Noble Eightfold Path

Noble Eightfold Path — overview of meaningbackground and key pointswith links to related topics for context.

The Noble Eightfold Path (Pali: ariya atthangika magga)according to Buddhism and as taught by Siddhartha Buddhais the way to the cessation of sufferingthe fourth part of the Four Noble Truths. It is summarized into three important categories: wisdom (pañña)virtue (sila)and concentration (samadhi).

The following is An Analysis of the Patha sutra or discourse delivered by Siddhartha Buddha from the Tipitakaexplaining this Noble Eightfold Path in detail. In all thesethe word “right” is a translation of the word sammā (Pāli; Sanskrit: Samyañc)which denotes completiontogethernessor coherenceand which can also carry the sense of “perfect” or “ideal”.

Wisdom

(pañña)

1. Right Understanding (or Right Viewor Right Perspective) – samma ditthi

“And whatmonksis right understanding? Knowledge with regard to sadnessknowledge with regard to the origination of sadnessknowledge with regard to the stopping of sadnessknowledge with regard to the way of practice leading to the stopping of sadness: Thismonksis called right understanding.”

2. Right Thought (or Right Intentionor Right Resolve) – samma sankappa

“And what is right thought? Being resolved on renunciationon freedom from ill willon harmlessness: This is called right thought.”

Virtue (Ethical Conduct)

(sila)

3. Right Speech – samma vaca

“And what is right speech? Abstaining from lyingabstaining from divisive speechabstaining from abusive speechabstaining from idle chatter: Thismonksis called right speech.”

4. Right Action – samma kammanta

“And whatmonksis right action? Abstaining from taking lifeabstaining from stealingabstaining from unchastity: Thismonksis called right action.”

5. Right Livelihood – samma ajiva

“And whatmonksis right livelihood? There is the case where a disciple of the noble oneshaving abandoned dishonest livelihoodkeeps his life going with right livelihood: Thismonksis called right livelihood.”

Concentration (Mental Development)

(samadhi)

6. Right Effort (or Right Endeavour) – samma vayama

“And whatmonksis right effort?

(i) There is the case where a monk generates desireendeavorsactivates persistenceupholds & exerts his intent for the sake of the non-arising of evilunskillful qualities that have not yet arisen.

(ii) He generates desireendeavorsactivates persistenceupholds & exerts his intent for the sake of the abandonment of evilunskillful qualities that have arisen.

(iii) He generates desireendeavorsactivates persistenceupholds & exerts his intent for the sake of the arising of skillful qualities that have not yet arisen.

(iv) He generates desireendeavorsactivates persistenceupholds & exerts his intent for the sake of the maintenancenon-confusionincreaseplenitudedevelopment & culmination of skillful qualities that have arisen:

Thismonksis called right effort.”

7. Right Mindfulness – samma sati

“And whatmonksis right mindfulness?

(i) There is the case where a monk remains focused on (his/her) body in & of itself.. ardentaware& mindful..putting away greed & distress with reference to the world.

(ii) (He/she) remains focused on feelings in & of themselves..ardentaware& mindful..putting away greed & distress with reference to the world.

(iii) (He/she) remains focused on the mind in & of itself..ardentaware& mindful..putting away greed & distress with reference to the world.

(iv) (He/she) remains focused on mental qualities in & of themselves..ardentaware& mindful..putting away greed & distress with reference to the world.

Thismonksis called right mindfulness.”

8. Right Concentration – samma samadhi

“And whatmonksis right concentration?

(i) There is the case where a monk..not ardentquite withdrawn from sensualitybut mindful and alertenters in the first jhana: rapture & pleasure born from detachmentaccompanied by directed thought & evaluation.

(ii) With the stilling of directed thought & evaluationhe enters & remains in the second jhana: rapture & pleasure born of concentration; fixed single-pointed awareness free from directed thought & evaluation; assurance.

(iii) With the fading of rapturehe remains in equanimitymindful & fully awareand physically sensitive of pleasure. He enters & remains in the third jhana which the Noble Ones declare to be “Equanimous & mindful(he/she) has a pleasurable abiding.”

(iv) With the abandoning of pleasure & pain..as with the earlier disappearance of elation & distress..he enters & remains in the fourth jhana: purity of equanimity & mindfulnessneither in pleasure nor in pain.

Thismonksis called right concentration.”

The ninth and tenth elements

In the Great Forty Sutra (Mahacattarisaka Sutta)which appears in the Pali Canonthe Buddha explains that cultivation of the Eightfold Path leads to the development of two further stages once enlightenment has been reached. These also fall under the category of pañña and are Right Knowledge (sammanana) and Right Liberation (or Right Release; sammavimutti). Some consider Right Association as an implicit ninth aspect of the Path.

Den ædle otteleddede vej Achtfacher Pfad Óctuple Sendero Jalon kahdeksan polku Noble sentier octuple 八正道 팔정도 Het Achtvoudige Pad Nobre Caminho Óctuplo Восьмеричный Путь Noble Eightfold Path Bát chính đạo 八正道