Hinduism: Ethics

By: Camille Lee, Shaina Geyer, and Skyler Genelly

The right way to treat animals varies among cultures; therefore, Hindus demeanor towards cows in particular is quite reverent.

Most Hindus are vegetarian● No Hindu will eat beef

Animal Ethics

Come together, talk together,

Let our minds be in harmony.

Common be our prayer,

Common be our end,

Common be our purpose,

Common be our deliberations,

Common be our desires,

United be our hearts,

United be our intentions,

Perfect be the union among us.

Rig Veda 10 - 191:2

War

Hindus condemn war and violence, as well as teachings that promote it as a moral duty.

The teachings that condemn violence are contained in the doctrine of ahimsa, while those that permit it centre around the Kshatriyas - the warrior caste.

Hinduism contains the early writings of the Rig Veda.

Abortion

When considering abortion, the Hindu way is to choose

the action that will do least harm to all involved: the

mother and father, the foetus and society.

Hindus believe that all life is sacred, to be loved and revered, and therefore practice ahimsa or nonviolence. All life is sacred because all creatures are manifestations of the Supreme Being.

Capital Punishment

There is no official Hindu line on capital punishment. However, Hinduism opposes killing, violence and revenge, in line with the principle of ahimsa (non-violence).

The Indian Supreme Court has ruled that the death

penalty should only be used in the rarest of rare cases.

“An eye for an eye ends up making the whole world blind” - Ghandi

Contraception

There is no ban on birth control in Hinduism.

Because India has such a high level of population, much of the discussion of birth control has focussed on the environmental issue of overpopulation rather than more personal ethics, and birth control is not a major ethical issue.

Organ DonationLife after death is a strong belief of Hindus and is an ongoing process of rebirth. The only constraint on the idea of organ donation is imposed by the very nature of Dharma.

The Hindus believe every act or intention of anyone should be dharmik. Therefore, it is right to donate organs, only if the act of donating an organ has beneficial results.

The principle of karma means the recipient will have to return the favour in the donor's next life.

Euthanasia sannyasin - one who has renounced everything

There are two Hindu views on euthanasia: By helping to end a painful life a person is performing a good deed and so fulfilling their moral obligations and by helping to end a life, even one filled with suffering, a person is disturbing the timing of the cycle of death and rebirth. This is a bad thing to do, and those involved in the euthanasia will take on the remaining karma of the patient, keeping a person artificially alive on a life-support machine would also be a bad thing to do.

SuicidePrayopavesa, or fasting to death, is an acceptable way for a Hindu to end their life in certain circumstances. It's only used when it's the right time for this life to end - when this body has served its purpose and become a burden.Prayopavesa is a gradual process, giving ample time for the patient to prepare himself and those around him for his death, while suicide is associated with feelings of frustration, depression, or anger

Prayopavesa is only for people who are fulfilled, who have no desire or ambition left, and no responsibilities remaining in this life.

Bihari Sharan (a Hindu

priest) and his view on

Hindu ethics.

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