Compassion and Ethics in Buddhism

This is a lecture by Khenpo Sodargye at Hunan Normal University on the theme of "Buddhist Compassion and Moral Education." In response to contemporary moral decline—fake medicines harming people, school bus overloading, and the collapse of ethical boundaries—Khenpo prescribes the Buddhist view of compassion as the remedy. His core argument: modern education emphasizes skills over moral cultivation, with students only wanting to make money and get rich, having no sense of social responsibility. Buddhist compassion (bringing happiness to sentient beings and relieving their suffering) has the broadest scope, loving not only humans but also animals, which is unmatched by other religions. True compassion education can prevent tragedies from occurring, rather than mending the fold after the sheep are lost. Khenpo calls on future teachers from normal universities to prioritize cultivating kindness and filial piety in their teaching, learning traditional culture and Buddhist scriptures, and helping students understand that: selfless compassion is the true source of happiness.