Right Action Buddhism

Right Action (Samma kammanta in Pali), is a key truth in The Eightfold Path of Buddhism and greatly impacts the actions of followers. The vital truth of Right Action in the religion of Buddhism is still relevant today due to the fear of gaining negative karma and receiving an undesirable reincarnation. Reincarnation is a common concept in Buddhist and Hindu tradition and it states that, after biological death, the consciousness of a person can begin a new life in a different body. Karma is an element of reincarnation, particularly in Buddhist tradition. This essay will focus upon evaluating the relevance of the truth, Right Action in Buddhist tradition, while assessing how this truth impacts individual followers. Shakyamuni or Buddha is the
The path consists of eight parts that are grouped under three goals or headings (Maguire, 2001 pg. 90-91). The first being prajna or wisdom, which contains, Right Understanding and Right Purpose. The second heading, sila or morality consists of: Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood. The remaining parts of the Eightfold path, Right Endeavour, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration, belongs to the group, samadhi or mental discipline (Jordan, 1997). The second goal, morality, is used to govern the actions of the body. The Five Precepts in Theravada Buddhism are moral guidelines which falls under morality, specifically Right Action, and outlines the actions that are deemed harmful. These include, murder, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and taking intoxicants (such as alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs that cloud the mind) (Drby.net, 2009). However, when divergently thinking, there are many different variations of Buddhist Precepts. Mahayana Buddhists follow a list of Ten Precepts instead of five, due to Mahayana traditions focusing on the attainment of full Buddhahood, rather than just simply achieving enlightenment (Morrell, 2005). (O’Brien, n.d) explains that the Ten Precept contains not only the Five Precepts, but as well as
Right Action assists in understanding the actions that are deemed wrong, and the actions that cause suffering. Maintaining the Five Precepts of Right Action and the Eightfold Path would be setting on the path of enlightenment to reach Nirvana. Understanding and practising Right Action also avoids the accumulation of negative Karma, preventing undesirable reincarnations to occur. The combination of wanting to reach Nirvana to end suffering and the longing to receive a desirable reincarnation is why and how the truth, Right Action, remains relevant in society and to those who practise Buddhist