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Buddhism
The Eight Fold Path
by Ch'onsa Kim
 Buddhism does not aim to explain God, creation or eternal
concepts. Such truths can only be found within the heart of a person.
Whatever one holds within the heart is what is.
What Buddhism does aim to
do is help us overcome the chaos of this world and point us to a path that
leads us to our own spirituality.
We are all searching for the same
things - freedom from our pain and realizing who we truly are, deep within.
The Buddha, Siddharth Gautama, in his contemplation, realized the truth
about suffering and the path to liberation from it. This Eight-Fold Path
and Four Noble Truths make up the foundation of Buddhism.
Right View : The Four Noble Truths
- The truth about suffering is
that it exists. Life is suffering. Birth, aging and dying is suffering.
- Our reaching into the world of dreams, our desire to
fulfill what cannot be fulfilled is what brings us our suffering.
- Only when we have broken the mirrors of illusion can
we end our suffering, and
- the Eight-Fold Path can help us to break our habits
of suffering.
WWhen we are able to recognize suffering as it enters our
lives, see that our own desires have brought us this pain, and understand
that letting go of this desire can bring us peace we have attained Right
View.
Right Thought
Reality grows in the garden of the mind. Our world is the
fruit of our thoughts that sprout from the seeds of ideas. We must
therefore be discerning gardeners, looking carefully at what ideas we
allow to take root within the mind. We must be able to recognize which
ideas and thoughts are born of desire and which carry the seeds of desire
that causes our suffering.
The seeds of suffering that take root within the mind are
those of greed, ill-will, hostility, denigration, dominance, envy,
jealousy, hypocrisy, fraud, obstinacy, presumption, conceit, arrogance,
vanity and negligence. In Buddhism, these are known as the 15 defilements,
and the Buddha realized 6 methods for removing such defilements from the
mind:
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Restraining: Restrain from what pleases the senses but bears poison.
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Using: Use all that we are, all that we have, all there is to cultivate peace.
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Tolerating: Tolerate all adversity, and never abandon our gardens to the wild.
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Avoiding: Avoid all that is impure and spoils the soil of the mind. Tend only to
what is pure and that which nurtures the pure.
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Destroying: Remove the
defilements by destroying them from the root.
-
Developing: Never cease
to develop our skills of peacefulness.
Right Speech
We are often judged by our words. Long after we leave this
world, our words shall remain. Words can often be sharper than the blade
of the sword, bringing harm to the spirit of a person which can cause
wounds that are deeper and last longer than that of a dagger. Therefore,
we must choose our words carefully. The Buddha realized 4 methods of
speech that bring peace to our lives and the lives of those who surround
us.
Right Action
- Words of Honesty:
Speaking without truth can be a means to our end and to the end of others.
Therefore, honesty is always the best policy.
- Words of Kindness:
Speaking words of kindness, we will never be the cause that divides hearts
or puts brother against brother. We become peacemakers. Our words are
cherished and valued and shall bring peacefulness to ourselves and to
those surrounding us.
- Words that are Nurturing:
Words that comfort rather than harm the heart, shall travel to the heart,
and bring long lasting peace.
- Words that are Worthy:
Speaking only what is worthy and valuable for the moment, our words will
always be found sweet to the ears of others and shall always be considered
in a peaceful manner. Words of gossip, untruth, and selfishness do not
return to us with peace. The worth of our words is measured by how much
they improve the silence.
All of our lives we have been instructed to do the right
thing. Often we are perplexed with what is the right thing. Ultimately, we
must decide for ourselves what is right- but often our judgment is clouded
by the defilements of the mind. While upon the Eight-Fold path, we must
remember that our aim is to end our suffering. All we do, comes back to us
in one way or another, eventually. What may be the right thing for the
moment may not be the right thing for the next. Although this moment is
the only one that exists, we must not fail to realize that within this
moment- the past, present and future are contained. The truly right does
not change from moment to moment. Look deep within your own heart, and you
will know what is right.
The Golden Rule in Buddhism is: Do
No Harm.
The Buddha practiced the following code of conduct in his
own life:
- Respect life
- Earn all that you have
- Control your desire, rather than allow desire to
control you.
Right Livelihood
Often when one begins practicing the ways of Peace, a time
comes when lifestyle must be evaluated. In this life, we have the
opportunity to liberate ourselves from the cycle of suffering and find
peace. We also have the opportunity to help others break free. Does one's
way of life support or hinder the ways of Peace? Only the heart
knows.
Right Effort
The path is not an easy one. Our habits of suffering are
strong, and deeply imprinted in our way of life. It is difficult to
maneuver peacefully in a world of chaos. Many of the things that we know
we must let go of are things that we have held dearly for we have fought
fiercely to obtain them. Our very own self- identity may have been formed
with great personal sacrifice. Discipline and diligence is key to
persevering on the path. Therefore, our decision to take up the path to
liberation must be firm, and executed with right effort. When we have
realized the truth of suffering, and are willing to seek liberation with
the same tenacity as a drowning man struggles for a breath, then right
effort has been attained.
Right Mindfulness
Being mindful of the heart of matters can help us to
overcome suffering with understanding. When sitting, laying or moving,
being mindful of the following four frames of references are said by the
Buddha to help us achieve great understanding, and can even help us unlock
the secrets that are within our hearts.
- The Body:
Paying attention to our physical being can help us direct the mind away
from the distractions of the world. Focusing on our breath, our movements,
our actions, our components, and on the sheer miracle of our physical
existence we can arrive at calmness and clarity.
- Feelings:
Paying attention to our external and internal feelings, observing their
rise and fall, can help us realize their origination, development and
decline. Understanding the nature of our feelings can help us let go and
break our habits of clinging.
- Mind:
Turning the mind upon itself, observing our thoughts, can help us realize
the origination and aim of our thoughts. With this understanding, we can
understand the nature of the mind and overcome our thought habits of
suffering.
- Mental Qualities:
Paying attention to our mental state of mind can help us recognize the
five hindrances of our mentality (sensual desire, ill-will, laziness,
anxiety and doubt). Observing their origination, development and decline,
can help us realize how we can overcome them. By observing the
origination, the components, the development, and the decline of things in
regard to these frames of reference, we can find a deep understanding in
the nature of ourselves, and to know our own hearts is to know the hearts
of others.
Right Concentration
As we sail through life, the winds of desire push us
toward the Ocean of Suffering. But the skillful stand firm in virtue at
the helm, directing the rudder of the mind toward peace. Single-minded
concentration on the path to Peace (the Eight-Fold path) is right
concentration. It is picking yourself up when you stumble and continuing
onward. It is recognizing why you have fallen astray. It is recognizing
when you are about to fall. It is continuing upon the path without
hesitation or doubt. It is never ceasing to develop our skill in the
way.
Namaste'
References:
The Mulalapariyaya,
Sabbasava, Sammaditthi, Satipatthana, Vitakkasanthana, Abhaya,
Mahacattarisaka, and the Bhaddekaratta Suttas of the Majjhima Nikaya (the
Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha)
November 1999
Image under license with
Gettyimages.com
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by Ch'onsa Kim
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The Way of the Wise
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