This work is a collection of soundings on topics in the theory and practice - past and present - of Buddhist ethics. It reveals the richness and diversity of this dimension of Buddhism which, along with meditation and the cultivation of wisdom, comprises the overall path of Buddhist practice. Key topics are discussed including: concepts of freedom of the will; culpability and punishment; the interplay of ethical rules and compassion; nature and ethics; economic ethics of Buddhism; violence and peace; embryonic life and the practice of abortion; and views on death and organ donation, suicide, marriage and women in Buddhism. "Buddhist Ethics in Theory and Practice" represents a valuable array of resources to enrich the understanding of the dynamic interplay of ideal and reality in Buddhism.