in human life and decision criteria the rightness and wrongness, the goodness and badness of human’s behaviors. The significance of Buddhist ethics is the theory i.e. knowing the nature and the practice. The characteristics of Buddhist ethics consist of two principles i.e. the principles i.e. the principle concerning with human and human society, and the principle concerning with making absolute human or ideal human. The main cores of Buddhist ethics are not to do evil, to do good deed, and to purify mind. The decision criteria of goodness and badness are cause of action i.e. wholesome and unwholesome volition; effect of action i.e. happy or suffering result and beneficial or unbeneficial; and conscience i.e. knowing right and wrong things and the acceptability of the scholars. The highest goal of life in Buddhist ethics are divided into two levels i.e. mundane and supra-mundane levels.

        Dhammapada Atthakathā is the scripture compiling the Buddha’s preaching appeared in the twenty fifth volume of Tipitaka. It is the verse from of poem. The prosody used in writing is called stanza comprising preamble, story, stanza, grammar and summary. Dhammapada Atthakathā says about the decision criteria of goodness and badness of bodily, verbal and mental behaviors. The highest goal in life comprises mundane and supra-mundane levels. The mundane level concerns with the goal of happiness of general people on earth, society and nation. The supra-mundane level concerns with the goal of the persons who yearn for attainment of the highest Dhamma and Nibbana.

        Having analyzed Buddhist ethics appeared in Dhammapada Atthakathā, it is found that Buddhist ethics says about the practices in according to Buddhist ways. It is in accordance with Phra Promkunaporn (P.A.Payutto)’s view on decision criteria of goodness and badness, that is using the principle criterion i.e. wholesome and unwholesome volition, and using the joining criterion i.e. conscience – the acceptance of scholars and the effect of action to self and others. The highest goal of life is Nibbana i.e. the ultimate freedom.