The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (745 page)

, the cosmic order in which natural law is grounded. Central to this in relation to ethical behaviour is
var
ramadharma
, one's duty in relation to class/caste (
varna
) and the four stages of life (
rama
), which still obtains for many (though as always, not for all) Hindus.
Buddhism
While the Buddha rejected the Hindu belief in an undying
tman passing from life to life, he nevertheless affirmed continuity of consequence flowing from one life to another, working out the consequences of karma and
ta
h
(thirst or clinging). His ‘middle way’ to enlightenment included the necessity for right conduct. This is summarized for laypeople in the Five Precepts (Pañca-
la
), which are not so much commands as promises which a person makes to himself/herself each morning; and the Ten Precepts for the members of monastic communities. The Buddha's own lives are exemplary in defining what is good—the plural ‘lives’ being a reminder that the Buddha-to-be appeared in previous lives, stories concerning which are found in the
J
taka
collections. Of the Five Precepts, the first,
ahi
s
(non-injury) has further implications, because no exception was made for the killing of animals for sacrifice.
D
na