The Noble Eightfold Path

The Eight elements of the Path are grouped into one of three divisions; Wisdom, Ethics or Morality, and Concentration.

Within the division of Wisdom (Prajna) we find: Proper Understanding and Proper Thought.

1) Proper Understanding (View, Perspective, Outlook) is both an understanding of the Buddha’s Teaching and also an acknowledgement of why we have chosen to follow these teachings: These teachings include the Four Noble Truths, Cause and Effect, Impermanence, and Non-Self.

2) Proper Thought (Resolve, Conception, Aspiration, Intention) refers to the Practices of Non-Attachment, Loving-Kindness, and Harmlessness

Within the division of Ethics or Morality (Sila) we find: Proper Speech, Proper Action, and Proper Livelihood.

3) Proper Speech is respect for the Truth and the avoidance of Lying, Backbiting, Slander, Harsh Speech, and Idle Talk

4) Proper Action (Conduct) is expressed by the Five Precepts. These Precepts help us do our best to protect living beings and all living things, to respect the property of others, to be sexually responcible, to use words truthfully and compassionately, and to respect and care for our own body and mind.

5) Proper Livelihood advises that we not engage in an occupation that’s at variance with the ideals of Proper Action, of Compassion, and of Wisdom. These traditionally are listed as the buying and selling of human beings, the buying and selling of weapons, the sex trade, the buying and selling of intoxicating drinks or drugs, and the creation and the buying and selling of poisons. I’m sure each of us could add to this list.

Within the final division, the division of Concentration (Samadhi), we find: Proper Effort, Proper Mindfulness, and Proper Concentration.

6) Proper Effort (Endeavor, Diligence) is the effort to reject and deny the unwholesome and the effort to develop and grow the wholesome that is within all of us.

7) Proper Mindfulness (Awareness, Attention) is to be constantly aware of our body, our words, our feelings, and our thoughts.

8) And Proper Concentration (Meditation) means no distractions in our practice of Proper Mindfulness of our practice of the Path as a whole. This is why we practice meditation, to help us in our Mindfulness our Awareness. And this is why we practice the Eightfold Path.

We look to the Path to help eradicate the Three Poisons of greed (desire), hatred (anger), and delusion (ignorance). Where the poisons are, there is no Nirvana. Where they are not, there is Nirvana.