| More and more these days it seems that some of | | | | What is the Eightfold Path? The Eightfold Path is |
| humanity's sharpest and brightest ideas are actually | | | | another principal teaching of the Buddha, who |
| ancient ones. Among the insights that Buddha received | | | | described it as the path that leads to the end of |
| during his enlightenment more than 2,600 years ago | | | | suffering and the achievement of self-realization. |
| under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, is the most | | | | The elements of the Eightfold Path are: |
| fundamental teaching of the Buddhist tradition, that of | | | | 1. Right view; there is suffering in the world and the end |
| the "Four Noble Truths." In broad terms, these truths | | | | of suffering is the end of desire (the Four Noble |
| relate to the existential human condition of suffering-its | | | | Truths), |
| nature, its origin, and its end. The Four Noble Truths | | | | 2. Right intention; in your life aim to decrease suffering |
| appear again and again throughout the Pali Canon, a | | | | and desire, |
| collection of the most ancient and sacred Buddhist | | | | 3. Right speech; choose your words thoughtfully, use |
| texts, thought to be the direct teachings of Buddha | | | | them to comfort others, |
| himself. However, the Four Noble Truths do not just | | | | 4. Right action; do not add to desire or suffering in the |
| pertain to adherents of Buddhism; Buddhists conceive | | | | world, |
| the Four Noble Truths as pertaining ubiquitously to all of | | | | 5. Right livelihood; whatever you do for a living, do it to |
| humanity. What is more, the Four Noble Truths do not | | | | decrease suffering and desire of yourself and for |
| interfere in the slightest bit with traditional Western | | | | others, |
| religious orthodoxies and can be assimilated by | | | | 6. Right effort; do not worry about the outcome, |
| non-Buddhists as supplemental rather than substitutive | | | | always try to comfort those who suffer and abate |
| dogma, though they are antithetical to our now failing, | | | | desire, |
| out of control American consumerism. | | | | 7. Right mindfulness; keep your mind free of desire, |
| The Four Noble Truths are: | | | | greed, and prejudice, |
| 1. There is suffering in the world; everything and | | | | 8. Right concentration; think about suffering in the world, |
| everybody endures it, | | | | think about what is at its root |
| 2. There is a cause for suffering; the cause of | | | | Buddha understood that you have to be willing to let |
| suffering is desire, | | | | go to truly possess; you have to let go of your |
| 3. There is an end to suffering; it is possible to end | | | | dreams in order to achieve them. In hard times such as |
| suffering by ending desire, | | | | our own, when everything is uncertain and the status |
| 4. There is the Eightfold Path; the Eightfold Path will | | | | quo just won't do, the best thing we can do is keep |
| help you end your desire and will lead to the end of | | | | our eye on the prize: universal and worldwide end to |
| suffering | | | | needless suffering. |