The Noble Eightfold Path
The Noble Eightfold Path
The Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path are the foundations of the Buddha’s Teaching. The eight steps of the Noble Eightfold Path are divided into the three ways of practice, namely Good Conduct, Mental Development and Wisdom. Good Conduct includes right speech, right action and right livelihood. The rules of Good Conduct are based on the recognition of the fact that all living beings wish for happiness and dislike suffering. Therefore, one should follow these rules for the sake of one’s happiness and the happiness of others.
Right Speech
To practise right speech, one must avoid telling lies, tale-bearing, harsh speech and idle talk.
(a) To avoid telling lies
If one has respect for truth, one will avoid telling lies. When a person consistently avoids telling lies, his relatives, friends and associates will trust him and value his sincerity. But if a person lies for the first time and the lie is not detected by others, he may continue to tell more lies until it becomes part of his nature. He will eventually lose the respect and trust of others.
There is a well-known fable of the shepherd boy who cried,“Wolf!” when there was actually no wolf attacking his sheep. The villagers, on hearing his cry for help, rushed to his aid but saw him sitting on the ground and laughing at them. He did this again and again until eventually nobody believed him. One day, when a wolf did attack his sheep, no one came to his help and all his sheep were killed.
This story reminds one that it is always better to be truthful. Lies, even when spoken out of fun, can cause regrets later on.
(b) To avoid tale-bearing
Tale-bearing is often a cause of ill will and quarrels among people. The tale-bearer speaks out of ill will because he intends to damage the reputation of others. One should speak to foster mutual understanding and harmony rather than create quarrels and disharmony.
(c) To avoid harsh speech
Harsh and abusive speech is also a cause of ill will and quarrels among people. Sometimes, on the road, one may see two aggressive motorists rushing out of their cars to confront each other because of a minor collision. One then hears a hot exchange of rude and abusive words as each tries to point out the other’s mistake. Instead of settling the matter calmly and reasonably, they quarrel and may even come to blows.
It is best to refrain from using harsh words, as these only arouse anger and resentment in others. One should speak gently and courteously at all times.
(d) To avoid idle talk
Idle talk or gossip should be avoided because it disturbs the mind and distracts one from more important activities such as one’s studies or work. A person who spends his time gossiping about others and criticising their faults, is not doing anything useful. His idle words may even cause quarrels and discord among his friends, relatives or neighbours. He only creates enemies for himself and others.
Thus one can see that speech plays a very important role in human relations. It can promote truth, harmony and peace but it can also create misunderstanding, discord and quarrels among men and nations. A good speaker can influence others immensely for better or for worse through his words. With this in mind, the Buddha advised one to consider these five conditions before speaking:
(1) Do I speak the truth?
(2) Do I speak gently?
(3) Are my words beneficial to others?
(4) Do I speak out of goodwill?
(5) Do I speak at the proper time and place?
Right Action
The practice of right action involves the respect for life, property and personal relationships. It helps one to develop a character that is self-controlled and mindful of the rights of others. To practise right action means to avoid killing, stealing and sexual misconduct.
(a) To avoid killing
All living beings, whether human or animal, love life and fear death. The Buddha said,
“All tremble at punishment, all fear death.
Putting oneself in the place of another,
One should not kill nor cause another to kill.”
Accordingly, the first aspect of right action is to avoid killing any living being. Just as one does not wish to be killed, so all living beings do not wish to be killed. If people resort to killing others in their desperate attempts to satisfy their desires for material things, power, fame or other pleasures of the senses, they may subsequently suffer punishment or revenge and be killed in turn. As the saying goes,“He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword.” Once one understands that killing inflicts pain and suffering on others, one should avoid killing.
(b) To avoid stealing
The second aspect of right action is respect for the property of others. This means that one should not steal, that is, take what is not one’s own by right. Robbery, theft and fraud are dishonest ways of possessing the property of others by force or deceit. The dishonest businessman who sells faulty goods and the employee who neglects his duties and yet collects his salary, are just as guilty of taking what is not rightfully theirs as the robber and the theft.
