A Guide to Peaceful Living - Using Buddha's Noble Eight Fold Path

The noble eight fold path is the foundation of Buddhism, and it's the way to self liberation. These eight steps are very important. The eight fold path was the subject of Buddha's first and last Dharma talks. As he was dying Buddha replied, "Subhadaddha, it is not important whether they (all other religious teachers) are fully enlightened. The question is whether you want to liberate yourself. If you do, practice the noble eight fold path. Where ever the noble eight fold path is practiced joy, peace, and insight are there."

The Buddha's noble eight fold path:

1. Right view is to understand the four noble truths. The four noble truths are: our suffering, the making of our suffering, the fact that our suffering can end, and the path that ends our suffering. The path to end suffering is the eight fold path itself.

2. Right thinking consists of four practices: asking yourself two mindful questions, acknowledging habit energies, and developing bodhichitta. Ask yourself, "are you sure?" This will help in dealing with wrong perception. Ask, "what am I doing?" This will encourage mindfulness in daily activities. Say, "hello, habit energies." Sticking to bad habits causes us to suffer. Once we see our habits we can begin to change them. Remember not to feel guilty about these habits, this is wrong thinking, because guilt leads to suffering. Bodhichitta is the "mind love." Compassion and understanding should be cultivated toward ourselves and others.

3. Right speech is to speak truthfully. Kind speech is crucial to relieving the suffering of others. Words can inspire self-confidence, joy, and hope. The common saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all," is a good example of right speech.

4. Right Action is to harm no thing directly or indirectly. Most Dharmaic practitioner are vegetarians to help cause less suffering to animals. Actions that promote social justice are right action.

5. Right livelihood is a way to earn a living without performing negative actions. Wrong actions include: the sale of drugs, dealing with guns, the sale of alcohol, telling fortunes, and dealing in slave trades. Many industries are harmful to people and the environment. We should be mindful of the way we earn a living.

6. Right diligence means to properly look after our thoughts. First we should prevent unwholesome thoughts from arising. Second we should transform the unwholesome thoughts that have already arisen, Third we should find ways to create wholesome thoughts, and last we should nourish the wholesome thoughts that have already arisen. Joy and ease are at the heart of right diligence.

7. Right mindfulness accepts everything without judging or reacting. It is inclusive and loving. Once you become mindful you experience the miracle of becoming the object of attention. Becoming the blue sky, a flower, a child's smile, or your lover. Feeling one with nature and not just living life like a habitual robot. A good way to practice mindfulness is to count the breath. Count one on inhalation and one on exhalation, then repeat until ten is reached. As you breath think, "In, out, deep, slow, calm, ease, smile, release, present moment, wonderful moment."

8. Right concentration leads to happiness. To practice right conentration is to live each moment that is given to us in mindfulness. You should become that specific moment. Sitting reading a book you become one with that book. Looking at a picture of Buddha or God you concentrate and become Buddha or God. That's why Buddhism states that everyone has Buddha nature. This is the key of perception, "I think there for I am."

From a psychological point of view, the noble eight fold path, is an attempt to resolve dissonance by changing patterns of thoughts and behaviors. Repeated actions, learning, and memory can change the nervous system. This being brought about by cultivated changes in emotions and actions. In turn, changing subsequenting experiences.

In the opening verses of the Dhammapada the Buddha states:

"Preceded by perception are mental states,
For them is perception supreme,
From perception have they sprung.
If, with perception polluted, one speaks or acts,
Thence suffering follows
As a wheel the draught ox's foot.
Preceded by perception are mental states,
For them is perception supreme,
From perception have they sprung.
If, with tranquil perception, one speaks or acts,
Thence ease follows
As a shadow that never departs."

By changing our view points and behaviors we can experience The noble eight fold path is the foundation of Buddhism, and is the way to self liberation. The eight steps are very important. They were Buddha's first and last Dharma talks. As he was dying Buddha replied, "Subhadaddha, it is not important whether they (all other religious teachers) are fully enlightened. The question is whether you want to liberate yourself. If you do, practice the noble eight fold path. Where ever the noble eight fold path is practiced joy, peace, and insight are there."