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Buddhism: Crime and Punishment

Buddhism and the aims of punishment

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 2

Overview

Which aim most Buddhists favour, their views on protection, retribution and deterrence, the Bhaddali Sutta on admitting wrongdoing and taming a horse, and how Buddhist views on the aims differ in practice.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Which aim of punishment do most Buddhists favour?

Key term

What is the Buddhist attitude to protection as an aim of punishment?

Key term

What is the Buddhist attitude to retribution?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    Which aim of punishment do most Buddhists favour?

    Model answer

    Most Buddhists favour reformation, because it helps the offender change and ends the cycle of harm. Reformation expresses compassion for the offender.

  2. 2

    What is the Buddhist attitude to protection as an aim of punishment?

    Model answer

    Most Buddhists accept that society must be protected from dangerous offenders. Prison can prevent further harm to others and further bad kamma for the offender.

  3. 3

    What is the Buddhist attitude to retribution?

    Model answer

    Most Buddhists reject retribution, which means making the offender suffer in return. Kamma will bring its own results, so revenge only adds hatred.

  4. 4

    What is the Buddhist attitude to deterrence?

    Model answer

    Some Buddhists accept deterrence if punishments are fair and not cruel. Other Buddhists doubt that fear changes people and prefer to tackle the causes of crime.

  5. 5

    Why do Buddhists see reformation as possible for anyone?

    Model answer

    Every person has the potential to change, because nothing about a person is fixed. Mahayana Buddhists add that every offender has Buddha-nature.

  6. 6

    What happens in the Bhaddali Sutta?

    Model answer

    The monk Bhaddali refused to keep the rule of eating one meal a day. The Buddha explained why some monks are corrected and how discipline helps them grow.

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