The Eightfold Path

The eightfold path is essentially the guideline for living a Buddhist lifestyle with the intention of ultimately breaking samsara, the cycle of death and rebirth. The Buddha’s teachings are best comprised in the Four Noble Truths: the truth of suffering (Dukkha), the truth of the cause of suffering (the “Three Poisons”), the truth of cessation, and the truth of the path (The Eightfold Path). If the Buddha were a doctor, The Eightfold Path would be his prescription to end suffering. The Eightfold Path accounts for the “practice” portion of Buddhism. “The principal, if not only, aim of the Buddhist path is to develop and cultivate” the wholesome qualities of the mind, which include greed, hatred, delusion, non-attachment, loving-kindness, and wisdom (Gethin 80). If it weren’t for the wholesome qualities, there would be no Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path is not made up of steps, but rather components that work together. Until the components of the path can work to support one another, the Eightfold Path is separated into three “stages” of progress. The eight “folds” of the Path are separated into three stages which are exhibited in the Table 1 below. The parts to the path are also color-coded to represent the different groupings.

The Right View (Samma Ditthi)

The first component of the Eightfold Path is The Right View, which acts as the guide for the rest of the path’s components. The Right View allows for an understanding of our path’s trajectory. Without a strong foundation in the Right view would be like getting on a plane without a destination. You’re going on a trip, but have no idea of the direction or destination. Our view has an influence on our actions. If the Eightfold path is the practice of a Buddhist lifestyle, the Right View is a crucial component to the Eightfold Path. 

So what exactly is the right view? “The Right View is having wise beliefs, feelings, and thoughts… which reduce suffering, and avoid increasing suffering” (Ken Ward). Thus, the Right View is categorized under wisdom. We must have the wisdom to proceed along the path. The Right View calls for an understanding of the Four Noble Truths.

The Right Intention (Samma Sankappa)

The intention is the key factor in actions. The Pali Sanscrit term is Samma Sankappa, which is sometimes translated as right thought. The Buddha describes Samma Sankappa in three parts: the intention of renunciation (Nekkhammasankappa), intention of good will (Abyapada Sankappa), and the intention of harmlessness (avihimsasankappa). For a clearer perspective, the counterparts of the right intentions include intention conducted by desire, intention conducted by ill will, and intention conducted by harmfulness. The positive counterparts counteract their negative counterparts. Right Intention leads way into action. Without a foundational practice in the right intention, it is difficult to set foot into the rest of the path and execute actions positively. When intentions are right, actions should be right as well.

Right Speech (Samma Vaca)

The value of speech is oftentimes overlooked. This can be seen as someone can talk the talk, but not walk the walk… The Buddha describes Right Speech as a somewhat obvious fourfold: abstaining from false speech (musavada veramani), abstaining from slanderous speech (pisunaya vacaya veramani), abstaining from harsh speech (pharusaya vacaya veramani), and abstaining from idle chatter or gossip (samphappalapa veramani). What is considered harsh or slanderous may change with time, but awareness of speech is key. Speech has the power to hurt or help, to form bonds or break bonds, speech is an essential component to the Eightfold Path as it holds a lot of value.

Right Action (Samma Kammanta)

“Right action means refraining from unwholesome deeds that occur with the body as their natural means of expression” (Bhikkhu Bodhi). Unwholesome yet natural deeds include taking a life of any sentient being, stealing, and sexual misconduct. When a monk takes their vows, they agree to live a life of abstinence.

Right Livelihood (Samma Ajiva)

Right Livelihood refers to how one earns their living and ensures they do so righteously. “For a lay disciple the Buddha teaches that wealth should be gained in accordance with certain standards” (Bhikkhu Bodhi). What does this mean? One should earn their living fair, legally, peacefully, without coercion, honestly, and in ways that will not cause others harm (e.g. working with weapons, living beings like slaughter or prostitution, butchery, poisons, and intoxicants). These means may not be considered moral or immoral in other stems of Buddhism such as Tantric Buddhism.

