Buddhism: The Eight-Fold Path

Based on the teachings and philosophies of Siddhartha Guatama, commonly known as Buddha or the Awakened One, Buddhism aims to help an individual overcome the chaotic ways of the world and attain and understand their own spirituality. Siddhartha Guatama realized during his contemplation that in order to truly understand the depth of one's soul, they must firstly free their soul from earthly pains. Guatama emphasized to followers the only way to find peace and relieve pain was to adhere to the path of liberation, which consists of the Eight Fold Path.

The first thing one must achieve in the Eight Fold Path is the Right Understanding. One must walk through life with the right perspective, in order to see life, nature, and the state of society in its true form. In order to view the world in a more spiritual way, one must first acquaint themselves with the Four Noble Truths.

The Four Noble Truths:

1. Suffering exists. Life is suffering.

2. The desire to fulfill what cannot be fulfilled is what brings humans suffering.

3. Only when disillusionment has ended, can suffering end.

4. The Eight Fold Path can help humans break their habitual suffering.

There are two types of Right Understanding, the view with taints and the view without taints. The view with taints imposes merit and integrity, supporting favorable living in the Earth realm (also called samsara). The view without taints is a factor of the path that leads toward spiritual and mental liberation from Earth.

Right Intention is the next step in the Eight-Fold Path. If one's mind is littered with thoughts of greed, ill-will, hostility, denigration, dominance, jealousy, arrogance, than suffering will never end. These negative emotions are referred to as the 15 defilements and are the seeds of suffering. There are six methods of renunciation, which can remove defilements and become the foundation of good will.

1. Restraining: restrain from things which pleases the senses, but deprives one's mind.

2. Using: use all that one is and cultivate peace.

3. Tolerating: tolerate adversity.

4. Avoiding: avoid impurity and tend only to that which nurtures the pure.

5. Destroying: remove defilements by destroying their roots.

6. Developing: never stop striving to become better and better develop the skills of peacefulness.

Right Speech upholds the Uprightness of the Heart. The heart and the way that one lives must be upright, not crooked. One must carefully choose their words in order to prevent bringing harm on another spirit and thus living with a crooked heart. Words must contain honesty and truth. One must speak with kindness and bring peace and happiness to one's self and those surrounding, comforting hearts. Words must also hold worth for the moment, that of importance not of gossip or selfishness.

The fourth step in the Eight-Fold Path is Right Action. It is simply do the right thing. One must not let their judgment become hazed by defilements because the right thing to do does not change as moments change. One should commit to the Buddhist code of conduct, Sila, which not only aids one's decisions but enforces the practices of mental purification. Sila, consists of four basic principles, do no harm, respect life, earn all that you have, and control your desire.

The ethics of Sila also helps attain Right Livelihood. One must assess and evaluate their lifestyle and rid themselves of any component that may hinder the path to enlightenment, such as the trade of harmful goods, deadly weapons, slavery, poisons, and opiates. Buddhist practices also encourage followers to use the opportunity of one's own liberation to help liberate others.

The next three steps build ones concentration and achieve a higher form of consciousness. This is done with things such as meditation. Meditation practice helps people mold their spirit by reflecting on one's own spirituality and beliefs and move towards enlightenment. Meditation helps get in touch with one's body and mind to become an awaken spirit.

Right Effort is the factor that followers should make a persisting effort to abandon all the wrong and harmful thoughts, words, and deeds. One must prevent unwholesomeness that has not yet arisen and destroy that which has already arisen in oneself. One must arouse and maintain wholesomeness and purity.

Being mindful helps overcome suffering with understanding. Buddha reminds followers to be considerate and mindful of every action and movement, paying attention to the body, feelings, mind, and mental qualities. By doing this one will achieve Right Mindfulness and unlock the secrets of their inner being.

The Body is a vessel that can promote self-righteousness and direct the mind towards the path to Nirvana. Focusing on breathing, movements, actions, and realizing the miracle of physical existence can provide calmness and clarity. That is why some practice yoga in order to tune their physical being into a component of their enlightened self.

Feelings, both external and internal, can help one realize their origination. Understanding the nature of emotions and sensual feelings can help let go of bad habits. Observing thoughts are also vital. They help one aim their thoughts into a positive direction.

Paying attention to one's mental state of being can help recognize the five hindrances of mentality, sensual desire, ill-will, laziness, anxiety, and doubt. If one is fine tuned with their mental state they can expel hindrances from themselves and overcome them.

Right Concentration is the final step in the path to peace. The concept of Right Concentration is to persevere even when it is difficult. One must maintain their virtue and stick to practices of peace, but also if you should stray from the path to recognize and take responsibility for your mistake.