Blog post: The Eightfold Path

Asia is celebrating Buddha Purnima today, i.e., 26 May 2021. The day marks the birth, enlightenment, and death of Lord Buddha. The date reminds us of Buddha’s Noble Eightfold Path – a set of practices for body-mind development. 

• Right Understanding – or right view states that all our beliefs and actions have consequences during life and after death. 

• Right Thought – or right resolve, right intention, right motivation, or right aspiration. In earthly and more straightforward terms, it conveys the message to refrain from ill will to any person. 

• Right Speech – abstaining from abusive speech, divisive speech, lying, and idle chatter is right speech. 

• Right Action – abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, and any kind of wrongful action is right action. 

• Right Livelihood – abstaining from the wrong livelihood and choosing the right source of employment is the right livelihood.  

• Right Mindfulness – be cautious of what you are doing, don’t be absent-minded; this is what the path of right mindfulness teaches us. 

• Right Concentration – right concentration is focusing all your mental factors on one point or target and being in a state of complete awareness for that target.  

• Right Effort – right effort is defined as the generation of wholesome states. It requires you to put forth your efforts, exert your mind, and generate your energy in the right direction.  

Proposed years ago, these practices hold meaning and value even now. It is not necessary to delve into the literal definition of these practices. However, contemplating each of these paths in relevant terms would make sense and prove fruitful when applied to our current life. They open a gateway for our betterment and revival from the present (probably) ‘messed-up’ path. #Revive your energy to use right beliefs and thoughts for putting the right efforts, speech, and action with the right concentration and mindfulness into your right livelihood.