Ethics, as a basic principle

The first principle necessary in the making of a rich and developed country, according to Dr. Arsenio Martin, is Ethics. What is Ethics? Wikipedia defines it as “a major branch of philosophy, encompassing right conduct and good life.” What is right conduct?

Bhagavan Baba, in describing Dharma, gives us the synthesis of right conduct. “Dharma is a body of principles that are fundamental to social stability and individual progress. If we obey it, we are happy. It’s common definition is the adherence to the golden rule: 'Do unto others what you wish them to do unto you. Do not have a double standard. Treat all as your own self'.

“Dharma means certain obligations and duties and regulations over actions, words and behavior. For example, elders have certain obligations towards younger people and vice versa; neighbors have mutual duties and rights. The task of everyone is to do the duty that has come upon him, with a full sense of responsibility to the utmost of his capacity. There should be complete coordination between what one feels, says and does. Then work becomes worship…
“How are you to decide in any particular case what is Dharma and what is not? That which does not inflict pain on you and others - that is Dharma. This follows from the recognition that same God resides in everyone and if you injure another, you are hurting the same God who is in you. Dharma enables you to come to the recognition that anything that is bad for another is also bad for you. So act in such a way that you get joy and others too get joy. Or take another standard for your actions: Make the mind, the speech and body agree in harmony. Act as you speak, speak as you feel, do not play false to your conscience. ..
“Dharma is the eternal source. Dharma is a great virtue. Dharma is the basis for everything. In this world nothing is higher than righteousness. Man must follow the path of Dharma, to know himself, to discard demonic qualities, to foster human qualities, to develop divine qualities and to achieve a good life.” http://www.eaisai.com/baba/docs/right.html

Moreover, still within the Chinese philosophy, there are "noble eightfold path" which would lead to the cessation of suffering: right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right mindfulness and right concentration. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_Eightfold_Path

1. Right view is commonly translated as "right perspective", "right vision" or "right understanding". It overcomes "wrong view" arising from ignorance. The purpose of right view is 'to clear one's path of the majority of confusion, misunderstanding and deluded thinking. It is a means to gain right understanding of reality. It should be held with a flexible, open mind, without clinging to that view as a dogmatic position. In this way, right view becomes a route to liberation rather than an obstacle.'

2. Right intention’s other terms are "right thought", "right resolve", or "right aspiration" or "the exertion of our own will to change". It 'enjoins renunciation of worldly things and an accordant greater commitment to spiritual matters; good will; and a commitment to non-violence towards other living beings.'

3. Right speech 'deals with the way in which one would best make use of his or her words.' By 'abstaining from lying, abstaining from divisive speech, abstaining from abusive speech, abstaining from idle chatter, ultimately means that "one naturally has to speak the truth, has to use words that are friendly and benevolent, pleasant and gentle, meaningful and useful".'

4. Right action, as the name implies, 'deals with the proper way in which one would act in his or her daily life. And what is right action? It is abstaining from taking life, from stealing, from illicit sex, from false speech and from intoxicants, which lead to heedlessness.'

5. Right livelihood is 'based around the concept of harmlessness, and essentially states that one ought not to engage in trades or occupations which, either directly or indirectly, result in harm to other living beings or systems. Such occupations include "trading in arms and lethal weapons, intoxicating drinks, poisons, killing animals, cheating". It also forbids slave trading and prostitution, several other dishonest means of gaining wealth, such as scheming, persuading, hinting, belittling, and pursuing gain with gain."'

6. Right effort or '"right endeavor" involves one’s continuous effort to, essentially, keep his or her mind free of thoughts that might impair his or her ability to realize or put into practice the other elements of the Noble Eightfold Path; for example, wishing ill towards another living being would contradict the injunction—contained in the "Right thought" element—to have good will towards others, and the "Right effort" element refers to the process of attempting to root out such an ill wish and replace it with a good wish.'
The four phases of Right Effort:
(1) make effort to prevent the unwholesome that has not yet come.
(2) make effort to destroy the unwholesome that has come.
(3) make effort to produce the wholesome that has not yet come.
(4) make effort to cultivate the wholesome that has come. '

7. Right mindfulness, also translated as "right memory", 'together with right concentration, is concerned broadly with the practice of meditation. Roughly speaking, "mindfulness" refers to the practice of keeping the mind alert to phenomena as they are affecting the body and mind.The mind is deliberately kept at the level of bare attention, a detached observation of what is happening within us and around us in the present moment. In the practice of right mindfulness the mind is trained to remain in the present, open, quiet, and alert, contemplating the present event. All judgments and interpretations have to be suspended, or if they occur, just registered and dropped.'

8. Right concentration, together with right mindfulness, is concerned broadly with the practice of meditation which is dependent on the development of preceding path factors:
The Blessed One said: 'Now what, monks, is noble right concentration with its supports & requisite conditions? Any singleness of mind equipped with these seven factors — right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, & right mindfulness — is called noble right concentration with its supports & requisite conditions.' "

Philippines, as a Christian nation, based its ethical standards from the Bible. And the Bible teaches almost the same concepts above. The Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, the Command to Love God and every person, the way Jesus did, are sure way for good life. Do Christians conduct themselves according to Christ?

In like manner the "Ummah", the Community in Islam are guided by the Quran which "regards individuals as part of a community in which the totality of Islamic values and goals can be expressed and realized... It is the embodiment of the model behavior expected of society and individuals, and as such represents an example to other human societies. It also embraces the wider goal in the Quran of maintaining a balance between the material and spiritual aspects of life. The Koran has supplied Muslims with a comprehensive code of conduct for everyday life. It prescribes a wide range of acts for Muslims, of either sex, from birth to death. These guidelines form the basis for their laws. Islamic laws prohibit wine and gambling. There are regulations covering the relations of the sexes. Women are granted a higher status." http://1stholistic.com/Prayer/hol_islam-right-conduct.htm
Hopefully, Muslims may also live according to their ethical standards so that the Philippine society maybe transformed and be saved from its worsening situation.