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.

You Happiness Counts

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