Morality In Buddhism

Buddhist ethics is one of the three sections of the eightfold path, which are respectively Panna (wisdom), Sila (ethics) and Samadhi (concentration). Buddhist ethics has its core values in differentiation to the conventional English definition of moral and ethics. Rather than obligation and the abiding of oneself to rules, Buddhist ethics is a self consciousness of self-restraint, principles of harmony and inner virtue. Buddhist is an emphasis on inner cultivation and mind rather than external influences on one's values and actions. Morality in Buddhism contains many aspects. 

Pancha Shila (Five Precepts)

The five precepts is a system of morality of Buddhist practices. There are many different lenses to Buddhist ethics, however the five precepts are fundamental to Buddhist ethics and are of most importance to Lay followers of Buddhism. Buddhist Lay people are regular believers of the religion who are not monks, nuns or novices at monasteries or temples. These followers are likely to only practice offerings and praying, as well as observing rituals at monasteries. They are a form of common followers. The Five Precepts are as follows:

1. "Refrain from taking life" 
2. "Refrain from taking what is not giving"
3. "Refrain from the misuse of senses or sexual misconduct"
4. "Refrain from wrong speech"
5. "Refrain from intoxicants that cloud the mind"

The four noble truths

The four noble truths is different from the conventional ethical laws, rather the four noble truths is a Buddhist centered worldview that describes the life path of a person in the Buddhist perspective. The four noble truths revolve around "duhkha," duhkha is the idea of the nature of life which is unsatisfactory and painful due to the nature of humanity's greed. The four noble truths include:

1. "Duhkha," which is the character of dissatisfaction that is in the nature of each rebirth.
2. "Samudaya," is the origin of Duhkha, which is craving and greed.
3. "Nirodha," is the ending of all Samudaya.
4. "Magga," is referred to as the eight-fold path, which is the ending of Duhkha.

The four noble truths is important for Morality and Ethics in Buddhism because followers are able to determine if an action is ethical or not based on whether it contributes to the elimination of Duhkha in one's life. It provides a moral and ethical compass for followers of Buddhism and provides reason and importance to acting morally and ethically. 

Ten wholesome actions 

The Ten Wholesome Actions is another formulation of laws to ethics, there are three sections to the ten wholesome acts based on the actions being specified, there is focus on bodily actions, verbal actions and mental actions. The ten wholesome actions are as follows:

Bodily actions:

1. Give up killing all creatures, live with compassion and love for all creatures. 
2. Give up stealing, nothing is taken from others or nature with a bad or malicious intention.  
3. Give up sexual misconduct, no sexual relationship with women that should not be in sexual relations under certain values, obligations or law. 

Verbal actions:

1. Give up false speech, give up false speech. 
2. Give up divisive speech (speech that sets people against each other), people do not use their power of speech to put people against each other, rather seeing people together and putting the divided back once again.
3. Give up harsh speech, people speak with an intention of compassion and love, speak in a manner that is pleasing and plausible.
4. Give up speaking nonsense, speak in a manner that is valuable and is timely, as well as being appropriate according to the circumstance.

Mental actions:

1. Do not yearn for the belongings and wealths of others, people should have a kind heart that does not take for oneself ungrantedly, hoping that all can be happy and free. 
2. Be fulfilled and live with contentment, live with love and kindness, live pleased and content with what we have. 
3. Understand that there is meaning in giving and sacrificing, know the importance of Karma and that every good and bad deed we commit to is of value and will be reflected upon us.

References

"Buddhist Ethics." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 28 Nov. 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhist_ethics.

"Dukkha." Encyclopdia Britannica, Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/topic/dukkha.

"The Five Precepts - Buddhist Beliefs - Edexcel - GCSE Religious Studies Revision - Edexcel - BBC Bitesize." BBC News, BBC, https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zf8g4qt/revision/9.

"Five Precepts." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 14 Nov. 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_precepts.

O'Brien, Barbara. "How Buddhism Approaches Morality." Learn Religions, Learn Religions, 11 Mar. 2019, https://www.learnreligions.com/buddhism-and-morality-449726.

"Upsaka and Upsik." Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 15 Oct. 2021, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Up%C4%81saka_and_Up%C4%81sik%C4%81.