The Bourgeois Virtues: Ethics for an Age of Commerce

eastern and other ways 389And Confucius is repeatedly characterized as exercising temperance aswell: “Even when there was plenty of meat, he avoided eating more thanrice. Only in the case of wine did he not set himself a rigid limit. He simplynever drank to the point of becoming confused.” 7 And he also speaks of eros,as in quoting a compact poem of a lover pining:The flowers of the cherry tree,How they wave about!It’s not that I do not think of you,But your home is so far away.“The Master commented, ‘He did not really think of her. If he did, there isno such thing as being far away.’” 8Similarly in Buddhism one can pick out the Western seven virtues if youwork at it a little. Buddha said, “Evil deeds are committed from partiality,enmity, stupidity, and fear.” 9 That is to say, evil comes from a lack of justice,love, prudence, and courage. Temperance and hope are easily discerned inthe very discipline of a “noble lay-disciple,” who can expect if he follows itto be “fortunate both in this world and the next, and when his body breaksup on his death he is reborn to bliss in heaven.” Only faith is absent from themaster’s words, at any rate in its backward-looking form, though of coursehis followers practiced it.So elsewhere east of Suez. The Vimalakirti Sutra presents a vivid portraitof a rich, mercantile, bourgeois Buddhist. The text we have is the Chinesetranslation of AD 406 of a lost first-century Sanskrit original. A chapterentitled in its English translation by Burton Watson “Expedient Means”explains why Mr. Vimalakirti was blessed. Each attribute can be assigned toa Western virtue or antivice:If he was among rich men, they honored him as foremost amongthem because he preached the superior Law [that is, proper prudence]for them. If he was among lay believers, they honored him as foremostbecause he freed them from greed and attachment [that is, improper prudenceand improper love]. If among warriors . . . he taught them forbearance[temperance, justice]. If among Brahmans . . . he rid them of their self-conceit[pride]. The great ministers ...because he taught them the correct law[justice].The princes ...because he showed them how to be loyal [faith]and filial [love, justice]. . . . The common people honored him as firstamong them because he helped them to gain wealth and power [prudenceagain, and hope]. 10