Oakville Zen Meditation
The 4th Noble Truth (Reality): The Noble eightfold path
1st Noble Truth = Suffering” is an integral part of life.
2nd = 3 main causes of suffering (I want but don’t get, I am getting what I don’t want, and ignorance (illusions) )
3rd = Extinction of suffering = Nirvana
The 4th Noble Truth (Reality): The Noble eightfold path
1st Noble Truth = Suffering” is an integral part of life.
2nd = 3 main causes of suffering (I want but don’t get, I am getting what I don’t want, and ignorance (illusions) )
3rd = Extinction of suffering = Nirvana
4th The 4th Noble Truth or the proper 8 paths or guide to follow in our daily life.
These 8 paths are all linked together and represent the core of the Buddha’s teaching over 50 years.
These eight factors aim at promoting and perfecting the three essentials of Buddhist training and discipline: namely: (a) ethical conduct, (b) mental discipline, and (c) wisdom.
It will, therefore, be more helpful for a coherent and better understanding of the eight components of the path if I group and explain them according to these three practical heads that are:
1- Ethical conduct, 2- Mental discipline, and 3- Wisdom.
1)Ethical conduct: It encompasses Right speech, right action, right livelihood.
Ethical conduct is built on universal love such as compassion and forgiveness for all living beings.
Right speech
Abstention from telling lies, backbiting, abusive and impolite language, gossiping, and slander.
Right action
Preserving all living beings, promoting moral, legal, and peaceful conduct.
Right livelihood
No harms to self (i.e. intoxicant) and to others.
2)Mental discipline: it encompasses right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration
Right effort
Having the will to promote good and prevent evil.
Right mindfulness
Developing awareness of:
1) Body and its activities.
2) Sensation: physical sensory experience from our 5 senses.
3) Feelings.
4) Mental activities ( ideas, thoughts, conceptions, etc...)
5) Present moment.
Right concentration
Developing mental focusing skills necessary awareness.
3)Wisdom: it encompasses right thought and right understanding or view.
Right thought
Right thought denotes the thoughts of selfless renunciation or detachment, thoughts of love
and non-violence, which are extended to all beings.
Right understanding or right view
What we generally call “understanding” is accumulated cognitive knowledge from ongoing
learning and experience. It is not very deep.
From a Zen point of view, real understanding or proper view is deeper that is:
Seeing things as they are is factual realities of life.
Among the most important let me mention impermanence, not having control,
only the present moment exists, thoughts and feelings are not the genuine you and
few others not mentioned here. Practicing an open non-egoistic mind is mandatory in
achieving not only the right view but also all of the other paths previously described. Thank you
