Session 002: The Noble Eightfold Path (Part 1)
Today’s session started out with a meditation followed by a talk. In this blog post, you will first see the video recording of the meditation, then the video recording of the talk and then the handout text.
Meditation
Talk
Handout
The 4-page handout that we gave out in today’s class is posted below as blog content for you:
The Noble Eightfold Path (Part 1)
Jan 15th. 2020, by Sophia Ojha Ensslin and Cristof Ensslin.
In our last session, we talked about why and how mindfulness is an important method for living life more happily and with more contentment and meaning. While mindfulness is crucial, it is not sufficient. Today, we’ll discuss the whole system that the Buddha taught for living a good life and developing the mind towards a pure state of contentment in all situations that life throws at us. This system is called The Noble Eightfold Path consisting of eight factors. Mindfulness and meditation are but two of these eight prongs.
I want to stress here, that we are presenting our current understanding of what The Noble Eightfold Path is, what it means, and how to practice it. For that reason, as well as for the limited scope of this short summary of the Path, please make sure to complement your own studies with further reading and listening to relevant sources of much more experienced scholars and teachers such as Bhikkhu Bodhi (he has published a book titled The Noble Eightfold Path which we highly recommend), Ajahn Brahm, Ayya Khema, Ajahn Brahmali, and Ajahn Nissarano. (Search for their names along with the keyword “Noble Eightfold Path” on YouTube to find great talks of theirs about the topic. A legally free PDF version of Bhikkhu Bodhi’s book is available here: https://www.vipassana.com/resources/8fp0.php)
Classification into Three Parts
The Noble Eightfold Path is the core teaching of the Buddha which guides us toward a life of fulfillment, contentment, and happiness. It is also the path to enlightenment and freedom from the cycle of birth and death which was one of the important aspirations of the Buddha and that which he achieved. The eight prongs of the path are often presented visually as a wheel because they cause a virtuous cycle. We’ll present each of them in a little more detail in this article but in summary, they are classified under three sections (also see drawing below):
Wisdom (pañña in Pali, the language spoken during the lifetime of the Buddha 2,600 years ago), consisting of Right View and Right Intention.
Morality (sila), consisting of Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood.
Concentration/Stillness/Meditation (samadhi), consisting of Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.
The first section of Wisdom is sometimes mentioned last, as morality and meditation practice lead to insight and, therefore, wisdom. However, we need “preliminary” wisdom, some kind of a working hypothesis (how Venerable Robina Courtin calls it), which motivates us to start to live a moral life and to practice meditation.
About the second section of Morality, we find it important to mention that other religions have very similar concepts of morality. However, the reason for it is different. Having been raised a Christian, Cristof learned to adhere to the 10 Commandments, Christianity’s moral code of conduct, in order to please God. Buddha makes the point that a moral conduct contributes to harmony with people around us as well as peace of mind within oneself, aiding calmer states of mind, which lead to deeper meditation states, more insight, and thus a happier life.
The third section of Concentration/Stillness represents meditation: mindfulness is developed in meditation practice, and concentration is reached in deep meditative states (jhanas), while we’re making a targeted effort to overcome the hindrances in deep meditation.
Use of the Word “Right”
A quick word about the use of the word “Right”. What it means in this context is not that this is the only right way to do it. The teaching calls these guidelines “right” because they are right for the purpose of stilling the mind and training it for meditation and towards developing inner peace and enlightenment. So, what the Buddha taught means that his teaching is only right if inner peace and enlightenment and so on are your goals in life. If not, then not. This is important to keep in mind.
1. Right View
Right View is one of the two components of Wisdom. It consists of recognizing the three characteristics of life: impermanence, suffering, and no-self. When one understands these three characteristics not just intellectually but experientially, then one frees themselves from suffering. The Buddha taught that everything in the material/physical world is impermanent, constantly changing and because of that, it causes us suffering. Even the “I” is constantly changing and doesn’t consist of anything substantial or permanent. Therefore, there is no inherent self - only a conglomerate of physical aggregates. Right View also means to understand how Karma works and the Four Noble Truths, of which the Forth one is this Noble Eightfold Path itself.
2. Right Intention
The second component of Wisdom is Right Intention, sometimes also translated as Right Thought. With Right View in mind, we understand well that impermanence leads to suffering and that the realization of the fact that nothing has an inherent self can lead us to freedom from suffering. With this in mind, we can intent any one or several of the following three things for everything we do:
Not to want anything, but to be okay with what is, what we have and what we don’t have. Since everything is changing all the time, nothing is really reliable. So, we can be content and satisfied with what is. (Intention of Renunciation)
Not to resent anything, but again to be okay with what is and how other people behave or act. If we understand that people often do or not do things that we do not like because they, too, are suffering, we can generate compassion. (Intention of Good Will)
Not to wish to do harm. We do not want to make suffering any worse for anyone than things already are. Instead, we wish only good things for others and color our intentions and thoughts with goodwill before speaking or acting. That makes pretty good sense, right? (Intention of Harmlessness)
3. Right Speech
This factor of the Eightfold Path brings us to the group of three prongs that make up “Morality” and consists of several aspects:
1. Abstaining from slanderous speech.2. Abstaining from speaking harshly.3. Abstaining from lying.4. Abstaining from idle chatter.
It’s important to remember that each factor that is presented also has a positive version. So in this case:
1. Speaking well of others, promoting harmony and friendship.2. Speaking gently/kindly.3. Speaking the truth.4. Speaking only at the right time and speaking only what is useful.This factor extends to the written word. So let’s watch what we text on our cell phones!
In the next session, we’ll go into factors 4 through 8.
Resources:
1. Ajahn Nissarano on YouTube Channel of Buddhist Society of Victoria: Playlist that includes talks on Right View, Right Livelihood etc, : https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwPICjq7jNeoFDAb68Q_MYT_vkSOWxy8h
2. Ven. Robina Courtin Website: www.robinacourtin.com
3. Buddhist Society of Western Australia: www.bswa.org
4. A legally free PDF version of Bhikkhu Bodhi’s book, The Noble Eightfold Path is available here: https://www.vipassana.com/resources/8fp0.php
Thank you! See you in class next week!
~ Sophia + Cristof
