Principles, commandments, and the eightfold path.

This reading reminded me of the basic principles you find in many religions. Be good, do right, etc. These are basic principles people follow in order to lead righteous lives. I would say that I follow similar principles as a compassionate human being, living so that I don't hurt others or things unnecessarily. In society we are expected to live by certain ideals, and these aren't much different. I appreciated the simplicity of the words and ideas presented here, though I found it slightly redundant when thinking of any other religion and the principles dictated to live by. This passage didn't smack of religion like, say, the Ten Commandments in Christianity, but they are ideals, or 'commandments' to live by all the same. I enjoy reading the ideas of other religions and groups of people because it helps me to better understand my own principles and judgement in my own life. Although personally I don't feel the need to accept everything as it is presented because I like to think for myself and choose to live as I see fit. All in all, I enjoyed reading this perspective on the principles necessary to be a conscientious, and caring human being.

picture from:http://z.about.com/d/forestry/1/0/X/h/big_tooth_aspen.jpg

Starts with an idea

I was skeptical about the eight fold truths, but these eight qualities seem very solid. I think that everyone’s life would be much better if they applied these 8 principles to different aspects of their daily life. I think it would be very hard for anyone to up right into this. I think that a way you could implement these in to your life is by making a goal of applying a set amount of qualities of the eightfold truths in to your day. I will try to do this today. I will print the list and use it five times today! I think that if we all tried this, then we could discuss the differences it made in our days. Let’s try it?

Image from: http://brian.hoffert.faculty.noctrl.edu/HST330/13.IndianBuddhism.html

Ethical Conduct?

Something about 3 of the 8 Noble Eightfold Path (rules?) did not in my mind seem to match the rest. As I read the Noble Eightfold Path I noticed that the Ethical Conduct section didnt have the same "voice" or maybe theme as the rest. I felt that the Wisdom and Mental Development were philosopical veiws for achieving an enlightened state but Ehtical Conduct sounded more preachy and authoritive. Wisdim and Intellectual growth is to me what pholisophy is all about, not a guidebook for acheiving a higher state.
"to talk only when necessary" I get that this means to not be a gossip or waste words gabbing, but isnt conversation and discussion, such as debate, an important part of philopsophy?

Right Action was fine with me. No problem here

But Right Livelihood jumped right out at me. Slave trade and Prostitution aside, which to me seems to be covered in point 1 and 2 in Right Action, whats wrong with butchers, package stores and outfitters? I am understanding these rules to mean I should be a unarmed sober vegetarian? No thanks.

My personal veiws aside, I think the Noble Eightfold path is more for someone looking for a philosphy that can tell them what to do. I might be interpretting the message here wrong, or maybe I just can get over my own opinions to see a larger meaning, but Im working on understanding Buddhism. I think I undertood Tao better.

The Eightfold Path: The Ten Commandments of Buddhism?

To me, the eightfold path seems a lot like the ten commandments. They seem to be rules and guidelines to live by.

1. Right View: Be free of prejudice, know truth, and see suffering.
2. Right Intention: Turn minds away from violence and hate, resist evil. Be compassionate.
3. Right Speech: Refrain from harmful talk, use words wisely, and don't lie. Words can hurt as much as sticks and stones. You should speak friendly and only when necessary.
4. Right Action: Don't murder, harm, steal, or rape. Be kind, respectful, honest, and harmless.
5. Right Livelihood: Earn a living in an honest way that will not hurt others. Don't deal weapons, people, alcohol, or drugs. Don't butcher animals.
6. Right Effort: Free your mind from evil (i.e. desires, aggression, and ignorance). Think only of productive and compassionate things, and push away the bad.
7. Right Mindfulness: Be in control of your feelings and thoughts. Have a good mind. Have clear perception.
8. Right Concentration: Concentrate on wholesome thoughts and actions. Meditate.

This list of "commandments" detail how one should/should not act in life. It seems very similar to a lot of other religions because it is pretty much based on having good morals, which will, ultimately, bring you to enlightenment.



I enjoy the above picture (the dharma wheel), and it's relationship with the eightfold path. It looks a lot like a ship's wheel on a pirate ship or something. It is used to stay on course, a lot like the eightfold path is, but storms will come, and the captain might lose control. The wheel, however, is always there to put the ship back on track, after the storm has passed.

I view the eightfold path as a sort of idealistic guidelines for life. Shit is going to happen. The eighfold path can get you back on track, but shit needs to happen if you are going to learn anything in this life.

Picture from: http://www.baronet4tibet.com/symbolism.html

The Eight Fold Path - Disembled

The Eight Fold Path -

1. Right View	Wisdom
2. Right Intention
3. Right Speech	Ethical Conduct
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort	Mental Development
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration

as put by the website we were asked to visit.(http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/eightfoldpath.html)
I apologize in advance to everyone who was all "yea the eightfold path is awesome and we should do it....etc...." I am writing from the side of a few questions that I feel make interesting conversation.

