Pancasila and Catholic Moral Teaching: Moral Principles as Expression of Spiritual Experience in Theravada Buddhism and Christianity (Interreligious and Intercultural Investigations)

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 Pancasila -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.