28 – Buddhists in general are still interested only in good deeds and evil deeds but not in neither-good-nor-evil deeds, which is the actual principle of kamma in Buddhism.

(The principle of good deeds and evil deeds, or the kammavadi doctrine, existed before the arrival of Buddhism (or was outside the religion, but was accepted by the Buddha). However, he added, as a strictly Buddhist kammic principle, the kamma (the Noble Eightfold Path) that is above and beyond goodness and evilness and is the end of good deeds and evil deeds. Present day Buddhists should be interested in this kamma as the world’s most distinguished dhamma principle.)

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From “A BUDDHIST CHARTER,” translated from the Thai (กฎบัตรพุทธบริษัท) by Mongkol Dejnakarintra.

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[FOREWORD] This book, A Buddhist Charter, which consists of 136 proposed items, results from the 50th anniversary commemoration of Suan Mokkh on Visakhapuja Day of 1982. The Venerable Than Achan Buddhadasa of Suan Mokkh drafted and presented motions to the Buddhist assembly there so that they would consider them and reach a common agreement which would become a practical guideline for Buddhists in general. The assembly consisted of two committees, one scripture or theory oriented and the other proper social practice oriented. The two committees joined forces in considering and refining the motions until they reached mutual satisfaction. They then declared the motions as a Buddhist charter.

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The charter is divided into 10 groups, namely, (a) general; (b) practical principles that should be considered and put to rest; (c) different views that should be eliminated; (d) interpretation of the terms; (e) problems between religions; (f) international problems of the present world; (g) things that deserve to be understood and written down as rules; (h) culture of the present day Buddhists; (i) the ultimate dhammas that everybody should know; (j) miscellaneous problems. It can be seen that this charter covers almost all aspects; and it should be used a guide in tackling problems properly and in accordance with the Buddha-dhamma principle…