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. The book covers topics such as: concepts of freedom of the will; culpability and punishment; the interplay of ethical rules and compassion; nature and ethics; economic ethics; Buddhism, violence and peace; embryonic life and the practice of abortion; views on death and organ donation; suicide, marriage and women in Buddhism. Buddhist Ethics in Theory and Practice represents a valuable collection of resources to enrich the understanding of the dynamic interplay of ideal and reality in Buddhism.