Teaching suffering and cessation of suffering as ethics instead of logic or metaphysical
“We find in the early teaching of Buddhism, three marked characteristics: an ethical earnestness, an absence of any theological tendency and an aversion of metaphysical speculation.”
"Avoidance of all the evils, achievement of the wholesome and purification of the mind is the message of the Buddhās."
Social Teaching
Taught against social discrimination, caste system, for improvement of woman's rights
Showed lack of justification
Taught morality
Five Precepts
Sigālovāda sutta - societal structure
Teaching on Economy
Poverty is source of all misconduct and moral degeneration (leads to stealing, lying, etc.)
Right livelihood
Giving
Teaching on Politics
Proper ruling of a king/government to ensure well-being of the citizens.
Ten Principles for a righteous ruler
To provide protection for one’s own folk
To provide protection for nobles
To provide protection for the army
To provide protection for vassals
To provide protection for Brahamins and householders
To provide protection for town and country dwellers
To provide protection for religious men
To provide protection for birds and beasts
To keep the country free from crimes
To give wealth to the poor