Menu
FrequencyRiser
0
  • * Gift Cards *
  • Yoga
    • Premium Mats
    • Accessories
    • Apparel
    • LifePower
    • Yoga Jewelry
    • Bundled Deals
    • Samskara
  • Books
    • New Releases
    • Author Collections
    • Card Decks
    • Journals / Dream Journals
    • Sacred Geometry
    • Children's Books
    • Meditation Books
    • Yoga Books
    • LifePower Yoga TT
    • Consciousness
    • Buddhism
    • Vedanta
    • Calendars
    • Coloring Books
    • Dreams
    • Health / Wellness
    • Hermeticism
    • Mindfulness
    • Mythology
    • Near Death Experience
    • Spiritual Wisdom
    • Personal Growth
    • Spiritual Fiction
    • Abundance / LOA
    • A Course In Miracles
  • Meditation
    • Meditation Cushions
    • Meditation Books
  • Hemi-Sync®
    • Metamusic®
    • Mind Food®
    • Human Plus®
    • Learning Series
    • Meditation Series
    • Personal Growth Series
    • Relaxation Series
    • Sleep Series
    • Community
  • Wellness
    • Mask Sack / Face Masks
    • YogaWrap Spinal Support
    • Health / Wellness Books
  • Blog
  • Sign in
  • USD $
  • Your Cart is Empty
FrequencyRiser
FrequencyRiser
  • * Gift Cards *
  • Yoga
    • Premium Mats
    • Accessories
    • Apparel
    • LifePower
    • Yoga Jewelry
    • Bundled Deals
    • Samskara
  • Books
    • New Releases
    • Author Collections
    • Card Decks
    • Journals / Dream Journals
    • Sacred Geometry
    • Children's Books
    • Meditation Books
    • Yoga Books
    • LifePower Yoga TT
    • Consciousness
    • Buddhism
    • Vedanta
    • Calendars
    • Coloring Books
    • Dreams
    • Health / Wellness
    • Hermeticism
    • Mindfulness
    • Mythology
    • Near Death Experience
    • Spiritual Wisdom
    • Personal Growth
    • Spiritual Fiction
    • Abundance / LOA
    • A Course In Miracles
  • Meditation
    • Meditation Cushions
    • Meditation Books
  • Hemi-Sync®
    • Metamusic®
    • Mind Food®
    • Human Plus®
    • Learning Series
    • Meditation Series
    • Personal Growth Series
    • Relaxation Series
    • Sleep Series
    • Community
  • Wellness
    • Mask Sack / Face Masks
    • YogaWrap Spinal Support
    • Health / Wellness Books
  • Blog
  • Currency

  • 0 0

The Buddha's Eightfold Path

October 10, 2021

The Noble Eightfold Path

The 'Middle Way', avoiding the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification, is the path which the Buddha taught in the Fourth Noble Truths that leads to the complete cessation of suffering (dukkha) and release from the cycle of existence (samsara). This is the realisation of Nibbana, the ultimate goal of a Buddhist.

The path comprises eight categories or factors which aim at developing and perfecting the three essentials of Buddhist training and discipline: Virtue (Sila), Concentration (samadhi) and Wisdom (panna).

Virtue or Ethical conduct comprises Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, and Right Effort.

Concentration is the development of Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration through meditation.

Wisdom comprises Right Understanding and Right Thought.

What the Buddha meant by 'Right' is that which produces a beneficial result.

Right Understanding (Samma ditthi) or Vision is essentially the true understanding of the Four Noble Truths, which can be regarded as the forerunner of the entire path.
When we understand that life is subject to dukkha and accept that there is a way out, we can set about treading the path that the Buddha prescribed. Right understanding is not a mere intellectual or theoretical understanding of Buddha's teachings. It is an intuitive realisation of the true nature of things. That is, with the development of insight, he or she realises the Three Characteristics of Existence, that:

a) All existence is subject to dukkha
b) All things are impermanent (not permanent, being in a state perpetual change) - anicca
c) There is no permanent soul of self in a being - anatta.

Right Thought (Samma sankappa) or Intention, means clear vision leading to clear thinking. Right thought leads to the elimination of harmful thoughts and developing such positive states of mind such as metta (loving-kindness), which is opposed to hatred, ill-will or aversion and developing thoughts of harmlessness or compassion which are opposed to cruelty and callousness.

Right Speech (Samma vaca) is refraining from false speech or lying, slandering and harsh speech such as hurling abuse, insulting and being sarcastic. Such a person will see the good in others instead of deceiving or denouncing them. Along with Right Action and Right Livelihood, Right Speech promotes ethical conduct, which is the foundation for the purification of the mind. A clear mind, without defilements such as anger, lust, etc. is an absolute necessity for the development of insight wisdom which enables one to realise the true nature of things.

