A personal blog by a graying (mostly Anglo with light African-American roots) gay left leaning liberal progressive married college-educated Buddhist Baha'i BBC/NPR-listening Professor Emeritus now following the Dharma in Minas Gerais, Brasil.
Monday, January 15, 2024
Via Dhamma Wheel | Right View: The Noble Truth of the Way to the Cessation of Suffering
RIGHT VIEW Understanding the Noble Truth of the Way to the Cessation of Suffering
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)
It happens that a fully awakened Buddha arises in the world, endowed
with wisdom and impeccable behavior. Having realized awakening himself,
he teaches the Dhamma, lovely in the beginning, middle, and end, and
demonstrates a purified spiritual life. The Dhamma taught by the Buddha
is heard by people, who gain trust in the Buddha and his teaching. (DN
2)
Reflection
After the first
three noble truths have pointed out the existence of suffering,
identified its cause as craving, and attested that craving can be ended,
the fourth noble truth focuses on the treatment plan to follow in order
to cure suffering. The eightfold path is an integrated path of
gradually purifying behavior in the world, developing the mind through
meditation, and understanding the nature of things more clearly.
Daily Practice
This path is a
call to adventure, an invitation to undertake the process of gradual
transformation that will carry anyone from a condition of affliction,
moderate or grave, to one of greater happiness and well-being. It starts
with hearing the teachings and having just enough trust to take your
first steps and begin putting those teachings into practice. The path
calls for many small steps taken carefully and mindfully.
Tomorrow: Cultivating Equanimity One week from today: Understanding the Noble Truth of Suffering
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