RIGHT VIEW
Understanding the Noble Truth of the Way to the Cessation of Suffering
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And what is the way leading
to the cessation of suffering? It is just this noble eightfold path:
that is, right view, right intention, right speech, right action, right
living, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. (MN 9)
Having heard the Dhamma and trusting the Buddha, one undertakes a commitment to perfect their ethical behavior. (DN 2)
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The first step
along the path of transformation and healing laid out by the Buddha is
not meditation but the cultivation of improved ethical behavior. The
practice is to purify your mind of some of the most harmful mental and
emotional toxins that obstruct the ability to quiet the mind. This can
only be done by making a commitment to a healthier course of action and
will in itself greatly contribute to the cessation of suffering.
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Make a
commitment to improving or even perfecting your ethical behavior as a
living and active practice. Choose to work toward being a better person,
toward treating others with greater care and respect, and toward being
truthful and trustworthy. Ethical behavior is not only the result of
meditation and wisdom but also the cause of them. As wisdom grows it
becomes easier to behave ethically, but you need to begin such behavior
on day one.
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Tomorrow: Cultivating Equanimity
One week from today: Understanding the Noble Truth of Suffering
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