The Noble Eightfold Path

An outstanding aspect of the Buddha's teaching is the adoption of the Eightfold Path as a noble way of living. Another name for the Eightfold Path is the Middle Path. The Buddha advised His followers to follow this Path so as to avoid the extremes of sensual pleasures and self-mortification. The Middle Path is a righteous way of life which does not advocate the acceptance of decrees given by someone outside of oneself. A person practises the Middle Path, the guide for moral conduct, not out of fear of any supernatural agency, but of the intrinsic value in following such an action. He chooses this self-imposed discipline for a definite end in view: self-purification.

The Middle Path is a planned course of inward culture and progress. A person can make real progress in righteousness and insight by following this Path, and not by engaging in external worship and prayers. According to the Buddha, anyone who lives in accordance with the Dhamma will be guided and protected by that very Law. When a person lives according to the Dhamma, he will also be living in harmony with the universal law.

Every Buddhist is encouraged to mould his life according to the Noble Eightfold Path as taught by the Buddha. He who adjusts his life according to this noble way of living will be free from miseries and calamities both in this life-time and hereafter. He will also be able to develop his mind by restraining from evil and observing morality.

The Eightfold Path consists of the following eight factors:

1)    Right Understanding

2)    Right Thoughts

3)    Right Speech

4)    Right Action

5)    Right Livelihood

6)    Right Effort

7)    Right Mindfulness

8)    Right Concentration

Right Understanding

Right Understanding is explained as the knowledge of the four Noble Truths. When a person has Right Understanding, he or she develops Right Thoughts as well. It refers to the mental state which eliminates wrong ideas or notions and promotes the other moral factors to be directed to Nibbana. This factor serves a double purpose of eliminating evil thoughts and developing pure thoughts. Right Thought is important because it is one's thoughts which either purify or defile a person.

Right Thoughts

There are three aspects to Right Thoughts:

• A person should maintain an attitude of detachment from worldly pleasures rather than being selfishly attached to them. He should be selfless in his thoughts and think of the welfare of others.

• He should maintain loving-kindness, goodwill and benevolence in his mind.

• He should act with thoughts of harmlessness or compassion to all beings.

As a person progresses along the spiritual path, his thoughts will become increasingly benevolent, harmless, selfless, and filled with love and compassion. Right Understanding and Right Thought, which are Wisdom factors, will lead to good, moral conduct. There are three factors under moral conduct: Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood.

Right Speech

Refraining from:

• Falsehood

• Slandering

• Harsh words

• Frivolous talk

Right Action

Abstinence from:

• Killing

• Stealing

• Sexual misconduct

Right Livelihood

Buddhists are discouraged from trading in:

• Human beings

• Weapons

• Flesh

• Intoxicating drinks and drugs

• Poison

The remaining three factors of the Noble Eightfold Path are factors for the development of wisdom through purification of the mind. They are Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration. These factors, when practised, enable a person to strengthen and gain control over the mind, thereby ensuring that his actions will continue to be good and that his mind is being prepared to realize the Truth, which will open the door to Enlightenment.

Right Effort

• The effort to discard unwholesome state that has already arisen.

• The effort to prevent the arising of unarisen unwholesome state.

• The effort to develop unarisen wholesome state.

• The effort to promote the wholesome state which have already arisen.

Right Mindfulness

Directing attention to:

• Body

• Feeling

• Mind

• Mental objects

Right Concentration

Right concentration is the sustained application of that attention on the object without the mind being distracted. Concentration is the practice of developing one-pointedness of the mind on a single object, either physical or mental. The mind is totally absorbed in the object without distractions, wavering, anxiety or drowsiness. Through practice, Right Concentration can brings tow benefits. Firstly, it leads to mental and physical well-being, comfort, joy, calm, tranquillity. Secondly, it turns the mind into an instrument capable of seeing things as they truly are, and prepares the mind to attain wisdom.

Source: What Buddhists Believe by Dr. K. Sri. Dhammananda