GBPress.net Gregorian & Biblical Press

Nyunt Wai, Maurice

“Interreligious and intercultural investigations” 6

2002, pp. XVIII-334

978-88-7652-920-7

The Buddhism of Southeast Asia is Theravada Buddhism. In Myanmar almost 90% of the population are Theravada Buddhist and almost 5% are Christians, including 1% of Catholics. People are so culturally influenced by Theravada Buddhism that religious values have become social values. The purpose of this research is to promote inter-religious dialogue between Buddhist and Catholics. This study concentrates on Pañcasila -the beginning of Buddhist ethics, especially meant for the laity- comparing it with the commandments and Christian virtues. The relationship between morality and spirituality is shown by a comparative study of some moral principles of the two traditions.