The following was disgested from the Pali texts of Tripitaka and presented in the book "Some
Prominent Characteristics of Buddhism" Exerpts from which are presented with the courtesy of the
author and the translator.
  1. SELF- HELP:
  Buddhism teaches its disciples to help themselves as much as possible, not to look to others for
support before trying their best.
  2. DO  GOOD FOR GOOD,S  SAKE:
  Buddhism advises people to do good for its own sake, not to do so out of greed for material gains
or out of ignorance, taking what is evil for what is good.
  3. DILIGENCE :
  Buddhism emphasized the virtue of diligence, both for Bhikkhus and laymen, for without dili-
gence, nothing not even worldly success and prosperity can be achieved.
   4. COMPASSION :
  Buddhism urges people to have compassion on all beings, animals as wel as men. This implies
tenderness of heart that enable them to look into others feelings, to understand their troubles and
consequently to forgive their faults.
  5. FREEDOM :
  Buddhism awakens people to the fact that it is a suffering to be under the power of others. It 
encourages them to work out their salvation or freedom, in both the physical and spiritual realms. The latter means not to be dictated by their own evil passion. If absolute freedom is not yet attained,
it is advisable that they should pratise self-restraint and self-control to the best of their ability.
  6.  THE  ART  OF  AVOIDANCE :
  Buddhism advocates a method of combating evil with good and fighting hatred with forgiveness.
Meanwhile it is important to behave in such a way as to avoid a quarrel or inciting resentment. This
can be done through the virtue of generosity and tolerance.
  7. CAUSE  AND  EFFECT :
  Buddhism suggests that it is necessary to make the cause first in order to achieve the effect desired and that it is wrong to hope for sucess to come by chance or luck or to rely solely  on some
mysterious power and pre-destined fate.
  8. KNOWLEDGE :
  The criterion of knowledge in Buddhism is based on self-enlightenment through self-effort, not
on a guess or inference of any kind or by any means.
   9. OBSTACLES :
  Obstacles and conflicts, from the Buddhist view-point, are the means by which spiritual growth  can be attained. We must never give up, however great the odds are against us. For perseverance is
master key which will unlock the door that opens to success.

10. BLIND   FAITH :
  Buddhism warns people against blind faith. It always advises them to travel with their eyes wide
open and to test the validity of truth their own careful observation, reasoning and experience.
  11. SELF -GOVERNMENT :
   The scope of Buddhism is wider than that of the municipality and the government. The former is
meant to look after a town, while the latter is to take care of the country. But the range of Buddhism
covers the whole world. This implies a method od self-government, which can be achieved through
the dual virtue of shame of evil and fear of its results. With this paired virtue the world is adequately
guared against its downfall.
  12. MINDFULNESS  AND  WISDOM :
  Mindfulness and wisdom, according to Buddhism, are to go together. Lack of either results in an
incomplete whole. Thus there is mentioned a set of virtues which is of great help on all occasion:
Mindfulness and self-possession (in fact, one aspect of wisdom). In Pali terms they are called Sati 
and Sampajanna.
   13. PROGRESS :
  Buddhism recommends a progress, not a standstill. This involves continuing efforts in such thinhs
as acquiring knowledge, experience and skill in work, association with learned men and following
their advice.
   14. GENEROSITY :
   Buddhism praises the virtue of generosity, both in material matters and in spiritual ones. For it is
through this virtue that the goal of peaceful co-existence can be attained.
    15. TOLERANCE :
  Buddhism dissuades its disciples from the feeling of enmity towards others, including those of 
other religions. This is an evidence of sympathetic tolerance.
  16. PRAYER  AND  OBLATIONS:
  Buddhism does not recognise prayer or oblations-offering to a divine being as the means to achieve success. Only perseverant efforts, exerted in the right direction, will be able to bring about
the desired  results.
  17. THE THREE COMMON CHARACTERISTICS:
  Buddhism enlightens people by convincing them of the true nature of the world. This is the truths
of Impermanence, Instability and Soullessness, collectively called the Three Common Characteris-
tics of condintioned things, both living and non-living. It is an ignorant clinging to worldly phenome
na that gives rise to an endless suffering. Only through detachment and dispassion can inward peace
be won.
  18. LAW  OF RIGHTEOUSNESS :

     Buddhism exhorts its disciples to adhere to the impersonal Law of Righteousness, based solely on
what is right and what is wrong. This is to prevent the two extremes of basing one,s judgment some
times blindly on that of others and at other times stubbornly on one,s own liking and convenience.
   19. ACCEPTANCE  OF RELATIVE TRUTHS IN PROPORTION TO THEIR VALUES:
     Although the Buddhists goal of practice is the Absolute Truth, culminating in the supreme wisdom by which one can be detached from all suposition and illusion. Buddhism does not overlook
the relative truths recognized by the law of morality and social ethics. It is the suppose of Buddhism that a noble disciple, although enlightened, should behave himself in conformity with social decorum. The attitude of mind for transcending the worldly nature is to be faithfully striven for, but
the supposed truths or established rules of decent behaviour are no means to be  discarded. This is
one reason why Buddhism has successfully passed the endurence test of centuries.
  20. SYSTEMATIC  PRACTICE :
  Buddhism consists of the rules for practice from the elementary to the advanced stage, each with
sub-divisions that can be adapted to people of various tendencies and capabilities. This is likened to
various kinds of food, each being suitable either for a particular purpose or for different types and ages of people.
  21. WISDOM  ACQUIRABLE :
  Buddhism holds wisdom is the beacon or life and that it is not a gift from heaven but can be acquired by cultivation through rational thing, listening or studying and putting to practice what has
been assimilated in the process of studying.
    22. GRATITUDE :
               Buddhism stresses the virtue of gratitude. This connotes the endeavour to repay kindness whenever possible. This virtue is said to be the dispensable quality of a good person.
 

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