Narrative in Buddhist Ethics

This chapter explores the central role of narratives in the articulation of Buddhist ethics. Discussion includes casuistic narratives, and the way that they aid in moral decision making, including providing rationales and examples, both clear cut and not, illuminating the impact of interconnected human relationships and circumstances, and creating greater psychological impact through analysis of specific cases. Also discussed are the way that stories yield moral insight through their focus on developing deeper ways of seeing. Several narratives are addressed in detail, including that of Kisagotami, Śāriputra and Maudgalyāyana, and a collection of stories from the Mahāvagga and the Avadānaśataka.