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Buddha's Teachings
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The Noble Eightfold Path
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The Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path are the foundations of the Buddha's Teaching. The
Noble Eightfold Path is divided into the three ways of practice;
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Good Conduct is recognising that all living beings wish for happiness, and dislike suffering. Following these rules is for our happiness, and the happiness of others.
Right Speech means to avoid lying, tale-bearing, harsh speech, and idle talk. We should always try and be truthful.
To avoid telling lies
If we respect the truth, we will avoid telling lies. If we are reliable in telling the truth, our relatives, friends and associates will trust us, and value our sincerity.
To avoid tale-bearing
Telling tales is often the cause of ill-will and quarrels. We may tell tales or gossip out of ill-will, because we intend to damage the reputation of others. For this reason, we should speak good words to foster mutual understanding and harmony.
To avoid harsh speech
Harsh and abusive speech is also a cause of ill-will and quarrels. Harsh words only arouse anger and resentment in others. We should try to speak gently and courteously at all times.
To avoid idle talk
Idle talk or gossip should be avoided because it disturbs the mind, and distracts us from more important activities such as our studies, or our work. Gossiping about others, or criticising the faults of others does no-one any good. Such idle words, may cause quarrels and discord among our friends, relatives or neighbours. Our idle talk may even end up creating enemies for ourselves and others.
The Buddha suggested we consider five aspects before speaking;
- Do we speak the truth ?
- Do we speak gently ?
- Are our words beneficial to others ?
- Do we speak out of goodwill ?
- Do we speak at the proper time and place ?
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Right Action means to avoid killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct.
Avoiding killing
All living beings, whether human or animal, love life, and tremble with fear at punishment or death. Just as we would not desire to be hurt or killed, so we should avoid killing living beings.
Avoiding stealing
We should respect the property of others, and avoid taking what is not given. A dishonest businessman who sells faulty goods, or 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 thief.
Avoiding sexual misconduct
The Buddha advised people to control their sexual desires, so that they do not become a source of sorrow, and suffering to their victims, themselves, their families, and society as a whole. We should avoid sexual relationships with those who are dependent on their parents or other relatives, those who are engaged, and the partners of others.
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Right Livelihood means to avoid any occupation that brings harm to ourselves or others. Any occupation that does not support the life and welfare of others, should be avoided. There are five trades which are considered as an unworthy means of earning our living. These are trading in deadly weapons, animals for slaughter, slavery, intoxicants and poisons. These five kinds of jobs or careers should be avoided because they cause suffering and unhappiness to others, and create disunity in society.
Trade in deadly weapons
To design, manufacture, or sell, 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.
Trade with animals for slaughter
Any job or career which involves the encouragement of, and killing of animals, goes against the principle of respect for life.
Trade in slavery
Slavery takes away the freedom 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.
Trade in intoxicants, including alcohol and drugs.
Intoxicating drugs and drinks disturb and cloud the mind so that we cannot think and act clearly. Someone addicted to alcohol or drugs, can waste their entire income on it and cause family quarrels and marital problems. Jobs or careers involved with making or selling intoxicants, can create social problems and disharmony.
Trade in poisons
Like deadly weapons, poisons are for the purpose of killing. Jobs or careers dealing with the design, manufacture, and sale of poisons, is not conducive to the life and welfare of others.
Mental Development
Right Effort is giving the appropriate effort and attention to a task. If our mother and father ask us to help them with the shopping, we should help them search for items, and help carry these items to the check-out, or car, or home. We should not need to be asked several times to participate in a task that directly helps us, as much as the rest of the family. At school or at work, right effort means to carry out tasks honestly, reliably, and to the best of our abilities. Reading, writing, or understanding a book or other ideas, also requires effort. Effort is the basis for all achievement.
In trying to follow the Buddha's path, 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 our mind.
Thirdly, there is the effort to develop wholesome thoughts of loving-kindness and compassion.
Fourthly, there is the effort to maintain the wholesome thoughts that have already arisen, even when they are not appreciated by others !
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Right Mindfulness means always to be aware and attentive. It means being aware of our deeds, words, and thoughts, whether we are sitting quietly, conversing with others, or doing something else. We should control and protect our minds against distractions such as greed, and anger.
Good awareness and good attention are important if we are to complete our daily activities properly. When we are not mindful, accidents can easily happen. In modern life, we need to control and protect our mind against distractions. As well, we should be aware of our emotions, and consciously avoid thoughts of greed and anger. We should also be conscious of our speech, so that our words are always beneficial for ourselves and others.
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Right Concentration means to make the mind steady and calm, in order to realise the true nature of things. The constant practice of meditation helps us develop a calm and concentrated mind.
Meditation means the gradual process of training the mind to focus on a single object and to remain fixed upon that object without wavering. The object of concentration may be our breathing, 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 us when we begin to meditate.
If we practise meditation even if only for a few minutes a day at the beginning, we will experience its benefits. The constant practice of meditation helps us to develop a calm and concentrated mind. It also helps us prepare for the attainment of wisdom and Enlightenment.
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Right Understanding is understanding the Four Noble Truths and the Law of Cause and effect. 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, we must observe
ourselves and our situation carefully, and also examine the meaning of what is observed. Right Understanding removes ignorance of the true nature of existence, while Right Thought removes desire and ill will.
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Thoughts direct our words and actions. If we have thoughts of greed and anger, then our speech and our actions will have elements of greed and anger. Then we speak or act wrongly, and will suffer as a consequence.
We should purify our thoughts if we really wish to improve our
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.
Ill-will is a cause of unwholesome actions like killing, lying and harsh speech. Thoughts of renunciation remove desire, while thoughts of loving-kindness, and compassion remove ill will.
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. Right Understanding and Right Thought give direction and purpose to the rest of the Noble Eightfold Path.
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