ABSTRACT

               This research aims to: 1) to study the concept of moral status and rights of animals; 2) to analyze the moral status and rights of animals in Theravada Buddhism; and 3) to propose the approach on how to treat animals according to Theravada Buddhism.

               From the research, it was found that

               1) all animals have certain biological characteristics, distinctive developments as well as relatively complicated structure like humans. They are part of the ecosystem in the same natural organism as humans and plants.  However, humans consider themselves as the center of the universe because of logic and languages.  Thus, they categorize animals to be lower than themselves.  Exploitation of animals for trading, capturing or competition is for economical, social, cultural and traditional reasons.  This existing problem apparently has direct impact on moral and legal principles because animals have no rights according to the humans’ law.  Hence, there are many organizations and institutions rise up to protect animals.  The following are approaches to support the idea: 1) Animal Rights Approach by Peter Singer, an animal rights protector, who objected to all animal abuses.  Singer debated with those who consider humans as the center of the universe, categorize animals as lower caste than humans and no equal moral status as humans.  He believed that animals should have equal rights and status as humans because their behaviors expressly convey moral value.  In addition, their feelings are by no means less than those of humans’.  Singer proposed many solutions to the problems such as imposing sanction on animal testing, animal trap as well as promoting vegetarian consumption, etc. There are two different views as far as the environmental concept: one does not approve animal abuse and the other objects to the animal protection group. This latter view considers animal to be only one part of environmental concept and proposes approaches for the protection of environmental system.  These approaches aim to treat all lives to be as important and sustain equal rights to protect their environments and nature to the best of their ability.

               2) Animal abuse has existed for such a long time.  The root cause of the problem is humans’ greed, anger and delusion.  Animals could not attain wisdom because of their structure of body and mind although some of their behaviors could be considered decent.  For instance, 1) their ability to perform good deeds; 2) their accumulated deeds from their past lives; and 3) their feeling of happiness, suffering and self-protection.  These ethical behaviors are clearly regarded as moral status for animals.  Other than rights, Buddhism refers to duty and responsibility that one should share and act towards each other, for example, code of morality for the laity or loving-kindness and compassion.  The right or duty as mentioned above are        1) killing:  the natural right that protects one’s life, the right to live and the lawful right is the right to protect animals according to the first precept.  It is the right for animals to have freedom, equality and protection according to the Buddhist morals.  2) Volitional Action:  The animals’ moral rights.  Those who perform a volitional action should result the same action in return.  Hence, the animals should also have this volitional action right.

               3) Buddhism emphasizes the cause and effect theory. One should resolve problem resulting from one’s own action. The solution to the problem is to apply the Buddhist teachings and methods on how to behave towards the animals, for instance, loving-kindness and compassion, non-exploitation and law of action, etc.  The Buddhist principle can be used to apply to the real life situation such as          1) caring for animals 2) meat consumption 3) animal trade 4) animal furniture          5) animal testing.

               All beings love their lives, enjoy happiness and hate suffering.  Buddhism opposes killing and animal abuse. The religion proposes ‘Abstain from Killing’ precept, law of action to protect one’s life from exploitation as well as moral status and rights to animals. If one relates the practice with the theory and regulations, the rate of animal abuse can be substantially reduced.

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