Last week we began looking at The Four Noble Truths, the
Buddha’s teaching on the reality of suffering, dukkha in Pali. Dukkha is
also defined as distress, anxiety, and a general level of inherent dissatisfaction
brought on by our continual desire, striving, and craving for things to be
other than they are.
The first Truth is that suffering exists. The second is that
suffering is caused by our non-stop craving. The third is that this craving can
be abandoned; peace of mind and heart are possible. And the fourth is the clear
prescription of how to achieve this kind of peace, specifically the Eightfold
Path leading to the end of suffering. Even though there appears to be an
inordinate emphasis on suffering and dissatisfaction, I appreciate that “the
Buddha himself expressly stated that realization of the Four Noble Truths will
be accompanied by happiness, and the noble eightfold path productive of joy.”[1]
It’s a hopeful message.
“Life is filled with suffering, but
it is also filled with many wonders, such as the blue sky, the sunshine, and
the eyes of a baby. To suffer is not enough. We must also be in touch with the
wonders of life. They are within us and all around us, everywhere, in every
moment.
~ Thich Nhat Hanh
As we begin the exploration of the Eightfold Path, it’s
important to point out a couple of characteristics of how it is often taught. Firstly,
the classical descriptions of the factors of path begin with “Right,” as in
Right View, Right Thought, Right Speech, etc. This can be problematic for our western
minds as we compare and contrast right from wrong. Right, in this sense is not
referring to right and wrong. The word “right” has been translated from the
Pali word samma, and can be more
accurately described as appropriate, mature or wise. This makes more sense to
me. Going forward, I’ll use these words interchangeably in discussing each
factor.
Secondly, even though there are eight distinct path factors,
none could exist without the other. They are mutually dependent components of a
whole. In addition, the Eightfold Path is typically taught in order, but in
practice, it is more like a spiral or even a figure eight. We are continually
circling back through the factors that help us lead an awakened and happy life.
The factors of the path are wise view or understanding, thought or intention, speech,
action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration. Further, they are
typically separated into three categories or aspects of the path:
·
Wisdom includes
View/Understanding and Thought/Intention
·
Morality
& Ethics include Speech, Action and Livelihood
·
Meditation
includes Effort, Mindfulness and Concentration
Wise View or Understanding is the starting point, the first
step on the path because our views and understanding of ourselves and the world
directly inform and guide our actions. The Buddha taught that mature view is
established when one understands from one’s own
direct experience the truth and implications of impermanence and the truth and
implications of causality and conditionality, that all actions have
consequences, karma.
Appropriate Understanding “is to know and experience that
things come from a cause; that things are caused by other things; that they do
not exist independently of the things that have formed them. But also it is to
know that as conditions arise they will pass away, which takes us back to
impermanence.”[2] While
this may seem obvious, we still struggle with and are challenged by the continually
changing conditions of our lives. And, despite ourselves and often much to our
dismay, our bodies do degrade and eventually we will be separated from
everything and everyone we hold dear. Yet even in light of everything we cannot
control, (which is everything except our own responses) the fact remains that
what we do in our lives really does matter.
When we truly understand for ourselves that our happiness
and our unhappiness are dependent upon our own actions, it empowers and
energizes us to make the wisest choices we can as often as possible. Clearly,
difficulty arises even when we've put forth our best efforts. But when we act
from our wisest self, the possibilities for happiness and living an awakened
life increase. This is Wise Understanding.
And from one of my heroes, Pete Seeger…
“Realize that little things lead to bigger things…Some seeds fall in the
pathway and get stamped on, and they don’t grow. Some fall on the rocks, and
they don’t grow. But some seeds fall on fallow ground, and they grow and multiply
a thousand fold. Who knows where some good little thing that you've done may
bring results years later that you never dreamed of?”
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