I read through this and found some things interesting to think about. One idea I have been toying with since we started this topic of the Four Noble Truths and the Eight fold Path is the idea that the pursuit of Nirvana in and of itself is in violation of the very ideas that Buddhism stands on. This idea being that desires lead to suffering and suffering leads to a long struggle against the imperfect nature of the human "condition". So based upon this precept the very fact that these people "want", "try", or even "attempt" to achieve Nirvana through a systematic list of steps that essentially say be good to everything living and take no action that could bring harm to others. I wonder if the Monks who follow this way of life so ferverantly ever contemplate the very desire based nature of their pursuit of "a higher state of being" or "Enlightenment". Is such a thing even possible? It seems counter intuitive to say be without desire and the reality of the world will reveal itself to you, when in fact by wanting to know or see that reality is in and of itself a desire. So is it possible to live without desire whether with or without your own intent? Then if it is not is there truly a purpose to seeking the improbable reality that seems to only be revealed when you are doing the "Right" things and without "Desire". What constitutes a desire? if my stomach growls is it not a sign that I could be in need or want of food in order to sate my desire to be comfortable? If my bladder is full is it not my desire to find relief in emptying it? How do you live a life without desire really if we are creatures of need? I suppose an argument could be that the answer to these questions is a desire, maybe it is, but can you invest in something that seems to hinge on something that goes against the very nature of the world of life? There are basic "needs" that could be said to be desires, it seems to be a perspective game. Perhaps in realizing these things and doing the "right" thing while realizing that there is no promise of benefit or even answer that this is the true nature of reality. I don't know, I'm speculating. What do you think?

I feel that the website we went to is also needlessly sub categorizing the Eight Fold Path by limiting their application by giving labels such as "wisdom" , or "ethical conduct" when really all the parts of this path are applicable and interchangeable with each category. again Perspective.

I can agree that the eight fold path lays a nice foundation to lead the world were it to follow to some semblance of harmony, however peace is difficult to maintane because there will always be some exception the the rules or way people think. I Wonder if perhaps the message here is that to see the truth you have to let go of your interest in yourself and your own personal gain and instead attend to the needs of others? but then is it right to be slave to the needs of others when there are those who would not do for themselves if given the option? what is the purpose of struggle without goals or reason? Why should we exist without goal? or is it that we exist because there is no goal? I at this point am rambling to no purpose and a purpose. Thanks!

http://www.dot-design.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/eyes.jpg

The right path

The eight fold path goes hand in hand with the four noble truths in order to help direct people towards the path of Nirvana. It has eight 'Right' ways designed to put people on the 'Right' path :).

Each of the eight fold paths connect with each other and are not so much steps as they are principles that are all intertwined. The first two are wisdom, the next three are ethical conduct, and the last three fall under mental development.
The 'Right's of Wisdom are the ones that really stuck out to me. I believe that it is really important to have the Right Views and Right Intentions. What they said in the eightfold path about the Right View is true; our view of the world is important. Our actions reflect how we see the world just as much as what we see often dictates what we do. Even a blind man has a view of the world, but for him it's more of a mental image. Having the right view has nothing to do with how intelligent you are but more so about how much you see. Do only see what's on the surface or can you see what's underneath. People aren't the only ones who keep things about themselves hidden from the rest of the world. To truly understand things you must take the time to really look at them and not just grant them a passing glance. When you do that you may miss something important. Having the Right View also means that you need to have an understanding of Karma (what you give is what you get returned). In your view of the world you must also notice that what goes around comes around and that Karma does play an active role in the universe. I personally have a strong belief in Karma, sometimes it may seem like time has gone on for too long for justice to be served but I am a firm believer that it will be served in time. That is why i do not feel the need to judge others they will pass judgment eventually.
Having the Right Intention, which is the other Right of Wisdom, goes along with having the right view. This is because our intentions are also ruled by our views, actions, and karma. The right intentions leads us towards self improvement, mentally and ethically. But with the intention to do good, harm can normally be found in its wake. There is a saying that goes along with this that states "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." This is true but it still doesn't change the fact that the intentions were noble, something just went wrong with the execution. The eightfold path wants us to resist anger and desire. Instead following those it wants us to instead lean towards intentions of harmlessness and develop compassion. Intentions must be thought of and executed with great care however, because many things can go wrong.

The Eightfold Path

All of the ideas in this eightfold path are familiar to me. I've seen them worded differently and in different contexts in the Bible.
What stuck out to me the most was the final path, Right Concentration. I've heard about meditation before and know the basic idea is to be able to focus on thoughts and experiences in order to better understand and learn from them. I'm not very good at taking time to try and concentrate on anything. It's hard. But what I really liked about the explanation that was given in this article was the reason for learning to concentrate. "The Buddhist method of choice to develop right concentration is through the practice of meditation. The meditating mind focuses on a selected object. It first directs itself onto it, then sustains concentration, and finally intensifies concentration step by step. Through this practice it becomes natural to apply elevated levels concentration also in everyday situations." If I learn how to concentrate on specific thoughts or experiences in my own head, then perhaps I can bring that ability to concentrate into everyday life.

In the New Testament of the Holy Bible Paul talks about what we should keep our minds focused on in a letter the the Phillipian church. Chapter 4, verse 8: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things."
These ideas are very similar right?
I want to think about things such as this, but it's very easy to let my mind wander. Maybe I should take the time to learn to meditate.