Post on 10-Feb-2017
The Eightfold Path is one of the Buddha’s teachings.
He often taught it as a proposal: test it and see if you find it true.
The Eightfold Path
Step
by
Step
Four Noble Truths: The First Noble Truth
1 There is Suffering
Birth
Sickness
Old age
Death
Decay
Unavoidable Suffering
Unavoidable Suffering
Being with people you do not want to be with
Not being with people you want to be with
Having experiences you do not want to have
Not having experiences you want to have
The Second Noble Truth
2 There is resistance to suffering
Resistance to suffering
is avoidable
The Third Noble Truth
3 There is relief from suffering
The Fourth Noble Truth
4 The path to relief from suffering
is the Eightfold Path
Step One on the Eightfold Path
Wise Understanding
See things as they really are
(clear seeing)
Dependent OriginationHow we experience life & where we often get stuck seeing things differently from what they are
Senses & sense objects
Perceptions
Feeling
Thinking
Consciousness
Step Two on the Eightfold Path
Wise Intention
Let go of Anger
Let go of Greed
Let go of Ignorance
Step Three on the Eightfold Path
Wise Speech
Speak the truth
Speak with compassion
Give praise
Speak to help and benefit others
Step Four on the Eightfold Path
Wise Action
Be Compassionate
Give – time, gifts, love…
Protect life
Wise Action & the Five Precepts
Do not kill
Do not take what is not freely given
Do not use sexual behavior in a way that harms
Do not engage in harsh, false or idle speech (and no gossip)
Do not use intoxicants
Step Five on the Eightfold Path
Wise Livelihood
Engage in moral work
Do no harm to others
Do no harm to yourself
Wise Livelihood
Do no work involving gambling
Do no work involving prostitution
Do no work involving intoxicants
Do no work involving arms
Do no work involving killing, stealing or lying
Step Six on the Eightfold Path
Wise Effort
Avoid that which will lead to suffering
Encourage that which will lead to happiness
Wise Effort
When troublesome thoughts come up, ignore them. It that does not work, observe them arise, observe the feelings, thought process and then observe when it fades away. Or change your focus to wholesome thoughts.
Practice loving-kindness meditation, focus on the
outcome of activities you know will harm you or
others, meditate on the unattractive parts of
something or someone you lust over, focus on
something simple like your breath.
Step Seven on the Eightfold Path
Mindfulness
Be present every moment
Mindfulness
Be present every moment
with everything that is
The Five HindrancesIll-will, anger, hatred, bitterness
Desire, greed, wanting, craving
Sloth - slow mind, torpor - sleepiness, dullness
Restlessness, worry, agitation, crowded thoughts
Doubt
Ill-will
Desire
Sloth & torpor
Restlessness
Doubt
Antidotes to the Five Hindrances
Loving kindness, give that person a gift
Think about consequences or ugly parts
Walk, look at light, up your determinationFocus on breath, focus on the thoughts
Talk to someone else who practices
Step Eight on the Eightfold Path
Concentration
Be present with all that is
all the time
The 10 Fetters
1. Personality
2. Doubt
3. Attachment to ritual
4. Desire
5. Ill will
6. Desire to go beyond human consciousness
7. Desire to be beyond a material form
8. Conceit
9. Restlessness
10. Ignorance (ignorance is not directly realizing he 4 noble truths)
The Four Stages of Enlightenment1. Destroy any of first 3 fetters
2. Weaken desire or ill will
3. Complete eradication of desire or ill will
4. Destroy any of last 5 fetters
Fruition of 1st state when you destroy all three first fetters
Fruition of 2nd state when you weaken both desire and ill will
Fruition of 3rd state when you completely eradicate both desire and ill will
Fruition of 4th state when you destroy all of the last five fetters.
The Eightfold Path
the 7 enlightenment factors
(How you know it’s working)
The 7 Enlightenment Factors
Energy
Joy
Tranquility
Concentration
EquanimityMindfulness
Curiosity
The Eightfold Path
This gives you a starting point to understanding.