The Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path is the way to human perfection. It is the knowledge that shows us how to turn off the road that leads us astray and live a proper life.
There is no perfect guidance on how we should live our lives, for we are faced in life with a series of problems that vary according to our environment, experience, knowledge and habits. No one else can solve these problems for us: we are each responsible for doing this ourselves. If we stray from the correct path it is our fault, and we may or may not find someone to put us back on the right course. For this reason we must spare no effort to discover what is meant by 'right' in relation to the direction of our lives.

To know 'rightness' is to know the mind of Buddha(God). It is to make a science of the life of Buddha. It is Buddha's mind that decides what is good and what is evil, what is true and what is false, what is beautiful and what is loathsome. To learn Buddha's mind is to study the nature of the energy of the light of Buddha. In other words, to achieve an understanding of Buddha one must exert oneself to the full.
�@This is the absolute, genuine Truth. The standard of 'rightness' outlined below is an invaluable guide to the way you should live your daily lives, developed from the paths that make up the Eightfold path. But even before you start, a prerequisite for following the Eightfold Path is faith in the Truth.

Right Seeing

Reflect on the events of each day of your life as if they were projected on a screen. Remember: if you have wrong views, everything will look wrong. Wrong views based on misguided religion is the diametric opposite of Right Seeing. Assess each day from the point of view of the right faith. This means evaluating everything in terms of the laws of cause and effect, and the method should be applied universally - to events, to people and to the world. Scrutinize the effect of everything you do, and the effect of everything that everybody else does.

Right Thought

Do you think 'rightly'? Just as you reflect on how you see things each day, reflect also on how you have been thinking about the people, the events and world around you each day. Are you thinking from the point of view of what you are learning, from the point of view of what we have called Buddha's Truth?
To Buddhists the core of Right Thought is reflection upon, and correction of, what are known as the Three Poisons of the Mind-greed, anger, and foolishness - which together with pride, doubt, and false views make up the sextet of vices called the Six Worldly Delusions.

Right Speech

In this respect the most important precept is never to tell lies: that is morally wrong and cannot possibly be described as Right Speech. Further aspects of Right Speech include avoidance of flattery, insincere words of any kind, and slanderous statements.
At the same time, remember that love includes alerting others to the Truth: it is important to speak out plainly if you hear a viewpoint expressed that is clearly wrong.

Right Action

Do not kill - neither people nor anything living. Do not steal, nor take anything that is not yours to take. Do not cheat on a partner, and avoid pornography and prostitution lest you are corrupted. And to these precepts you might perhaps add the need to respect and protect all forms of life; to give to those in need, whether supplying a helping hand or forking out a financial donation; and to support and praise what you know to be worthwhile and good.

Right Living

Is there harmony in your life between the activities of your body(including your mouth) and the activities of your mind? Right Living excludes voiced complaints and dissatisfaction just as it eschews gambling and the use of drugs(including alcohol). Do you know when you have had enough? Do you give thanks for life and everything that there is in the world? Do you make full use of the time that Buddha has given you? Try to ensure that the way you live is conducive to following the Eightfold Path, that you are not lazy nor a burden on anyone else, and that your overall lifestyle does not merit any just reproach.

Right Effort

Are you really trying hard to study the Truth? Get into the habit of making a genuine effort. Make the same sort of effort consciously to avoid anything wrong or evil: try to fasten good firmly in your mind. Consciously vet the books you read and the TV and movie films you watch. Throw off laziness. Work on what you know to be weaknesses that may have effects in this life and the next: make self-improvement a lifelong task.

Right Will

Keep your mind and will on soul development as the single goal above all others. Plan your life in such a way as to improve yourself and to contribute to a better world. Remember cause and effect: whatever you will will come to pass, so make sure that what you will is right and good. Practice right prayer or meditation towards self-actualization. It is also important to memorize Buddha's Truth correctly.

Right Meditation

Do you have time in which to meditate, to repent of what you have done wrong, to reflect over your day, and to give thanks to your guardian and guiding spirits before going to bed at night? Make time: set aside a period in which to be quietly thoughtful each day. Do you achieve peace of mind through your meditating? One proven method of meditation is to reflect calmly on yourself as if you were looking at pebbles or shells at the bottom of a pool through a crystal-clear surface.

The Eightfold Path leads to freedom. It is an ancient path that has not lost any of its relevance and still today teaches us the 'right' way to live. The life of one who travels along it is one of progress and advance both in this world and towards the ultimate elevation that is the state of Buddhahood.
(from "The Law of the sun")

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