Early Buddhist interpersonal ethics : a study of the Singalovada Suttanta and its contemporary relevance

Abstract

This dissertation discusses the Singalovada suttanta, a text which is part of the Pali Canon and variants of which are also found in the Mahayana corpus. The Pali Text Society edition of this text is translated into both English and Afrikaans, and its place within the greater scheme of Buddhist religious philosophy and canonical literature is examined. It is concluded that the Singalovada suttanta is an integral part of Buddhist ethical teaching and that it displays clear connections to fundamental early Buddhist philosophy. The text is also checked for internal coherence and for variation between its different versions. It is shown how the ethical principles and practices that are expounded in the singalovada Suttanta can be applied to life in a modern society, and what this implies for the relationship between contemporary society, philosophy, religion and ethics generally