Dukkha as a Doorway to Liberation

SCOTT TUSA on how Buddhist ethics transcend mere morality and help us to realize awakening.

HAVING BEEN BOTH A HOUSEHOLDER and monastic Buddhist practitioner, I’ve come to see Buddhist ethics as more than moralistic guidelines. Rather, they serve as tools to cultivate mindful awareness and uncover our deeper awakened nature. After all, the core of the Buddhist path, as I see it, isn’t about becoming a “good Buddhist” or attaining Western-style ideals of virtue. The buddhadharma is primarily concerned with comprehending (and remedying) the root causes of suffering—for ourselves and for others. By working diligently to alleviate and ultimately eliminate these causes, we pave the way for the blossoming of buddhahood, or awakening. Buddhist ethics encompass more than what might initially meet the eye. Within Tibetan lineages, we organize them into three distinct categories. The first comprises the Pratimoksha, or individual liberation vows. These are followed…

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Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's Quarterly (Digital) - 1 Issue, Summer 2024

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