Berig     Created on Thursday, 19 January 2006 16:52  
  The Eightfold Path (Part 1)  
 
1. Right Views
Right Views are the key to understanding all life.  Once you have the proper understanding you can then, and only then, begin to travel down your path.  To understand Right Views, you must understand the Four Noble Truths.  Knowing to live is to suffer, what causes suffering, and that there is a way to relieve yourself of suffering lays the foundation for the Eightfold path.  Once you can recognize suffering as it enters your life, you will see that your own desires are the cause feelings of dissatisfaction, and only by letting go of these desires can you be at peace with yourself.  Now that you know what your goals are, the Fourth Noble Truth speaks of a path to follow to help you achieve them.  By having Right Views, you will know where to build from.

2. Right Thought
All thoughts that enter your mind directly impact your path by changing its borders.  Only through Right Thought can you keep your mind and spirit clean from negative thoughts and notions.  These negative forces can rip you astray from the path you follow by changing where it leads.  Right Thought is the checkpoint of your mind, where all thoughts converge to define your path and your role within it.  It is though this checkpoint than you pay mind to all things entering your heart and soul.  Along your path to inner peace, this is where you carefully look and understand the nature of your thoughts, and learn to dispel ones with origins of ill will and negative implications.

3. Right Speech
Knowledge is irrelevant if you can not share it, or learn from another.  Words bridge the gap between another's path and your own.  Depending on your choice of words, you can pierce people's souls like thousands of daggers, or you can nurture them into feeling better about their self.  Long after you are gone, your words will remain to let others know what kind of person you were.  Right Speech is the key to giving, and keeping a positive reputation by only speaking words of the truth, kindness, nurture, and worth.  Lies and deception will do nothing more than ruin friendships.  Cold words and neglect drive kind people away, and attract grief.  Speaking about someone out of context, or behind their back leads to others gossiping about you.

4. Right Action
Each move you make can take you a step toward or away from inner peace and enlightenment.  If you feel your path is taking you away from your goal, you must realize you are able to change who you are by reevaluating your views and thoughts.  Right Action can not be taught, or defined from a book, because right and wrong are relative terms.  You must search inside yourself to find you answer.  You are actively changing this path you have created from your Right Views, and Right Thoughts.   Without effort, however, you cannot apply your actions, or walk this path.  Your path overlaps and connects you to everyone else.  Everything you do will come back to you in the form of karma.  By applying Right Actions, you will gain positive karma, and by obstructing Right Actions, you will receive negative karma.