user8044: Could you try to formulate an answer to the above question, in line with the Pali Canon, using simple colloquial language, for someone who doesn't yet know Buddhist terminology?
I'm asking because I want to try to explain this to a loved one
For a run-of-the-mill sort of person, life would take the path of least resistance and indulgence in sense pleasures is what is long sought. It is the path of least resistance, the downward path or ‘Anusothagami’ while the traveler of this road less traveled is climbing in the opposite direction to the flow or ‘Patisothagami’. How can one get such a person to see this otherness?

user13751: Saddha leads to Seela.
So try to bring him to an understanding that:

There is no real refuge from kama vastu (money, wealth,  parents, spouses,  children, looks, education, government, etc.)
True refuge is the Buddha; his Teachings; and the Sangha who led by example.
Only a well guarded mind can bring one's own happiness and peace
Enlightened ones explain the workings of the mind
Impurity  of mind manifest in speech n conduct
By default an impure mind is unable to be at peace... and enjoy worldy blessing .... let alone see the Truth of samsara

Personally I try presenting the Buddha's views as an "alternative knowledge" to common knowledge of modern man. I tell my children that a Buddha's knowledge is far superior -- it's based on Dana, Bala, Jnana (generosity, strength, knowledge) -- whereas what modern fields of knowledge says is that it's based on sensory perception of the 5 sense faculties

I also help to practice Seela (precepts):

By example, as far as possible
Pointing out the exemplary conducts in real life... jataka stories where the bodhisatwa practised the virtues under extremely difficult conditions... also buddhist stories of lives of Disciples.... and any family or friends who are keeping precepts
Inculcating values such as, "all living beings are equal... all are in samsara, with a mind and a body that is liable to experience pain... thinking of oneself, one does not harm other living beings"


user254: Right view means understanding the four noble truths.
Right intention follows as a consequence of right view.
There are three intentions (renunciation, non-aversion or loving-kindness, and non-injury or compassion).

And what is right resolve? Being resolved on renunciation, on freedom from ill-will, on harmlessness: This is called right resolve. (SN 45.8)

Right view gives motivation to renounce attachment (clinging to pleasure, fame, and so on ... these are usually seen as desirable but with right view you see that they lead to dukkha ... with right view you naturally choose to renounce them).
I'm not sure whether that's an important aspect of ethical conduct, though ... according to many definitions of "ethical", it's the intentions of loving-kindness and compassion, not the intention of renunciation, that motivates ethical conduct.
Still, I suspect they develop together (the factors of the eightfold path are inter-related).
It may be possible to think of examples of where someone has hurt or ignored another, either because they're busy greedily chasing a sense-pleasure or because they're suffering the consequences of misplaced attachment -- for that reason even if "ethical" is taken to mean "good to others", renunciation (to avoid attachment and suffering) is "an important aspect" (which, for example, may make it easier to follow the precepts).

8044: <p>Could you try to formulate an answer to the above question, in line with the Pali Canon, using simple colloquial language, for someone who doesn't yet know Buddhist terminology?</p>

<p>I'm asking because I want to try to explain this to a loved one</p>

<p>For a run-of-the-mill sort of person, life would take the path of least resistance and indulgence in sense pleasures is what is long sought. It is the path of least resistance, the downward path or ‘Anusothagami’ while the traveler of this road less traveled is climbing in the opposite direction to the flow or ‘Patisothagami’. How can one get such a person to see this otherness?</p>
 13751: <p>Saddha leads to Seela.
So try to bring him to an understanding that:</p>

<ol>
<li>There is no real refuge from kama vastu (money, wealth,  parents, spouses,  children, looks, education, government, etc.)</li>
<li>True refuge is the Buddha; his Teachings; and the Sangha who led by example.</li>
<li>Only a well guarded mind can bring one's own happiness and peace</li>
<li>Enlightened ones explain the workings of the mind</li>
<li>Impurity  of mind manifest in speech n conduct</li>
<li>By default an impure mind is unable to be at peace... and enjoy worldy blessing .... let alone see the Truth of samsara</li>
</ol>

<p>Personally I try presenting the Buddha's views as an "alternative knowledge" to common knowledge of modern man. I tell my children that a Buddha's knowledge is far superior -- it's based on Dana, Bala, Jnana (generosity, strength, knowledge) -- whereas what modern fields of knowledge says is that it's based on sensory perception of the 5 sense faculties</p>

<hr>

<p>I also help to practice Seela (precepts):</p>

<ol>
<li>By example, as far as possible</li>
<li>Pointing out the exemplary conducts in real life... jataka stories where the bodhisatwa practised the virtues under extremely difficult conditions... also buddhist stories of lives of Disciples.... and any family or friends who are keeping precepts</li>
<li>Inculcating values such as, "all living beings are equal... all are in samsara, with a mind and a body that is liable to experience pain... thinking of oneself, one does not harm other living beings"</li>
</ol>
 254: <p>Right view means understanding the four noble truths.</p>

<p>Right intention follows as a consequence of right view.</p>

<p>There are three intentions (renunciation, non-aversion or loving-kindness, and non-injury or compassion).</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>And what is right resolve? Being resolved on renunciation, on freedom from ill-will, on harmlessness: This is called right resolve. (<a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn45/sn45.008.than.html" rel="nofollow">SN 45.8</a>)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Right view gives motivation to renounce attachment (clinging to pleasure, fame, and so on ... these are usually seen as desirable but with right view you see that they lead to <em>dukkha</em> ... with right view you naturally choose to renounce them).</p>

<p>I'm not sure whether that's an important aspect of <em>ethical</em> conduct, though ... according to many definitions of "ethical", it's the intentions of loving-kindness and compassion, not the intention of renunciation, that motivates ethical conduct.</p>

<p>Still, I suspect they develop together (the factors of the eightfold path are inter-related).</p>

<p>It may be possible to think of examples of where someone has hurt or ignored another, either because they're busy greedily chasing a sense-pleasure or because they're suffering the consequences of misplaced attachment -- for that reason even if "ethical" is taken to mean "good to others", renunciation (to avoid attachment and suffering) is "an important aspect" (which, for example, may make it easier to follow the precepts).</p>
