The End to Suffering
The Eightfold Path is one of Buddhism's most unique and specific teaching; the Path sets forth the points to take to rise above suffering and reach Nirvana, and it was designed by Siddhartha Gautama upon him reaching his Enlightenment. Although the name suggests, the Path is not necessarily a sequence of events that must happen, but rather, individual concepts which much each be fulfilled. The Path goes as follows:
1) Achieving the right view on life
This step essentially encompasses the idea that any aspiring learners need to understand the Four Noble Truths and have the right mindset and mentality to endure the path
2) Having good intentions
Different from the first step, this stage includes commitments to resist the desires of humanity
3) Using the right speech
Words are powerful. They can cause wars or peace, create love or hate. In the Eightfold Path, one must only use speech to bring about good effects, and exercise enough self discipline to not use hateful, angry, or disapproving speech.
4) Exercising the right actions
The fourth point of the Path is a big one; using the right action includes processes such as not harming any living creature, resisting greed, and abstaining from sexual immorality.
5) Having a righteous livelihood
This step essentially means that any Buddhist should make their living without violating any of the other principles; Buddhists cannot work in places such as slaughterhouses, and anything Buddhists do illegally to help their livelihood is in violation of this step.
6) Putting forth diligent effort
This part of the Noble Eightfold Path is one that is almost always completed when other parts are worked towards. Having diligent and constant effort to be the best person you can be is absolutely necessary to reach Enlightenment.
7) Right mindfulness
This principle states that any person who strives for Enlightenment must have a clear conscious and always be focused on staying true to the path. The Buddha said that there were four different foundations of mindfulness found in this part of the Path, those foundations being contemplation of body, feeling, mind, and phenomena.
8) Concentration
This principle includes the idea of meditation and focusing on reaching Enlightenment. Buddhist philosophy teaches that as more concentration and constant thought of a goal in mind occurs, the quicker and easier that goal will be realized.
1) Achieving the right view on life
This step essentially encompasses the idea that any aspiring learners need to understand the Four Noble Truths and have the right mindset and mentality to endure the path
2) Having good intentions
Different from the first step, this stage includes commitments to resist the desires of humanity
3) Using the right speech
Words are powerful. They can cause wars or peace, create love or hate. In the Eightfold Path, one must only use speech to bring about good effects, and exercise enough self discipline to not use hateful, angry, or disapproving speech.
4) Exercising the right actions
The fourth point of the Path is a big one; using the right action includes processes such as not harming any living creature, resisting greed, and abstaining from sexual immorality.
5) Having a righteous livelihood
This step essentially means that any Buddhist should make their living without violating any of the other principles; Buddhists cannot work in places such as slaughterhouses, and anything Buddhists do illegally to help their livelihood is in violation of this step.
6) Putting forth diligent effort
This part of the Noble Eightfold Path is one that is almost always completed when other parts are worked towards. Having diligent and constant effort to be the best person you can be is absolutely necessary to reach Enlightenment.
7) Right mindfulness
This principle states that any person who strives for Enlightenment must have a clear conscious and always be focused on staying true to the path. The Buddha said that there were four different foundations of mindfulness found in this part of the Path, those foundations being contemplation of body, feeling, mind, and phenomena.
8) Concentration
This principle includes the idea of meditation and focusing on reaching Enlightenment. Buddhist philosophy teaches that as more concentration and constant thought of a goal in mind occurs, the quicker and easier that goal will be realized.
The Wheel Of The Law
In Gautama's first post-Enlightenment sermon, he taught about the "Dharmachakra," or the Wheel of the Law. The wheel is symbolic in many ways; it has 8 spokes and handles, representing the Eightfold Path. The constant turning of the wheel represents the continuing of life and time, and as the wheel completes revolutions and a person's life completes, the wheel starts spinning from the beginning again, representative of reincarnation. In meditation, the first finger and thumb of both hands are put together to make a circle, which is meant to resemble and represent this Wheel.