THE BUDDHA - THE EVERLASTING

 

M. S. Rao

 

 

            According to the scriptures, the Buddha taught that in life there exists sorrow/suffering, as stated in the diagram hereunder:

 

 

            And ‘suffering’ can be cured (ceased) by following the Noble Eightfold Path depicted as a eight-spoked Dharmachakra. The eight spokes represent the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism.

 

 

            This is divided into three sections: Sila (which concerns the physical bodily actions), Samadhi (which concerns the ‘Conscious’ mind) and Panna (which concerns the ‘Unconscious’ mind).

 

            Sila is morality–abstaining from unwholesome deeds of body and speech. Within the division of Sila are three parts of the Noble Eightfold Path:

 

            1. Right Speech - One speaks in a non-hurtful, non-exaggerated, truthful way (samyak- vaea, samma-vaca)

 

            2. Right Actions - Wholesome action, avoiding action that would do harm (samyak-karmanta, samma-karmanta)

 

            3. Right Livelihood - One’s way of’ livelihood does not harm in any way oneself or others; directly or indirectly (samyak­-ajiVa, samma-ajiVa).

 

            Samadhi is developing mastery over one’s own mind. Within this division are another three parts of the Noble Eightfold Path:

 

            1. Right Effort/Exercise - One makes an effort to improve (samyak-vyayama, samma-vayama)

 

            2. Right Mindfulness/Awareness ­- Mental ability to see things for what they are with clear consciousness (samyak-smrti, samma-sati)

 

            3. Right Concentration - Being aware of the present reality within oneself, without any craving or aversion. (samyak-samadhi, samma-samadhi)

 

            Panna is the wisdom which purifies the mind. Within this division fall two more parts of the Noble Eightfold Path:

 

            1. Right Thoughts - Change in the pattern of thinking. (samyak-samkalpa, samma­sankappa) 2. Right Understanding - ­Understanding reality as it is, not just as it appears to be. (samyak-drsti samma-ditthi)

 

            The word samyak means “perfect”. There are a number of ways to interpret the Eightfold Path. On one hand, the Eightfold Path is spoken of as being a progressive series of stages through which the practitioner moves, the culmination of one leading to the beginning of another, whereas others see the states of the ‘Path’ as requiring simultaneous development. It is also common to categorize the Eightfold Path into Prajna (Pali panna, wisdom), Sila (Pali sila, virtuous behaviour) and Samadhi (concentration).

 

            (Culled from a website and abridged. Any distortion from original is unintended­Abridgement and Graphics by M. S. Rao)

 

 

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