The "Divine Abodes" of Buddhist ethics identify four universal virtues as subjects for meditation and contemplation by those who desire to improve their lives: loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. However, putting these ideals into common practice may prove difficult under extenuating circumstances. Should one take a human life when doing so could prevent the deaths of multiple people clearly in harm's way? Were Vietnamese Buddhist monks right to take their own lives in self-immolation to protest the war raging within their country? Did these acts violate ethical codes, or did they serve a greater purpose?