THE CRITICAL STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PATICCASAMUPADA AND THE ETHICAL VALUES

Abstract

This  thematic  paper  aims  at  critically  studying  the  relationship  between  the  Paticcasamuppada  and  the  ethical  values.  The  researcher  has  divided  the  main  points  in  three  types, namely :-  (1)  the  Paticcasamuppada  in  Theravada  Buddhist  Philosophy,  (2)  the ethical values  in  Theravada  Buddhist  Philosophy  and  (3) the  relationship  between  the  Paticcasamuppada  and  the  ethical  values.  The  important  outcome  of  the  research  can  be  summarized  as  follows :- 

                                         The  Paticcasamuppada  is  the  principle  of  reality  called  the  natural  law and  is  associated   with  the  ethical  values  as follows :- 

                                         (1) The  Paticcasamuppada  is associated  with  the  Middle  Way  which is the  advanced  ethical principle in  the Theravada Buddhist philosophy. The principles are the relative values associated with societies, which are  Sila  and  Kusollakramma. So by this way, our and the other people happiness is a reward. Thus, the  Paticcasamuppada  and  the  ethical  values  are  enjoyed  by  the  people  as the  results  of  their  practices.

                                         (2) The  Paticcasamuppada  is associated  with  the  result  of the practice because  the  Epistemology  cannot  be  understood.  According  to  the  principle  of  the middle of the practice, one  can avoid  the Egoism. That  is  the  extinguishment  of  suffering  and  the  attainment  of  the  Enlightenment.  Thus,  the  Paticcasamuppada  and  the  ethical  values  are  the  results   of the practice.