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Namo tassa Bhagavato Arahato Sammâ Sambuddhassa!
Noble Eightfold Path
By Rasika Wijayaratne
The Lord Buddha showed us
a way out of
dukkha (stress, suffering, unsatisfactoriness) called the
Noble Eightfold Path. This path is composed of eight "steps" or components to be
practiced in unison, leading to Nibbâna
(realization). As a young person, even if one is not intent on traversing this
higher path, it is good to
have knowledge of it. The following are the eight steps and how they can be practiced.
1. Samma-ditthi (right
view): “And what, monks, is right view?
Knowledge with regard to stress, knowledge with regard to the origination of stress,
knowledge with regard to the stopping of stress, knowledge with regard to the way
of practice leading to the stopping of stress: This, monks, is called right view.”1
The first component of the path involves having a good understanding of the
Four Noble Truths of 1. suffering, 2. the
cause of suffering, 3. the end of suffering and 4. the way leading to
the end of suffering. This step is primarily practiced mentally.
2. Samma-sankappo (right
intention / motive / resolve): “…Being
resolved on renunciation, on freedom from ill will, on harmlessness…”
This includes developing positive intentions in our minds at all times, such as
thoughts of detachment and letting go
(nekkhamma or renunciation),
loving-kindness (mettâ),
compassion (karunâ), non-jealousy
(muditâ)
and equanimity (upekkhâ).2
This step is primarily practiced mentally.
3. Samma-vâca (right
speech): “…Abstaining from lying, abstaining
from divisive speech, abstaining from abusive speech, abstaining from idle chatter…”
This includes always speaking 1. words that are truthful, 2. words that create unity
among people rather than disunity, 3. words that are gentle and kind as opposed
to harsh words, 4. and avoiding empty words which are of no benefit to anyone. This
step is primarily practiced verbally.
4. Samma-kammantô (right
action): “…Abstaining from taking life,
abstaining from stealing, abstaining from unchastity…” This
includes 1. avoiding killing and being kind and compassionate to all beings, 2.
not stealing, and 3. avoiding being unfaithful to one's and others' partners and
primarily for youth avoiding pre-marital sexual relations. This is step primarily
practiced physically.
5. Samma-ajivô (right
livelihood): “A lay follower should not
engage in five types of business. Which five? Business in weapons, business in living
beings, business in meat, business in intoxicants, and business in poison.”3
This primarily involves being employed in an honest and harmless occupation. This
is step primarily practiced physically.
6. Samma-vayâmô (right
effort): “(i) There is the case where a
monk generates desire, endeavors, activates persistence, upholds & exerts his
intent for the sake of the non-arising of evil, unskillful qualities that have not
yet arisen. (ii) He generates desire, … for the sake of the abandonment of evil,
unskillful qualities that have arisen. (iii) He generates desire, … for the sake
of the arising of skillful qualities that have not yet arisen. (iv) He generates
desire, endeavors, activates persistence, upholds & exerts his intent for the
maintenance, non-confusion, increase, plenitude, development, & culmination
of skillful qualities that have arisen.” That is 1. exerting
effort to prevent bad qualities that have not yet arisen, 2. the exerting of effort
to abandon bad qualities that have already arisen, 3. the effort to give rise to
good qualities that have not yet arisen and 3. the effort to maintain the good qualities
that have already arisen. This is step primarily practiced mentally.
7. Samma-sati (right
mindfulness): “(i) There is the case where
a monk remains focused on the body in & of itself -- ardent, aware, & mindful
-- putting away greed & distress with reference to the world. (ii) He remains
focused on feelings … (iii) He remains focused on the mind ... (iv) He remains focused
on mental qualities ...” This is the continuous mental observation/watching
and awareness (this is being mindfulness) at all times of all changes that occur
in 1. our bodies, 2. our feelings, 3. our minds and 4. phenomena. This step is primarily
practiced mentally.4
8. Samma-samâdhi (right
concentration): “(i) There is the case
where a monk -- quite withdrawn from sensuality, withdrawn from unskillful (mental)
qualities -- enters & remains in the first jhana: rapture & pleasure born
from withdrawal, accompanied by directed thought & evaluation. (ii) With the
stilling of directed thought & evaluation, he enters & remains in the second
jhana: rapture & pleasure born of concentration, unification of awareness free
from directed thought & evaluation -- internal assurance. (iii) With the fading
of rapture, he remains in equanimity, mindful & alert, and physically sensitive
of pleasure. He enters & remains in the third jhana, of which the Noble Ones
declare, 'Equanimous & mindful, he has a pleasurable abiding.' (iv) With the
abandoning of pleasure & pain -- as with the earlier disappearance of elation
& distress -- he enters & remains in the fourth jhana: purity of equanimity
& mindfulness, neither pleasure nor pain.” This is withdrawing
from sensual pleasures and practicing
meditations such as loving-kindness (metta), awareness of breath
(anâ-pâna-sati) or other
meditations to attain the higher mental states (jhâna).