A famous teacher once wanted to find out which of his students was worthy of marrying his beautiful daughter. One day, he decided to test their character by announcing, “I want to give my daughter in marriage, but I must have proper ornaments for her. Steal some ornaments. If you can steal some without anyone’s knowledge, I will accept them. But if anyone knows that you have stolen the ornament, I shall not accept them.”
All the students, except one, agreed to do as their teacher had instructed. The teacher then asked the youth why he remained silent. The youth replied that the teacher’s plan was impossible to carry out. “You accept nothing which is not taken in secrecy,” he said, “but I find that there is no secrecy in wrongdoing. Even if no one should see my wrongdoing, I myself shall know of it.”
The teacher was very pleased with his response as it revealed his upright character. The teacher then gave his daughter in marriage to this honest youth. This story shows the importance of being able to recognise and avoid an unwholesome act.
Stealing is wrong because it takes away a source of happiness from others. In a society where the law has become ineffective and fraud, stealing and even robbery go unchecked, people live in fear and insecurity.
In recognising the anguish of loss when one is robbed or cheated, one should not think of stealing. It is for the security and good of everybody in society that people should avoid taking what is not rightfully theirs.
(c) To avoid sexual misconduct
Unlike the members of the Order, who lead celibate lives, Buddhist lay followers are not expected to abstain from sex altogether. However, the Buddha advised people to control their sexual desires so that they do not become a source of sorrow and suffering to themselves, their families and society as a whole. This means that they should avoid sexual relationships with the spouses of others, with those who are dependent on their parents or other relatives, and even with those who are engaged. This is the third aspect of right action.
Sexual misconduct will bring problems and suffering to the parties involved, and create tension and uneasiness in social relationships. Thus for their own good and that of society, people should avoid sexual misconduct.
Right Livelihood
Right livelihood means earning one’s living in a way that is not harmful to others. In the choice of one’s occupation, one should show respect for the life and welfare of all living beings.
There are five trades which the Buddha specifically considered as unworthy means of earning one’s living. These are trades in deadly weapons, animals for slaughter, slavery, intoxicants and poisons. These five kinds of livelihood should be avoided because they cause suffering and unhappiness to others and create disunity in society in many instances.
(a) Trade in deadly weapons
To deal in deadly weapons is to provide others with the means of killing. This goes against the first aspect of right action which is to avoid killing.
(b) Trade in animals for slaughter
Similarly, any livelihood which involves the killing of animals goes against the principle of respect for life.
(c) Trade in slavery
Slavery takes away the liberty and happiness of those who are being offered for sale. It degrades human dignity when people are sold like goods. As no respect is shown for the life and welfare of these victims of slavery, any involvement in the slave trade should be avoided.
(d) Trade in intoxicants
Intoxicating drugs and drinks disturb and cloud the mind so that one cannot think and act clearly. A person addicted to intoxicants may squander his entire income on it and cause family quarrels and material problems. Thus dealing in intoxicants can create social problems and disharmony.
(e) Trade in poisons
Like deadly weapons, poisons are for the purpose of killing. Any occupation dealing with the manufacture and sale of poisons is not conducive to the life and welfare of others.
The practice of Good Conduct through right speech, right action and right livelihood helps one to live at peace with oneself and with others in society. As one speaks or acts with respect for the happiness and welfare of others, the goodwill and concern is appreciated and reciprocated. When such an environment is created, it is conducive to personal growth and lays the foundation for Mental Development and Wisdom leading to Enlightenment.
Summary
Three steps of the Noble Eightfold Path are included in Good Conduct. They are right speech, right action and right livelihood. Right speech means to avoid telling lies, tale-bearing, harsh speech and idle talk. Right action means to avoid killing, stealing and sexual misconduct. Right livelihood means to avoid trading in deadly weapons, animals for slaughter, slaves, intoxicants and poisons. Good Conduct is the basis for Mental Development and Wisdom.
