From a Buddhist point of view, codes of moral or ethical conduct exist to help us create the freedoms and conditions to develop wisdom. By guiding us to avoid nonvirtuous, selfish, harmful acts, we practice virtue, creating positive circumstances for practice. We begin to observe how all our actions have consequences for ourselves and others, and we develop a deeper understanding of the law of cause and effect. When we can rely on our inner ethical compass to guide us in knowing what is wise and compassionate action, we no longer need external codes of conduct.

Sila is also one of the six transcendent perfections, or paramitas, often translated as discipline or ethical conduct; its essence is avoiding all harm. The primary code of conduct taught by the Buddha is called the Vinaya, which primarily comprises guidelines for all types of followers of the Buddhist community: monks, nuns, and lay practitioners. Additionally, the Buddha taught various codes of conduct for different people at different times. It is essential to remember that, unlike in other religious traditions, the Buddha did not present these ethical guidelines as a law or a divine revelation. Rather, they are seen as responses to the circumstances of the time and the people he was speaking to, and are subject to change.

Codes of conduct can help us connect with and rely on our own innate ethical compass and refine our own behavior.

Compare the experience of following a rule that you understand and agree with fully versus one that you do not understand or agree with.

• Do moral codes of conduct align with my own understanding of what is right and wrong?

Evaluate the relationship between external ethical guidelines and internal moral compass development; synthesize understanding of sila by creating community agreements that reflect Buddhist principles of non-harm (ahimsa); and analyze how disciplined practice creates conditions for wisdom and compassion to emerge naturally.