world religions buddhism the eightfold path the eightfold path week 14, 4/13/2011 week 14, 4/13/2011...

World ReligionsWorld ReligionsWorld ReligionsWorld Religions

BuddhismBuddhism

• The Eightfold PathThe Eightfold Path

• Week 14, 4/13/2011Week 14, 4/13/2011• Gene Wright, [email protected] Wright, [email protected]

World Religions - BuddhismWorld Religions - BuddhismWorld Religions - BuddhismWorld Religions - Buddhism

Spring 2011Spring 2011Crieve Hall church of ChristCrieve Hall church of Christ

• The four noble truths:The four noble truths:• 1) The noble truth of suffering: birth is suffering, old age is 1) The noble truth of suffering: birth is suffering, old age is

suffering, death is suffering, sorrow, grieving, dejection, and suffering, death is suffering, sorrow, grieving, dejection, and despair are suffering. Contact with unpleasant things is suffering, despair are suffering. Contact with unpleasant things is suffering, not getting what you want is also suffering.not getting what you want is also suffering.

• 2) This is the noble truth of the cause of suffering: that craving 2) This is the noble truth of the cause of suffering: that craving which leads to rebirth, combined with longing and lust for this and which leads to rebirth, combined with longing and lust for this and that—craving for sensual pleasure, craving for rebirth, craving for that—craving for sensual pleasure, craving for rebirth, craving for cessation of birth.cessation of birth.

• 3) This is the noble truth of the end of suffering: It is the complete 3) This is the noble truth of the end of suffering: It is the complete cessation without remainder of that craving, the abandonment, cessation without remainder of that craving, the abandonment, release from, and non-attachment to it. This cessation is known by release from, and non-attachment to it. This cessation is known by the name nirvana. Nirvana can be understood as the “blowing out” the name nirvana. Nirvana can be understood as the “blowing out” of desire, the “blowing out” of ignorance, or the “blowing out” of of desire, the “blowing out” of ignorance, or the “blowing out” of life itself, if life is understood as the constant cycle of death and life itself, if life is understood as the constant cycle of death and rebirth.rebirth.

• 4) This is the noble truth of the path that leads to the cessation of 4) This is the noble truth of the path that leads to the cessation of suffering: This is the noble eightfold path.suffering: This is the noble eightfold path.



• The four noble truths:The four noble truths:• Let’s rephrase the four noble truths in everyday Let’s rephrase the four noble truths in everyday

language.language.• First, life stinks. That seems to me to be a fairly First, life stinks. That seems to me to be a fairly

succinct way of saying “All existence is suffering.”succinct way of saying “All existence is suffering.”• Second, it is because you’re clingy. Or, as Siddhartha Second, it is because you’re clingy. Or, as Siddhartha

said it, “All suffering is caused by desire.”said it, “All suffering is caused by desire.”• Third, just stop clinging. That is, “Suffering ceases Third, just stop clinging. That is, “Suffering ceases

when desire ceases.”when desire ceases.”• And fourth, Join “I-Anon.” That would be And fourth, Join “I-Anon.” That would be

Siddhartha’s 8-Step program for eliminating the Siddhartha’s 8-Step program for eliminating the illusion of “Self”. Life stinks, because you’re clingy. illusion of “Self”. Life stinks, because you’re clingy. So stop clinging. Join I-AnonymousSo stop clinging. Join I-Anonymous



• The eightfold path is not a step-by-step The eightfold path is not a step-by-step process. process.

• In other words, a person doesn’t do step one In other words, a person doesn’t do step one until it is completed, then move on to step two. until it is completed, then move on to step two.

• Rather, the eight steps are constantly being Rather, the eight steps are constantly being taken together, and are really a three-pronged taken together, and are really a three-pronged remedy. remedy.

• Steps one and two address our motivationSteps one and two address our motivation• Steps three through five address our outward Steps three through five address our outward

behaviorbehavior• Steps six through eight address our inward Steps six through eight address our inward

selves.selves.



• Step One: Right Understanding. Step One: Right Understanding. • This is the reason for starting the process at all. This is the reason for starting the process at all. • Step one of the eightfold path begins with an Step one of the eightfold path begins with an

intellectual acceptance of the first three Noble intellectual acceptance of the first three Noble Truths:Truths:

• 1) All existence is suffering1) All existence is suffering• 2) All suffering is caused by desire2) All suffering is caused by desire• 3) Suffering ceases when desire ceases. 3) Suffering ceases when desire ceases. • If after consideration these three assertions make If after consideration these three assertions make

sense, then I have begun on the eightfold path.sense, then I have begun on the eightfold path.



