The Story of Buddha (3 of 3) - The Eightfold Path (八正道)

The Eightfold Path (八正道) describes the ways to end desire and hence suffering as laid out by Buddha. It outlines a plan of self disciplines regarding wisdom, ethics and mentality with the goal of freeing the individual from all desires and hence sufferings, and finally leads to understanding of the truth of life. The Eightfold Path should not be taken as a sequence of eight individual steps. Instead, they are highly interdependent principles that have to be seen in relationship with each other.

The Eightfold Path can be described in simplistic terms as follows:

Wisdom disciplines (智慧) - these require people to establish correct thinking and willingness.
1. RIGHT UNDERSTANDING (正見解)
In order to start down the Eightfold Path, people must understand the Four Noble Truths and the reason for choosing this course of action.
2. RIGHT INTENTION (正思想)
People must be firmly convinced that following the Eightfold path is what they wish to do.

Ethical disciplines (持戒) - these require people to take specific actions in their lives.
3. RIGHT SPEECH (正語言)
People need to consider their words carefully. What they say may not be totally freed from faults, but they should aim for truthfulness and kindness.
4. RIGHT ACTION (正行為)
People must think about the motives for their actions. Actions should be caused by selflessness and kindness, and not selfishness and cruelty. All their actions should show respect for others.
5. RIGHT LIVELIHOOD (正職業)
People should earn their living in ways not to harm others, but show respect for all living creatures, and allow them to continue with their own moral and spiritual growth.

Mental disciplines (定力) - these require people to take specific actions in their minds
6. RIGHT EFFORT (正精進)
People should persist in their effort to live their lives in keeping up with the principles of the Eightfold Path. Don't be too rough on oneself when things got messed up. Just pick up, dust off and gently and firmly set back in the right direction. Practice makes things perfect.
7. RIGHT MINDFULNESS (正意念)
People should be very aware of their own minds and bodies. They should notice when moods and feelings change, not for the sake of judging them as good or bad but for the sake of noticing what they are and how rapidly they change.
8. RIGHT CONCENTRATION (正禪定)
In this step, people must focus their mind and meditate. With correct practices of meditation, their bodies will relax, their minds will be calmed and freed from all distractions. Their minds will enter into a state where all mental forces are unified and directed into one particular object for contemplation.

By following the Eightfold Path, people would be led ultimately to the liberation of all sources of desire and hence suffering, thus attaining nirvana - the state of being freed from all sufferings. It is anticipated to be difficult but achievable.

After Buddha attained his enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree at the age of 35, he chose to return to the world to share his knowledge with others. Over the next 45 years, he travelled from place to place to preach his teachings to everyone who listened (including the five ascetics he met, his own wife and his son), and his followers multiplied as time went along. His teachings were later collected and organized by his disciples and became today's Buddhism. As Buddhism continued to be spread worldwide, Buddhism became a bit localized (and unfortunately a bit mystified). But nevertheless, Buddha's teachings are always regarded a good philosophy of life. Buddha died at the age of 80.