The Eightfold Path To Enlightenment

The Noble Eightfold Path, discovered by the Buddha Himself, is the only way to Nirvana. It avoids the extreme of self-torture that weakens ones intellect and the extreme of self-indulgence that retards ones spiritual progress.

Historian of religion, Huston Smith, tells us that the Buddha's approach "was essentially that of a physician." He diagnoses the disease, identifies the root cause, and prescribes the cure. The cure for suffering and to move towards wisdom is the Eight-Fold Path. It consists of the following eight factors:

1.Right Understanding

Right Understanding is the knowledge of the Four Noble Truths. In other words, it is the understanding of oneself as one really is. We must acknowledge the truth of life---that life is suffering due to self-indulgence. The keynote of Buddhism is Right Understanding. Buddhism, as such, is based on knowledge and not on unreasonable belief.

2.Right Thoughts

Right Thoughts are threefold. They are:

• The thoughts of renunciation which are opposed to sense-pleasures.

• Kind Thoughts which are opposed to ill-will.

• Thoughts of harmlessness which are opposed to cruelty.

These tend to purify the mind. We must have a clear view of the goal, which is to bring benefit to others.

3.Right Speech

Right Speech deals with refraining from falsehood, stealing, slandering, harsh words and frivolous talks. We must speak only the truth by noticing how many times we do not do this, as well as notice any unkindness or deceit in our language.

4.Right Conduct

Right Action deals with refraining from killing, stealing and unchastity (sexual abstention for monks, faithfulness for married people). It helps one to develop a character that is self-controlled and mindful of rights of others.

5.Right Livelihood

Right Livelihood deals with the six kinds of trades which should be avoided by a lay disciple. They are:

• trade in deadly weapons

• trade in animals for slaughter

• trade in slavery

• trade in prostitution

• trade in intoxicants

• trade in poisons

Right Livelihood means earring ones living in a way that is not harmful to others.

6.Right Effort

Right Effort is fourfold, namely:

• the endeavor to discard evil that has already arisen

• the endeavor to prevent the arising of unrisen evil

• the endeavor to develop that good which has already arisen

• the endeavor to promote that good which has not already arisen.

Effort is needed to cultivate Good Conduct or develop one's mind, because one is often distracted or tempted to take the easy way out of things. The Buddha teaches that attaining happiness and Enlightenment depends upon one's own efforts. Effort is the root of all achievement. If one wants to get to the top of a mountain, just sitting at the foot thinking about it will not bring one there. It is by making the effort of climbing up the mountain, step by step, that one eventually reaches the summit. Thus, no matter how great the Buddha's achievement may be, or how excellent His Teaching is, one must put the Teaching into practice before one can expect to obtain the desired result.

7.Right Mindfulness

Right Mindfulness is the awareness of one's deeds, words and thoughts. No teacher has credited the mind with more influence over life than did the Buddha. The best loved of all Buddhist texts, the Dhammapada, opens with the words, "All we are is the result of what we have thought." And respecting the future, it assures us that "all things can be mastered by mindfulness." (Smith p.109) In mindfulness, the Buddha counsels us to have a steady attention to our thoughts and feelings. Any thoughts and feelings we do not like should be meditated upon until we understand them and only loving-kindness is left.

Right Mindfulness is fourfold:

• mindfulness with regard to body

• mindfulness with regard to feeling

• mindfulness with regard to mind

• mindfulness with regard to mental objects.

8.Right Concentration

We must use the mind to focus our attention and penetrate delusion and craving. Meditation means the gradual process of training the mind to focus on a single object and to remain fixed upon the object without wavering. The constant practice of meditation helps one to develop a calm and concentrated mind and helps to prepare one for the attainment of Wisdom and ultimately, Enlightenment.Ê