Which eminent personality has inspired you the most in the context of ethical conduct in life? Give the gist of his/her teachings giving specific examples, describe how you have been able to apply these teachings for your own ethical development.
Gautam Buddha was almost certainly the first philosopher to offer a solution to the moral-material crisis through his concept of Madhyam Pratipat, or the middle way. The doctrine of pratityasamutpada, or dependent origination, is the bedrock upon which all of the Buddha’s teachings are governed.
According to Buddha, desire is the source of suffering and its removal is nirvana (salvation). Pratityasamutpada is predicated on the idea that while the intellect rules the empirical world, everything is relative, contingent, dependent, subject to birth and death, and so impermanent. The basic lesson of Buddhist philosophy is that in times of crisis and confusion, only a focus on ethical ideals and the codification of standards can provide a lasting solution. Extreme self-regulation and discipline can alleviate life’s anguish and affliction. Buddha also conveyed a constructive message, stating that when one believes in extremism, there are no alternatives, and when there are no alternatives, one is doomed to suffer. As a result, one should take a middle road in all aspects of life in order to have a choice.
Among all of Buddha’s teachings, the one that I have attempted to emulate is the ‘Middle Path’. I’ve attempted to create a balance between indulgence and asceticism. Whenever I find myself in an ethical dilemma, I attempt to find a middle path. Additionally, I strive to strike a balance between bodily and mental needs. I make an attempt to avoid human behaviour that is extreme. For instance, I strive to be idealistic while yet using pragmatic as necessary without jeopardising ethical standards.
MAINS 2020 – DEFINITIONS OF KEYWORD IN ETHICS SYLLABUS