A Buddhist Ethic Without Karmic Rebirth?
Winston L. King
Abstract:
Is a viable and authentic Buddhist ethic possible without the prospect
of rebirth governed by one's karmic past? This paper explores traditional
and contemporary views on karma with a view to determining the importance
of this doctrine for practical ethics in the West. The Theravaada emphasis
on the personal nature of karma is discussed first, followed by a consideration
of the evolution of a social dimension to the doctrine in the Mahaayaana.
The latter development is attributed to the twin influences of the Bodhisattva
ideal and the metaphysics of Naagaarjuna and Hua Yen. Following this survey
of traditional perspectives, attention is turned for the greater part of
the paper to a consideration of the relevance of the notion of karmic rebirth
for Buddhist ethics in the West. The notion of "social kamma" advanced
by Ken Jones in The Social Face of Buddhism is given critical consideration.
The conclusion is that a doctrine of karmic rebirth is not essential to
a viable and authentic Buddhist ethic in the West.
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