• Step Two: Right Motivation. Step Two: Right Motivation. • If I intellectually accept the reality of suffering and its If I intellectually accept the reality of suffering and its

cause, there is still the question of whether I want to cause, there is still the question of whether I want to change it. Some would argue that: love hurts, but it is change it. Some would argue that: love hurts, but it is worth the pain. worth the pain.

• But the more one explores the reality of suffering and its But the more one explores the reality of suffering and its cause, the less worthwhile the payoff seems. cause, the less worthwhile the payoff seems.

• After all, we are not simply talking about the romance of After all, we are not simply talking about the romance of youth and the ache for that phone call. We are talking the youth and the ache for that phone call. We are talking the terrifying loneliness of old age, the enormous stress of the terrifying loneliness of old age, the enormous stress of the corporate world and the strokes, heart attacks and cancers corporate world and the strokes, heart attacks and cancers that result. that result.

• Knowing the reality of suffering and its cause, when we Knowing the reality of suffering and its cause, when we see its extent, we will find ourselves increasingly wanting see its extent, we will find ourselves increasingly wanting to step out of that game altogether.to step out of that game altogether.



• Step Three: Right Speech. Step Three: Right Speech. • The third most frequently used word in the English The third most frequently used word in the English

language, after “and” and “the,” is “I.” language, after “and” and “the,” is “I.” • Our favorite subject is ourselves. But this is a circle. Our favorite subject is ourselves. But this is a circle.

The more we talk about “I”, the more we hear about The more we talk about “I”, the more we hear about “I.” “I.”

• The more we hear about ourselves, the more we must The more we hear about ourselves, the more we must be certain that “I” am real. be certain that “I” am real.

• Part of right speech is learning to talk about Part of right speech is learning to talk about ourselves less and less. ourselves less and less.

• In addition, we need to be aware of the way all our In addition, we need to be aware of the way all our conversation affects our psyche. Gossip, lying, and conversation affects our psyche. Gossip, lying, and bragging all serve to reinforce the idea of “self,” and bragging all serve to reinforce the idea of “self,” and should therefore be avoided.should therefore be avoided.



• Step Four: Right Action. Step Four: Right Action. • Losing our temper, acting violently, carrying out Losing our temper, acting violently, carrying out

improper sexual activity are all done for the “self.” improper sexual activity are all done for the “self.” • It is hard to imagine road rage being carried out with the It is hard to imagine road rage being carried out with the

best interests of the other driver in mind. best interests of the other driver in mind. • Right action also includes the avoidance of all Right action also includes the avoidance of all

intoxicants, since the eightfold path requires clear intoxicants, since the eightfold path requires clear thought to be constantly aware of our moment. thought to be constantly aware of our moment.

• It includes complete truthfulness as well. Lies hurt It includes complete truthfulness as well. Lies hurt others and ourselves, and use emotional energy we others and ourselves, and use emotional energy we need if we are to succeed on the eightfold path.need if we are to succeed on the eightfold path.

• Almost from its very start, Buddhism has listed five Almost from its very start, Buddhism has listed five precepts that are critical for disengaging from “self”: No precepts that are critical for disengaging from “self”: No killing, no stealing, no inappropriate sex, no lying and killing, no stealing, no inappropriate sex, no lying and no intoxicants.no intoxicants.



• Step Five: Right Vocation. Step Five: Right Vocation. • Certain careers lend themselves well to disengaging from Certain careers lend themselves well to disengaging from

self-centeredness. Being an elementary school teacher, self-centeredness. Being an elementary school teacher, being an oncology nurse, or working in an animal shelter being an oncology nurse, or working in an animal shelter are all career paths that give others a central place, and do are all career paths that give others a central place, and do little to place “self” at the center. little to place “self” at the center.

• At the other extreme, neurosurgeons, actors and At the other extreme, neurosurgeons, actors and politicians – all seek and find constant appreciation of politicians – all seek and find constant appreciation of “self” and thus are very difficult careers in which to carry “self” and thus are very difficult careers in which to carry out the Buddhist path. out the Buddhist path.

• Perhaps these are not impossible to reconcile with Perhaps these are not impossible to reconcile with Buddhism, but they certainly present deeper challenges. Buddhism, but they certainly present deeper challenges.

