The Eightfold Path is the Buddha’s guide to enlightenment. Right Action is the fourth element of the Path, and is grouped with Right Speech and Right Livelihood to form the “moral discipline” (read: ethical conduct or harmonious practice) portion...
The first two elements in the Eightfold Path, Right View and Right Intention, help set the initial understanding and attitude. The next three elements – Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood – are grouped together under the theme of moral...
Right View While all eight elements in the Eightfold Path work together and support each other’s development, it’s necessary to start with a sense of direction. Right view takes on the role of compass as we strive to eliminate suffering and achieve...
Right Intention Right Intention is the second factor in the Noble Eightfold Path, and can even be more important than sitting zazen for several hours a day. Right intention is the application of mind needed to live and respond to the true nature of reality, seen by...
The Eightfold Path – An Overview One interesting aspect of Buddhism is its focus. It does not aspire to explain the beginning of the universe, as other religions attempt to do with the concepts of almighty gods, along with our relationship to those gods as the...
The Six Paramitas (Perfections) Mahayana Buddhism (the dominant form of Buddhism) initially developed six paramitas or perfections early on in its history. The Perfections are virtues to be cultivated and practiced on the path to realizing enlightenment. The list was...