Buddhist Virtues: Sacredness or the Ideals for Practice

Abstract

This article aims to clarify the meaning of Buddhist virtues that originally referred to the ideals of the Lord Buddha. Buddhist virtues are the single-minded wish, diligent meditation, and self-cultivation according to the noble path (magga). These are the processes of the Lord Buddha used to achieve enlightenment. In other words, Buddhist virtues are the wisdom, the purity, and the compassion of the Lord Buddha. The essence of these virtues is not the sacredness or miracles that happen to worshippers. Instead, it is the ideal achieved through these three practices of the Lord Buddha which all Buddhists should worship by following in his footsteps. 

Buddhist virtues, in conclusion, are not what happen when praying or by expecting miracles. On the contrary, righteous perception and practice are the sole way for preserving Buddhism and passing it down to later generations.