• Other career tracks stand in violation of the five precepts, Other career tracks stand in violation of the five precepts, such as soldier, animal slaughterer, and prostitute. These such as soldier, animal slaughterer, and prostitute. These are therefore incompatible with the quest to disengage are therefore incompatible with the quest to disengage from “self.”from “self.”



• Step Six: Right Effort. Step Six: Right Effort. • The sixth step begins to bridge to the inward effort, The sixth step begins to bridge to the inward effort,

but the focus is our speech, our actions, and our but the focus is our speech, our actions, and our vocation. vocation.

• We must be willing to analyze everything we say, do, We must be willing to analyze everything we say, do, think and feel. We must try to find the underlying self-think and feel. We must try to find the underlying self-orientation of it all, in every moment of every day. orientation of it all, in every moment of every day.

• If someone turns to admire an attractive person or If someone turns to admire an attractive person or car, etc., we should explore its connection to desire car, etc., we should explore its connection to desire and the connection of desire to our yearning to be and the connection of desire to our yearning to be desired, the connection of that yearning with our fear desired, the connection of that yearning with our fear of aging, and that fear of aging with our fear of death. of aging, and that fear of aging with our fear of death.

• It is a constant effort to make explicit what so many of It is a constant effort to make explicit what so many of us never stop to consider.us never stop to consider.



• Step Seven: Right Mindfulness. Step Seven: Right Mindfulness. • There are two ways Buddhists understand “mindfulness.” On There are two ways Buddhists understand “mindfulness.” On

the one hand, it is being mindful of every detail of our lives, the one hand, it is being mindful of every detail of our lives, building on right effort. It also means being aware of that with building on right effort. It also means being aware of that with which we are filling our minds. which we are filling our minds.

• On a daily basis we absorb the world around us, and it is this On a daily basis we absorb the world around us, and it is this material that we use to build our own psyches. But in our material that we use to build our own psyches. But in our everyday world the reality television shows and checkout-lane everyday world the reality television shows and checkout-lane magazines are trying to convince us that being a young, magazines are trying to convince us that being a young, beautiful celebrity is true success, even if it means many dollars beautiful celebrity is true success, even if it means many dollars in beauty creams, hair growth, hair removal, or Botox. in beauty creams, hair growth, hair removal, or Botox.

• As the saying goes, “Garbage in, garbage out.” As the saying goes, “Garbage in, garbage out.” • Everything around us appeals to us to improve the “self.” “Self” Everything around us appeals to us to improve the “self.” “Self”

must, therefore, be real, right? must, therefore, be real, right? • This step traditionally meant that, ultimately, the Buddhist This step traditionally meant that, ultimately, the Buddhist

pursuit would require removal from the everyday world into a pursuit would require removal from the everyday world into a monastery, away from all the intrusions.monastery, away from all the intrusions.



• Step Eight: Right Concentration. Step Eight: Right Concentration. • The path to nirvana or enlightenment must lead The path to nirvana or enlightenment must lead

through meditation. through meditation. • It is here – only here – that we can reach beyond the It is here – only here – that we can reach beyond the

illusion of “self.” illusion of “self.” • But meditation apart from the rest of the eightfold But meditation apart from the rest of the eightfold

path will do little to help a person reach path will do little to help a person reach enlightenment. enlightenment.

• Siddhartha acted out of compassion for all beings.Siddhartha acted out of compassion for all beings.• Only when meditation and compassion are pursued Only when meditation and compassion are pursued

together does the eightfold path succeed.together does the eightfold path succeed.



• The Eightfold PathThe Eightfold Path• Step One: Right Understanding.Step One: Right Understanding.• Step Two: Right Motivation.Step Two: Right Motivation.• Step Three: Right Speech. Step Three: Right Speech. • Step Four: Right Action.Step Four: Right Action.• Step Five: Right Vocation. Step Five: Right Vocation. • Step Six: Right Effort.Step Six: Right Effort.• Step Seven: Right Mindfulness.Step Seven: Right Mindfulness.• Step Eight: Right Concentration.Step Eight: Right Concentration.

• Next week? Varieties of Buddhism and some Next week? Varieties of Buddhism and some examples of the Buddha’s teachingsexamples of the Buddha’s teachings

world religions buddhism the eightfold path the eightfold path week 14, 4/13/2011 week 14, 4/13/2011...

Documents

cessation of suffering

noble truth of suffering

cause of suffering

reality of suffering

end of suffering

desire3 suffering ceases

noble truths

noble eightfold path