Learning and Teaching Ethics through Stories: A Few Examples from the Buddhist Tradition

The art of storytelling, similar to poetry, takes us to a different realm, yet always bringing us back to where we are. In many traditional societies, ethical concerns were taught through stories. A few stories from the Buddhist tradition have been selected to convey some basic teachings of the Buddha on ethical issues. This does not mean that these few stories capture the whole of Buddhist ethics. Furthermore, it is understood that similar stories can be found in other traditions, and therefore the same technique can be used in other religions as well. The universalities of these stories provide a means to teach ethics in a multi-cultural context.