The mind has a great influence on all aspects of life. Medical science has shown that many illnesses such as hypertension, ulcers and migraine are partly caused by the mind. If a patient has a positive mental attitude, his chances of recovery are much improved.
The Buddha said,“All that people are, is the result of their minds; it is made up of their minds. If a man speaks or acts with an impure mind, suffering follows him like the wheel that follows the foot of the ox that pulls the cart. If a man speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.”
It is clear that if people wish to gain happiness and Enlightenment, they must learn to control and develop their minds. Mental Development involves three steps of the Noble Eightfold Path, namely right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration.
Right Effort
A farmer who wishes to grow vegetables for the market must put in a lot of effort to prepare the ground for planting, water the crops regularly, pull out the weeds, apply fertilisers to the soil, and do whatever is necessary to promote the growth of his crops. Just like the farmer, any person who wishes to succeed in any task, be it his studies or his work, must approach it with enthusiasm and make a sincere effort to do it well.
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 results.
According to the Buddha, there are four types of effort to be developed. Firstly there is the effort to prevent the arising of unwholesome thoughts, such as the desire for the property of others. Secondly, there is the effort to get rid of unwholesome thoughts that have already arisen in one’s mind. Thirdly, there is the effort to develop wholesome thoughts of loving-kindness and compassion. The fourth type of effort is the effort to maintain the wholesome thoughts that have already arisen even when they are not appreciated by others.
Right Mindfulness
Right mindfulness is an essential quality in one’s daily activities. If one’s mind is distracted and one is not mindful when, for example, driving a car or crossing a busy street, accidents can easily happen.
Right mindfulness is the awareness of one’s deeds, words and thoughts. The Buddha once told a story of an acrobat performing with his apprentice. When the two had climbed a pole, the master acrobat said to his apprentice, “Protect me and I will protect you. In this way, we will perform our act, come down safely and earn our living.”
However, the apprentice replied, “No, that won’t do. You protect yourself and I will protect myself. So self-protected and self-guarded, we will perform our act and earn our living.” Similarly, the Buddha advised each person to protect himself by being mindful.
Right mindfulness is necessary if one is to progress towards Wisdom and Enlightenment. The mind must constantly be aware of what is happening. People should be aware of their thoughts, words and deeds at all times whether they are sitting quietly conversing with others, or doing something else. They should always be conscious of what they are doing.
The mind must be controlled and protected against distractions. People should consciously avoid greed and anger. When they speak, they should also consciously avoid telling lies, tale-bearing, harsh speech and idle talk. In their actions, they should avoid killing, stealing and sexual misconduct. They should be careful not to act in such a way as to cause harm to the lives and welfare of others.
Right Concentration
Concentration is trained through meditation by focusing on a single object and remaining fixed on it without wavering. The object of concentration may be a material thing like a flower, or an idea such as loving-kindness or compassion. It is important that there be a qualified meditation teacher to guide one when one begins to meditate. If one practises meditation even if only for a few minutes a day at the beginning, one will experience its benefits. 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 Enlightenment ultimately.
Mental Development ensures that the rules of Good Conduct are not broken through lack of effort. In addition, it prepares the mind for Wisdom by purifying it of unwholesome thoughts and guarding it against distractions. People also learn to concentrate their minds. Through Mental Development, people can progress steadily along the Noble Eightfold Path to Enlightenment.
Summary
Three steps of the Noble Eightfold Path are included in Mental Development. They are right effort, right mindfulness and right concentration. Right effort is fourfold: the effort to prevent and abandon unwholesome thoughts and the effort to develop and maintain wholesome ones. Right mindfulness is to be aware of our deeds, words and thoughts. Right concentration trains the mind to focus single-pointedly on an object. It calms the mind and combined with Wisdom, leads to Enlightenment.
