The Noble Eightfold Path

What is the noble eightfold path

A summary of the Buddha’s teachings on how to end suffering and attain enlightenment.

Fourth noble truth

By following the noble eightfold path, Buddhists hope to achieve a favourable rebirth after death and eventually enlightenment.

the middle way

The eightfold path is often described as the middle way as it is a way between luxury and asceticism. The middle way also means not wearing expensive clothes nor, the other extreme, rags.

Extreme luxury does not satisfy and money cannot buy permanence. Extreme asceticism leads to discomfort and provides no answers, just more suffering.

the threefold way

• wisdom

  • right thought

  • right understanding

• morality

  • right speech

  • right action

  • right livelihood

• meditation

  • right effort

  • right mindfulness

  • right concentration

wisdom

right thought

• having the correct outlook on life and accepting the Buddha’s analysis of the human condition.

right understanding

• having the right attitude to life, basically seeing one’s goal as enlightenment and unselfish love for all beings. In Buddhist ethics, actions are judged by intention.

morality

right speech

• Buddhists should avoid four kinds of speech: lying, gossip, speaking harshly and time wasting chatter, as these all lead to suffering. Rather, they should always try to be truthful, speak in a way that promotes harmony, be gentle in their speech and value silence when there is nothing useful to say.

right action

• All Buddhists try to follow the five precepts as general guidelines for life. They are:

  • to abstain from harming living beings

  • to abstain from taking things not freely given

  • to abstain from sexual misconduct

  • to abstain from false speech

  • to abstain from intoxicating drinks and drugs which cloud the mind

right livelihood

• it is important that a Buddhist earns their living in a way that does not involve going against Buddhist principles. Work should be of benefit, and should not harm others

meditation

right effort

• to train the mind by making a conscious effort to set aside all negative, evil thoughts, and replace them with good, positive ones

right mindfulness

• the practice of calm and awareness through mental training. To become more aware of the body, sensations, feelings and thoughts in order to have better control over them

right concentration

• formal meditation, the practice of techniques designed to lead the mind into the states achieved by the Buddha, which prepare the mind for insight into the truth.

Analysis/Evaluation (Benefits)

wisdom

• right thought promotes selflessness - the whole religion focuses on compassion for others, putting others before yourself which will have a very positive impact on society where everyone strives to achieve this.

• the practice of meditation helps gain wisdom, the two are linked together. Through this practice, understanding of the ultimate reality of life is gained.

meditation

• monastic community can meditate together and support one another. Practice is easier as everyone is doing the same thing and there are set times for meditation

• lay community are more in touch with the real world and in a better position to demonstrate compassion for the needy

• meditation is good for mental and physical health

• links in with wisdom as meditation on the nature of reality helps you understand and accept Buddha’s teachings such as the three marks of existence and tanha

• in Theravada Buddhism worship is simplistic so it is easier to focus on the teachings. In Mahayana Buddhism the wide variety of worship practice means there will be a form of worship to suit everyone

morality

• right speech encourages kind words and sincere behaviour

• right livelihood encourages using time wisely

• right action encourages people to live morally

Analysis/Evaluation (Weaknesses)

wisdom

• harder for those in the lay community who may have no access to teaching, especially in non-Buddhist countries

• Buddhists have to be constantly aware of the teachings and practices of the faith and this can be difficult in Western society which has a totally different ethos

• concepts of anicca and anatta are very difficult for Buddhists to comprehend and accept despite their hard efforts

meditation

• there are many distractions for the lay community, finding the time and space to meditate is very challenging

• less access to other practitioners and teachers in remote/non-Buddhist countries

• society is very judgemental, being surrounded by negative images of modern life can make it hard to follow the way of right effort and be positive in your approach to faith.

morality

• the five precepts are harder to maintain in non-Buddhist country which is more permissive; for example, alcohol is more openly available and tolerated, sexual behaviour is freer and lying is very easy

• hard to avoid harming living things as many popular and necessary products are tested on animals. Ethical purchasing is expensive and may be beyond the means of many Buddhists

• Ultimately, we don’t live in a utopian society and the path of morality therefore seems hard, if not impossible to achieve.