This step is primarily practiced mentally.
Together the
eight components of the path represent sîla
(morality: composed of 3. right speech, 4. right action and 5. right livelihood),
samâdhi (concentration:
composed of 6. right effort, 7. right mindfulness and 8. right concentration) and
paññâ (wisdom: composed
of 1. right view and 2. right intention). These three, sîla,
samâdhi and paññâ
are the "next step up" from three foundation practices of
dâna (giving),
sîla (morality), bhâvana
(meditation), for those who wish to take their practice to the "next level" and
reach Nibbâna sooner. May you attain Nibbâna.
Notes
1. SN 45.8, Magga-vibhanga Sutta,
An Analysis
of the Path, Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
[
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn45/sn45.008.than.html ]
2. Mettâ, karunâ,
muditâ and upekkhâ are also called the divine abidings (brahma-vihara).
3. AN 5.177, Vanijja Sutta,
Business
(Wrong Livelihood), Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
[
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an05/an05.177.than.html ]
4. For a more detailed treatment
of samma-sati refer to
The Noble Eightfold Path - The Way to the End of Suffering,
by Bhikkhu Bodhi [
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/waytoend.html#ch6 ].
Related Youth Articles
1.
Daily Dâna by Rasika Wijayaratne (on generosity)
[ http://vihara.org.au/go?to=dailydana
]
2.
Five Precepts by Rasika Wijayaratne (on morality)
[ http://vihara.org.au/go?to=pansil
]
3.
Metta Meditation by Rasika Wijayaratne (basic instructions on the meditation
on loving-kindness)
[
http://vihara.org.au/go?to=mettamed ]
4.
Motives by Rasika Wijayaratne (a commentary)
[ http://vihara.org.au/go?to=motives
]
5.
Jealousy by Rasika Wijayaratne (an analysis of)
[ http://vihara.org.au/go?to=mudita
]
6.
Sensual Pleasure & Pain by Rasika Wijayaratne (on six sense bases; eye, ear, etc.) [
http://vihara.org.au/go?to=plespain ]
7.
One Hour of Unsatisfactoriness by Rasika Wijayaratne (on suffering) [
http://vihara.org.au/go?to=onehour ]
8.
Attachment by Rasika Wijayaratne (an analysis of)
[ http://vihara.org.au/go?to=attachment
]
9.
Four Noble Truths by Rasika Wijayaratne (a summary of)
[ http://vihara.org.au/go?to=fourtruths
]
Related Suttas
1. SN 45.8, Magga-vibhanga Sutta,
An Analysis
of the Path, Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
[
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn45/sn45.008.than.html ]
2. SN 56.11, Dhammacakkappavattana
Sutta,
Setting the Wheel of Dhamma in Motion, Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro
Bhikkhu [
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn56/sn56.011.than.html ]
3. AN 5.177, Vanijja Sutta,
Business
(Wrong Livelihood), Translated from the Pali by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
[
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an05/an05.177.than.html ]
Other Resources
1.
The Four Noble Truths - A Study Guide by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
[ http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/study/truths.html
]
2.
The Noble Eightfold Path - The Way to the End of Suffering by Bhikkhu Bodhi
[
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/waytoend.html ]
3.
Nibbana by Thanissaro Bhikkhu
[ http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/nibbana.html
]
4. Accesstoinsight.org section on brahma-vihara (i.e. mettâ, karunâ, muditâ and upekkhâ)
[
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/index-subject.html#brahmavihara ]
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