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Noble Eightfold Path
The eight-spoked Dharmachakra. The eight spokes represent the Noble Eightfold
Path of Buddhism. According to a saying attributed in some traditions to the
Buddha, if a person does not follow the goal of Total Realization, one lives
one's life like a preoccupied child playing with toys in a house that is burning
to the ground.[7]
The Noble Eightfold Path is the way to the cessation of suffering, the fourth
part of the Four Noble Truths. This is divided into three sections: Sila (which
concerns the physical bodily actions), Samadhi (which concerns the 'Conscious'
mind) and Panna (which concerns the 'Unconscious' mind).
Sila is morality—abstaining from unwholesome deeds of body and speech. Within
the division of sila are three parts of the Noble Eightfold Path:
Right Speech - One speaks in a non hurtful, not exaggerated, truthful way (samyag-vāc,
sammā-vācā)
Right Actions - Wholesome action, avoiding action that would do harm (samyak-karmānta,
sammā-kammanta)
Right Livelihood - One's way of livelihood does not harm in any way oneself or
others; directly or indirectly (samyag-ājīva, sammā-ājīva)
Samadhi is developing mastery over one’s own mind. Within this division are
another three parts of the Noble Eightfold Path:
Right Effort/Exercise - One makes an effort to improve (samyag-vyāyāma,
sammā-vāyāma)
Right Mindfulness/Awareness - Mental ability to see things for what they are
with clear consciousness (samyak-smṛti, sammā-sati)
Right Concentration - Being aware of the present reality within oneself, without
any craving or aversion. (samyak-samādhi, sammā-samādhi)
Panna is the wisdom which purifies the mind. Within this division fall two more
parts of the Noble Eightfold Path:
Right Thoughts - Change in the pattern of thinking. (samyak-saṃkalpa,
sammā-saṅkappa)
Right Understanding - Understanding reality as it is, not just as it appears to
be. (samyag-dṛṣṭi, sammā-diṭṭhi)
The word samyak means "perfect". There are a number of ways to interpret the
Eightfold Path. On one hand, the Eightfold Path is spoken of as being a
progressive series of stages through which the practitioner moves, the
culmination of one leading to the beginning of another, whereas others see the
states of the 'Path' as requiring simultaneous development. It is also common to
categorize the Eightfold Path into prajñā (Pāli paññā, wisdom), śīla (Pāli sīla,
virtuous behaviour) and samādhi (concentration).
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Four Noble Truths
Noble Eightfold Path
Bodhi
Refuge in the Three Jewels
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