The
Eight-Fold Path is the fourth of the Four Noble Truths - the first
of the Buddha's teachings. All the teachings flow from this
foundation.
The Four Noble Truths are
1. The Noble Truth of the reality of
Dukkha as part of conditioned existence. Dukkha is
a multi-faceted word. Its literal meaning is "that which is
difficult to bear". It can mean suffering, stress, pain, anguish,
affliction or unsatisfactoriness. Each of the English words is
either too strong or too weak in their meaning to be a universally
successful translation. Dukkha can be gross or very subtle. From
extreme physical and mental pain and torment to subtle inner
conflicts and existential malaise.
2. The Noble Truth that Dukkha has a
causal arising. This cause is defined as grasping
and clinging or aversion. On one hand it is trying to control
anything and everything by grabbing onto or trying to pin them
down, On the other hand it is control by pushing away or pushing
down and running away or flinching away from things. It is the
process of identification through which we try to make internal and
external things and experiences into "me and mine" or wholly
'"other" than Me. This flies in the face of the three signs of
existence - Anicca, Dukkha. Anatta - Impermanence. Stress or
Suffering and No-Self. Because all conditioned existence is
impermanent it gives rise to Dukkha, and this means that in
conditioned existence there is no unchanging and permanent Self.
There is nothing to grasp onto and also in reality, nothing or no
'one' to do the grasping! We grab onto or try to push away ever
changing dynamic processes. These attempts to control, limit us to
little definitions of who we are.
3. The Noble Truth of the end of
Dukkha, which is Nirvana or Nibbana. Beyond
grasping and control and conditional existence is Nirvana. "The
mind like fire unbound." The realisation of Nirvana is supreme
Bodhi or Awakening. It is waking up to the true nature of reality.
It is waking up to our true nature. Buddha Nature. The Pali Canon
of Theravada, the foundational Buddhist teachings, says little
about Nirvana, using terms like the Unconditioned the Deathless,
and the Unborn. Mahayana teachings speak more about the qualities
of Nirvana and use terms like, True Nature, Original Mind, Infinite
light and Infinite life. Beyond space and time. Nirvana defies
definition.
Nirvana
literally means "unbound' as in "Mind like fire unbound". This
beautiful image is of a flame burning by itself. Just the flame,
not something burning and giving off a flame. Picture a flame
burning on a wick or stick, it seems to hover around or just above
the thing burning. The flame seems to be independent of the thing
burning but it clings to the stick and is bound to it. This sense
of the flame being unbound has often been misunderstood to mean the
flame is extinguished or blown out. This is completely opposite to
the meaning of the symbol. The flame "burns" and gives light but is
no longer bound to any combustible material. The flame is not blown
out - the clinging and the clung to is extinguished. The flame of
our true nature, which is awakening, burns independently.
Ultimately Nirvana is beyond conception and intellectual
understanding. Full understanding only comes through direct
experience of this "state' which is beyond the limitations and
definitions of space and time.
4. The Noble Truth of the Path that
leads to Awakening. The path is a paradox. It is a
conditioned thing that is said to help you to the unconditioned.
Awakening is not "made" by anything: it is not a product of
anything including the Buddha's teachings. Awakening, your true
nature is already always present. We are just not awake to this
reality. Clinging to limitation, and attempts to control the
ceaseless flow of phenomena and process obscures our true
nature.
The path is a process
to help you remove or move beyond the conditioned responses that
obscure your true nature. In this sense the Path is ultimately
about unlearning rather than learning - another paradox. We learn
so we can unlearn and uncover. The Buddha called his teaching a
Raft. To cross a turbulent river we may need to build a raft. When
built, we single-mindedly and with great energy make our way
across. Once across we don't need to cart the raft around with us.
In other words don't cling to anything including the teachings.
However, make sure you use them before you let them go. It's no use
knowing everything about the raft and not getting on. The teachings
are tools not dogma. The teachings are Upaya, which means
skillful means or expedient method. It is fingers pointing at the
moon - don't confuse the finger for the moon.
The Path
1. * Samma-Ditthi — Complete or Perfect
Vision, also
translated as right view or understanding. Vision of the nature of
reality and the path of transformation.
2. Samma-Sankappa — Perfected Emotion or
Aspiration, also
translated as right thought or attitude. Liberating emotional
intelligence in your life and acting from love and compassion. An
informed heart and feeling mind that are free to practice letting
go.
3. Samma-Vaca — Perfected or whole Speech.
Also
called right speech. Clear, truthful, uplifting and non-harmful
communication.
4. Samma-Kammanta — Integral
Action. Also called right action. An ethical
foundation for life based on the principle of non-exploitation of
oneself and others. The five precepts.
5. Samma-Ajiva — Proper
Livelihood. Also called right livelihood. This is a
livelihood based on correct action the ethical principal of
non-exploitation. The basis of an Ideal society.
6. Samma-Vayama
— Complete or Full Effort, Energy or Vitality.
Also called right effort or diligence. Consciously directing our
life energy to the transformative path of creative and healing
action that fosters wholeness. Conscious evolution.
7. Samma-Sati
— Complete or Thorough Awareness. Also called
"right mindfulness". Developing awareness, "if you hold yourself
dear watch yourself well". Levels of Awareness and mindfulness - of
things, oneself, feelings, thought, people and Reality.
8. Samma-Samadhi — Full, Integral or
Holistic Samadhi. This is often translated as
concentration, meditation, absorption or one-pointedness of mind.
None of these translations is adequate. Samadhi literally means to
be fixed, absorbed in or established at one point, thus the first
level of meaning is concentration when the mind is fixed on a
single object. The second level of meaning goes further and
represents the establishment, not just of the mind, but also of the
whole being in various levels or modes of consciousness and
awareness. This is Samadhi in the sense of enlightenment or
Buddhahood.
* The word Samma
means 'proper', 'whole', 'thorough', 'integral', 'complete', and
'perfect' - related to English 'summit' - It does not necessarily
mean 'right', as opposed to 'wrong'. However it is often translated
as "right" which can send a less than accurate message. For
instance the opposite of 'Right Awareness' is not necessarily
'Wrong Awareness'. It may simply be incomplete. Use of the word
'right' may make for a neat or consistent list of qualities in
translations. The down side is that it can give the impression that
the Path is a narrow and moralistic approach to the spiritual life.
I use variant interpretations so you consider the depth of
meanings. What do these things mean in your life right
now?
- John Allan
