Noble Eightfold Path

The Buddhist Noble Eightfold Path is considered “the roadmap for Buddhist living,” according to Arnie Kozak in his work The Everything Buddhism Book (41). Though samyak, the Hindu word that prefaces each aspect of the Eightfold Path, is often translated as either “right” or “perfect,” when the Buddha assigns this adjective, a more correct translation is “appropriate.” What may be a good action aligned with the path in one situation, may not be appropriate in a different situation. The most important thing to consider is if your action will “do no harm,” or if it will do good (Kozak 44). The goal of the Eightfold Path and the Three Higher Trainings, as is in Buddhism, is the cessation of suffering. Each aspect of the Eightfold Path is separated
into one of the Three Higher Trainings, which are morality, meditation, and wisdom. As each aspect is based upon one another in a circular dependency, following the Eightfold Path is not a process to be completed in steps, but an attitude one always strives to embody. Sila, or morality, entails the first three steps of the eightfold path: right speech, right action, and right livelihood. Right speech, the first step, involves refraining from lying, which is one of the five precepts, spreading rumors, using harsh or abusive words or tone, and thinking before speaking. The second step, right action, means doing nothing that will cause harm to others, including but not limited to: stealing, killing, overindulging, or demolishing life, property, or peace. Right action also entails the other four of the five precepts: do not kill, steal, commit adultery, or intoxicate the body. Right livelihood means to hold an occupation that does not bring harm to other living beings. There is much debate as to what this means, and if the job itself, or the manner in which the job is done, is more important. Occupations considered generally destructive include those that kill directly, such as butcher or executioner, kill indirectly, such as weapons manufacturer or drug dealer. All of the morality sects of the Eightfold path form the Buddhist ethics, including the five lay people precepts. The second division of the path is samadhi, or meditation, and includes the fourth, fifth, and sixth sectors of the path: right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.
These disciplines all relate to mental training and strength. Right effort means finding the appropriate balance between laziness and overworking. An example that Kozak gives is when the Buddha is attaining enlightenment, he expends great effort to continue his journey, but is also sitting in a state of serene meditation. He expands upon this idea that at least some energy must be given to attain enlightenment with the cliche “there is no such thing as free lunch in the universe” (46). The next step on the Eightfold path is right mindfulness. The practice of mindfulness causes the realization of impermanence, whether it is of the breath or life, and helps recognize the existence of dukkha, suffering. The key of mindfulness is non-judgment, and it aligns with right effort, as mindfulness requires a certain amount of effort, and effort is “futile,” without mindfulness (Kozak 48). When this suffering is realized in the absence of judgement, true compassion can be practiced, which was one of the Buddha’s main moral teachings. Kozak specifies that a foundation of right concentration is necessary for right mindfulness, though he lists mindfulness as the former. Practicing concentration makes mindfulness easier, as it forms the foundation of
mindfulness. The third and final aspect of the Eightfold path, prajna, or wisdom, only consists of two steps: right view and right resolve. Right view mainly revolves around understanding the Four Noble Truths: that suffering exists, an origin of suffering exists, there is an end to suffering, and the path leads to the end to suffering. Kozak describes right view as “the ability to experience things beyond conditioned experience” (49). Without filters of bias and judgement, it is possible to see things the way they truly are, rather than through preconceptions. Right resolve is the last of the eight steps. Resolve entirely emcompasses intention in this context. Regardless of the consequences, was there intent to cause harm, or to do good? The goal of right resolve is to move away from the egocentric thoughts of everything being “me” or “mine,” and to focus more on acts of selflessness and service. Being selfless and truly putting the other first is another key representation of Buddhist ethics. No person has ever existed who could perfectly follow every aspect of the Noble Eightfold Path. All humans make mistakes, and just as life is, the path is a process. One cannot become enlightened and suddenly practice Buddhism without flaw. Moreso is the path about the realization that everything is interconnected, and everything done will result in a consequence, thus nothing is permanent or stable. These truths, once realized, inspire compassion and encourage Buddhist morals and way of life.