The Analysis of Killing in Buddhist Theravada

Abstract

          This academic article aims to to study life in Theravada Buddhism To analyze the killing in Theravada Buddhist philosophy, it was found that The life in the views of Theravada Buddhist philosophy refers to the five aggregates (pañca-khandha): corporeality (rūpa), sensation (vedanā), perception (saññā), mental formation (saṅkhāra) and consciousness (viññāṇa). The composition of these elements creates human life which must be carried based on the principles of the Eightfold paths according to Theravada Buddhist philosophy in order to achieve the two life goals: the worldly goal (lokīya) which is to live in the society with peace; the supra-mundane goal which is nirvana.
          Based on the analysis of the concepts of killing in Theravada Buddhist philosophy, 1) killing human life means ending the life due to stress from internal and external factors that lead to self-killing and killing of others; both sinful acts leadto the unwholesome realms;nowadays there are still many who misunderstand that killing oneself is not a sin but according to Buddhist philosophy, killing oneself is considered a sin; 2) killing the defilements such as greed, anger and delusion out of the mind is a meritorious act leading to the wholesome realms.