Buddhist ethics are traditionally based on the enlightened perspective of the Buddha. In Buddhism, ethics or morality are understood by the term śīla (Sanskrit: शील) or sīla (Pāli). Śīla is one of three sections of the Noble Eightfold Path. It is a code of conduct that emulates a natural inborn nature that embraces a commitment to harmony, equanimity, and self-regulation, primarily motivated by nonviolence or freedom from causing harm. It has been variously described as virtue, moral discipline uprightness and precept, skillful conduct.

In contrast to the english word "morality" (i.e., obedience, a sense of obligation, and external constraint), Sīla is a resolve to connect with what is believed to be our innate ethical compass. It is an intentional ethical behaviour that is refined and clarified through walking the path toward liberation. Within some traditions, the true adversary is our ignorance, our clinging to beliefs, complexes and our misguided perceptions. As such, behavior is not viewed as good or evil but as skillful or unskillful.

Sīla is one of the three practices foundational to Buddhism and the non-sectarian Vipassana movement; sīla, samādhi, and paññā as well as the Theravadin foundations of sīla, dāna, and bhavana. It is also the second pāramitā. Sīla is the wholehearted commitment to what is wholesome that grows with experience of practice. Two aspects of sīla are essential to the training: right "performance" (caritta), and right "avoidance" (varitta). Honoring the precepts of sīla is considered a "great gift" (mahadana) to others because it creates an atmosphere of trust, respect, and security. It means that the practitioner poses no threat to anothers life, family, rights, well-being or property.

Moral instructions are included in Buddhist scriptures or handed down through tradition. Most scholars of Buddhist ethics thus rely on the examination of Buddhist scriptures and the use of anthropological evidence from traditional Buddhist societies to justify claims about the nature of Buddhist ethics. While many commonalities exist, there are differences between major Buddhist schools Theravada, Mahāyāna, Vajrayana, and Navayana in regards to texts, emphasis, practices, and ethical outlook.

The universal source for Buddhist ethics are the Three Jewels of the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. The Buddha is seen as the originator of liberating knowledge and hence is the foremost teacher. The Dharma is both the teachings of the Buddha's path and the truths of these teachings. The Sangha is the community of noble ones (ariya) who practice the Dharma and have attained some knowledge, and can thus provide guidance and preserve the teachings. Having proper understanding of the teachings is vital for proper ethical conduct. The Buddha taught that right view, also referred to as right intention and right action, was a necessary prerequisite for right conduct.

The Four Noble Truths are at the foundation of Buddhist ethics, particularly in Theravada, and include:

The Four Noble Truths express the central problem motivating Buddhist ethics—the need for liberation from suffering. According to the first Noble Truth, worldly existence is fraught with suffering (dukkha). Dukkha is seen to arise from craving, and putting an end to craving can lead to liberation (Nirvana). Cravings may be foregone by following the Noble Eightfold Path taught by the Buddha, which includes the ethical elements of right speech, right action and right livelihood. From the point of view of the Four Noble Truths, an action is seen as ethical if it is conductive to the elimination of dukkha. Understanding the truth of dukkha in life allows one to analyze the factors for its arising, that is craving, and allows us to feel compassion and empathy for others. By contemplating dukkha as a shared condition of all sentient beings, the practitioner cultivates compassion and seeks to alleviate suffering through wise and skillful action. From the Buddhist perspective, an act is also skillful if it promotes spiritual development by conforming to the Eightfold Path and leading to Nirvana.

Not all Buddhist traditions emphasize the Four Noble Truths equally. In Mahāyāna Buddhism, the focus shifts beyond individual liberation (arhatship) toward universal awakening motivated by loving-kindness and compassion for all beings. Bodhisattvas are believed to work tirelessly for the liberation of all through the Bodhisattva path. Central to this path are the Six (or Ten) Pāramitās: Dāna (generosity), Śīla (ethical conduct), Kṣānti (patience), Vīrya (diligence), Dhyāna (meditation), and Prajñā (wisdom). Mahāyāna also emphasizes key concepts such as emptiness (śūnyatā), interdependence, Buddha-nature, and skillful means (upāya). Core Mahāyāna texts include the Lotus Sūtra, Heart Sūtra, Diamond Sūtra, and Avataṃsaka Sūtra.