Right Effort (Samma Vayama)

Wisdom comes with concentration. Concentration comes with effort. Right Effort brings the energy to be able to pursue a concentration. Energy (viriya) is the mental force behind Eight Effort. There are both wholesome and unwholesome forms of energy. The Right Effort involves the exertion of wholesome energy or the energy in wholesome states of consciousness whose path is directed toward liberation from dukkha. Right Effort is what makes or breaks someone and their chance to reach liberation. It is the point where it is in the individual’s hands to put forth Right Effort.

Right Mindfulness (Samma Sati)

Concentration is derived from Right Effort and Right Mindfulness. The Buddha says that the Dhamma, or his teachings, are of our own ultimate truth, and can only be understood if one’s own experiences are understood. These experiences must be understood directly and to do so, Right Mindfulness is required. Right Mindfulness aids the mind to keep in the present moment and dismiss distractions as to contemplate the present. “The task is simply to note whatever comes up just as it is occurring, riding the changes of events in the way a surfer rides the waves on the sea” (Bhikkhu Bodhi). The practice of mindfulness is common now in modern day-to-day life, as people believe the act of mindfulness helps to relieve stress.

Right Concentration (Samma Samadhi)

We have come to the end of the Eightfold path. All components of the path aid in Right Concentration. “Concentration represents an intensification of a mental factor present in every state of consciousness” (Bhikkhu Bodhi). Concentration centers every level of consciousness. To be centered, the mind is unified. Commentaries define samadhi as “the centering of the mind and mental factors rightly and evenly on an object.” An unconcentrated mind is compared by the Buddha to a fish flapping about when thrown onto dry land. A distracted mind is a deluded mind.

Further Readings

• The Eightfold Path: The Way to the End of Suffering by Bhikkhu Bodhi gives a philosophical, in-depth look at the Eightfold path. Bodhi breaks down each part of the path into subsections, gives both the Buddha’s thoughts and commentator’s thoughts. This is dense reading. A lot of substance and really useful in deepening your understanding of the Eightfold Path.
• Ken Ward’s Thoughts on Buddhism gives a more contemporary look at the Eightfold Path. With this, you’ll broaden your understanding of the Eightfold Path with a less traditional, a bit informal perspective. Ken Ward provides an analysis of more than just the Eightfold Path if you’d like to look at the path in the context of other topics of Buddhism.
• The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path by Sangharakshita is another in-depth look at the Eightfold Path. A chapter is spent on each of the components to the path. More perspectives are brought in including other religions to help you understand where the Eightfold Path falls in with the world as a whole.

External Links

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_AE9b0JocI a video which summarizes the breakdown of The Eightfold Path. It introduces the Eightfold Path very clearly for understanding. It’s a bit monotone but has a lot there.
• https://www.youtube.com/user/AjahnSona/playlists Ajagn Sona has a playlist called “The Noble Eightfold Path” on his YouTube channel where he first explains the four noble truths, and then breaks down each part to the Eightfold Path in individual videos ranging from 12 minutes to 53 minutes. Sometimes it’s easier to have something explained verbally. Here’s your chance for that.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbcQFIUs-jE discusses at the Eightfold Path in practice: what does this look like in real life? The Eightfold Path is a lot of talk, and this video explains what happens when it becomes a walk. It gives examples with each component to the Eightfold Path. I found this video really interesting and helpful since it kind of puts the path in layman terms.

References

• Bodhi, Bhikkhu. “Contents  .” The Noble Eightfold Path: The Way to the End of Suffering, www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/bodhi/waytoend.html#pre.
• Gethin, Rupert. Foundations of Buddhism. Oxford University Press, 2014.
• Quintman, Andrew. Class materials, Introduction to Buddhist Thought and Practice, RELI242,
• Ward, Ken. “Ken Ward’s Thoughts on Buddhism.” Thoughts on Buddhism Contents, trans4mind.com/personal_development/buddhist/index.html.
• Sangharakshita. The Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path. 2007.
• “The History, Philosophy and Practice of Buddhism.” Buddhism – The Eightfold Path, www.buddha101.com/p_path.htm.