Right Action (Samma kammanta) is to abstain from harming others, taking what is not given (which includes stealing, fraud, deception) and sexual misconduct. Craving (desire) and anger are the primary cause of these deeds.
Being satisfied with what we have and not craving for new things is the right approach.

Right Livelihood (Samma ajiva) aims at earning a living in an ethical manner without harming others. One should avoid certain trades such as:

•Trading in armaments
•Human beings
•Flesh (such as breeding of animals for slaughter)
•Intoxicating drinks and harmful drugs
•Poison

As a practising Buddhist, making a large amount of money should not be the most important thing in life. Aquiring wealth in a skillful and ethical manner is not considered harmful provided greed is not the motivating factor. The Buddha advised that a person should spend reasonably in propotion to his earnings. Wealth should be used to provide the needs such as food, clothing, shelter of a person and his family and for charitable purposes, saving a quarter of the earnings for illness and other emergencies.


Right Effort (Samma vayama) is the effort to prevent evil and unwholesome states of mind such as anger, jealousy, craving from arising, and to get rid of such unwholesome states of mind that have already arisen. The development of mindfulness is a step in the right direction. Buddha stressed the importance of diligence and perseverance in right effort. In keeping with the Buddhist middle way, the effort should not be too hard or too little.

Right Mindfulness (Samma sati) is to be aware or attentive to all our activities, feelings, thoughts and emotions. A little reflection will make us realise that in most things we do, they are done without being fully aware of the actions being carried out. For example, we may be drinking a cup or tea, while in our mind we may be trying to solve an office problem. The practice of concentrating the mind on breathing (anapanasati) is a highly recommended meditation exercise for developing awareness. Being mindful should be practised in everyday tasks, and not limited to the period of meditation. The Buddha laid down four foundations of mindfulness: mindfulness of body, of feelings, of mental objects and of the mind.

Right Concentration (Samma samadhi) develops 'one-pointedness' of the mind. This is achieved by keeping the mind focused on a single object during meditation. Along with Right effort and Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration completes the mental discipline required to progress along the path. This with the development of mindfulness, will enable one the true understanding of one or more of the three characteristics of existence and thereby attain Enlightenment.

Source: London Buddhist Vihara

 

Learn more from our top selections of Buddhist Wisdom: http://frequencyriser.com/Buddhism

  • Share:

Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.


Also in FrequencyRiser Conscious Lifestyle Blog

10 Spirit-Renewing Travel Hotspots in Colorado (Video Guide)

November 07, 2023

spiritual religious travel destinations guide colorado

Is it possible to be grounded while globetrotting? Some may believe peaceful travel is an oxymoron, but the truth is that Colorado offers a multitude of unhurried spiritual and religious travel destinations. Sightseeing becomes elevated through divine explorations.

frequencyRiser wants to know where you will travel in Colorado? Undecided? This healthy list is helpful when planning trips in Colorado, especially for those who are seeking metaphysical or divine experiences.

Read More

Just Breathe - Breathing animation for relaxation, meditation and relieving anxiety

October 10, 2023

 

 “If you want to conquer the anxiety of life, live in the moment, live in the breath.”

―Amit Ray

Yogis have known the importance of the breath for thousands of years. The ancient sages taught us that “prana”, the vital force circulating through us, can be cultivated and channeled through a spectrum of breathing exercises.

Learning to breathe consciously and with awareness can be a valuable tool in helping to restore balance in the mind and body. Utilize the Breath video to create a controlled meditative breath. 

Learn more about meditative and yogic breath from our great selection of yoga and meditation wisdom books:

Yoga Wisdom: frequencyRiser.com/YogaWisdom

Meditation Wisdom: frequencyRiser.com/MeditationWisdom

Read More

Are You "Mind Full" Or Mindful? (5 Helpful Books That Will Get You There)

May 06, 2023

It's no secret that our minds become preoccupied with everyday happenings; get the kids up and ready for school on time, quickly run to the grocery store and the bank before flying home to prepare meals and finish folding the laundry. It's time to take a breathe and ask; Am I being "mind full" or mindful?

Great spiritual leaders throughout time, like yogis, shamans, mystics and others, connect to a realm of universal peace, which exists at a higher frequency. By evolving consciousness through yoga and meditation, we are able to rise above the daily grind, and find peace in just existing.

frequencyRiser offers the tools needed to elevate to a higher level of awareness.

When we exist at a higher frequency all aspects of life become powerfully sublime.

Where do we start? What do we do to find inner peace? Below are some books to help you on your journey to enlightenment.

Read More

Follow
  • Search
  • About Us
  • Return Policy
  • Blog

Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more…

Currency

© 2023 FrequencyRiser.
Powered by Shopify

Amazon American Express Apple Pay Diners Club Discover Meta Pay Google Pay Mastercard PayPal Shop Pay Venmo Visa