The highest achievement within the Noble Eightfold Path is Wisdom which opens the door to Enlightenment. Wisdom was the essence of the Buddha’s experience under the Bodhi tree more than two thousand five hundred years ago and remains the key to Enlightenment to this day. Both Good Conduct and Mental Development although necessary, are just preparations for the attainment of Wisdom.
The two steps of the path included in Wisdom are right understanding and right thought. Right understanding removes ignorance of the true nature of existence while right thought removes desire and ill will. Between them, right understanding and right thought ensure the complete end of suffering, that is, Nirvana.
Right Understanding
Right understanding is seeing things as they really are, rather than as they appear to be. In order to see things as they really are, one must observe one’s self and one’s situation carefully and also examine the meaning of what is observed.
An enquiring and analytical attitude is important in acquiring right understanding. The Buddha asked people not to rely upon hearsay, tradition or authority for the Truth but to judge the Truth in the light of their own experience. Just as a wise man does not accept any metal that glitters as being gold on the advice of another, but tests its properties for himself, so one should not accept what is heard without testing it by one’s own experience.
Nonetheless in seeking the Truth, one can do well to turn to the Teaching of the Buddha for help. This is the first step towards developing right understanding. One should listen to and study the Teaching of the Buddha and the explanations of qualified teachers. But listening to the Buddha’s Teaching alone is not enough. One must also be attentive and try earnestly to remember it. Just as it is useless to try to fill a leaky vessel with water, so it is of no use listening to the Buddha’s Teaching if what one hears goes in one ear and comes out of the other.
On one level, right understanding means the understanding of the relationship between cause and effect. In other words, if one acts and speaks rightly, one will experience good results but if one speaks and acts wrongly, one will experience suffering.“As you sow, so shall you reap” is a common teaching of all religions. So long as people fail to understand this law, they have not achieved right understanding even in the most basic sense.
At a deeper level, right understanding means the understanding of the Four Noble Truths. This is the understanding that:
(1) Life is suffering;
(2) Desire and ignorance are the causes of suffering;
(3) The end of suffering is Nirvana;
(4) The Noble Eightfold Path is the way to achieve this goal.
Right Thought
Thoughts influence one’s words and actions. If one speaks or acts out of greed or anger, then one will speak or act wrongly and suffer as a consequence. It is necessary to purify one’s thoughts if one really wishes to improve one’s conduct.
Right thought means to avoid desire and ill will and to cultivate thoughts of renunciation, loving-kindness and compassion. Desire should be avoided because it can never be fully satisfied. Even if it is partially satisfied, it will inevitably lead to greed and unwholesome actions like telling lies and stealing. Ill will too is a cause of unwholesome actions like killing, tale-bearing and harsh speech.
Thoughts of renunciation remove desire, while thoughts of loving- kindness and compassion remove ill will. In His own life, the Buddha exemplified the qualities of renunciation, loving-kindness and compassion. He renounced a life of pleasure in His father’s household to seek the Truth. Even as a child, He showed loving- kindness and compassion in His treatment of the wounded swan. After attaining Enlightenment, the Buddha continued to care for the sick and comfort the distressed.
Wisdom is the last of the three ways of practice. It is the most difficult to attain because it depends on the cultivation of Good Conduct and Mental Development. Nonetheless, it is right understanding and right thought that give direction and purpose to the rest of the Noble Eightfold Path. One must always keep them in mind just as someone who climbs a mountain keeps the summit in view so as not to lose his way.
Summary
Two steps of the Noble Eightfold Path are included in Wisdom. They are right understanding and right thought. Right understanding means to understand the relationship of cause and effect and to understand the Four Noble Truths. Right thought means to avoid desire and ill will and to cultivate renunciation, loving-kindness and compassion.
Source:
Title: Buddhism for Beginners
By: Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery
Chapter 17,18,19 | Page 82 to 96
ISBN 978-981-08-3641-2
