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The Means. Eightfold Path / Ethics / Meditation. Noble Eightfold Path. The Noble Eightfold Path is the core of Buddhist practice and lifestyle. It is a guide to life, with it’s basis in the central teachings of the Four Noble Truths. Split into three sections: Wisdom, Morality, and Meditation
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The Means Eightfold Path / Ethics / Meditation
Noble Eightfold Path The Noble Eightfold Path is the core of Buddhist practice and lifestyle. It is a guide to life, with it’s basis in the central teachings of the Four Noble Truths. • Split into three sections: Wisdom, Morality, and Meditation • Not a step by step guide • All should be practiced simultaneously • All ‘stages’ are interconnected • It is seen as the ‘Way’ to achieve enlightenment • See: The Path (Dhammapada)
Noble Eightfold Path • Right View (understanding 4NT) • Right Intention (Doing things for right reasons) • Right Speech (no gossip / idle chat / lying) • Right Conduct / Action (being useful/helpful) • Right Livelihood (a good / helpful job) • Right Effort (Work hard towards keeping to 4NT and 8FP) • Right Mindfulness (Awareness / See things in the right way / Understanding how your actions affect everything around you) • Right Concentration (Meditation)
Ethics / Morality • Compassion is a central value to Buddhists – it underpins all belief and action • Ahimsa = non-violence and respect for life • Metta = loving-kindness (compassion for all creatures) • Using skilful means • Gaining good kamma (to enable a better rebirth) • Altruism = putting others first as based on compassion and as seen in the Bodhisattva ideal of Mahayana Buddhism
Meditation • Develops understanding / mindfulness / concentration • Samatha Meditation = developing mindfulness, but not specifically Buddhist / won’t get you enlightened • Bhavana (Mental Culture) = specifically Buddhist / essential for enlightenment / insight into nature of reality • Not an escape from life, but developing an awareness and understanding of it! • Pure Land Buddhists believe they can become enlightened simply by meditating on a mental image of the ‘Pure Land’!
Questions • Explain the importance of Right Understanding, Right Intention, Right Speech, and Right Livelihood (8 KU) • Explain the importance of Eightfold Path (3 AE) • Explain the concepts of metta and ahimsa (4 KU) • “Meditation is essential to enlightenment” – how far do you agree? (6 AE)