given to the individual, to make legitimate claims on one's rights. He believes that human rights should be seen as a part of human development, in which one develops from moral discipline (), to concentration () and finally wisdom (). He does not believe, however, that human rights are natural rights, but rather human conventions. Buddhism scholar Somparn Promta disagrees with him. He argues that human beings do have natural rights from a Buddhist perspective, and refers to the attūpanāyika-dhamma, a teaching in which the Buddha prescribes a kind of golden rule of comparing oneself with others. (See §Principles, above.) From this discourse, Promta concludes that the Buddha has laid down the five precepts in order to protect individual rights such as right of life and property: human rights are implicit within the five precepts. Academic Buntham Phunsap argues, however, that though human rights are useful in culturally pluralistic societies, they are in fact not required when society is entirely based on the five precepts. Phunsap therefore does not see human rights as part of Buddhist doctrine. See also Dhammika Sutta Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, five principles applied in geopolitics, for which the same term is used Five Vows of Jainism Notes Citations References External links Five Precepts: Collected Essays by Paul Dahlke (BPS Wheel Publication No. 55) Going for Refuge; Taking the Precepts by Bhikkhu Bodhi (BPS Wheel Publication No. 282 / 284) For a Future to Be Possible: classic work about the five precepts, by Thich Nhat Hanh and several other authors The Mind of Clover: Essays in Zen Buddhist Ethics: by Robert Aitken, about the precepts in Zen Buddhism Excerpt from the Pāli Canon about the precepts, on website Access to Insight, archived from original on 7 May 2005 Dissertation about the role of the precepts in modern society, and the aspect of heedfulness (apamada) Article with overview of the role of the precepts in Buddhist teachings, by scholar of religion Donald Swearer (registration required) The Buddha's Guidelines for Simplifying Life: The Precepts Buddhism for Beginners Buddhist oaths Codes of conduct Buddhist ethics Buddhist belief and doctrine Buddhism and society Buddhism and violence