The Noble Eightfold Path

The eightfold path is a guideline to ethical and mental development with the goal of freeing from attachments and delusions.,, and leads followers to the truth about all things. The eight steps are do not have to be followed in sequence, but all eight must be acomplished before reaching pure and everlasting nirvana.

The fist step is, "The Right View." This step basically means to see and understand things the way they really are. Right view is not necessarily an intellectual capacity, just as wisdom is not just a matter of intelligence. Instead, right view is attained, sustained, and enhanced through all capacities of mind.

The second step is, "Right Intention." This is the commitment to ethical and mental energy that controls our actions. Buddha distinguishes three types of right intentions: The intention of renunciation. The intention of good will, meaning resistance to feelings of anger and aversion. Fianlly, the intention of harmlessness, meaning not to think or act cruelly, violently, or aggressively, and to develop compassion.

The third step is, "Right Speech." Right speech is the first principle of ethical conduct in the eightfold path. Buddah explaines right speech as, refrain from lying, do not slander anybody, dont say anything that will hurt somebody's feelings, and finally, do not have conversations unless they have meaning a truth in it.

The fourth step is, Right Action." The second ethical principle, right action, involves the body as natural means of expression, as it refers to deeds that involve bodily actions. Unwholesome actions lead to unsound states of mind, while wholesome actions lead to sound states of mind. Buddah also describes this in three ways. Do not kill anyone, including yourself. Do not steal and do not lie. Finally, abstain from sexual misconduct.

The fifth step is, "Right Livelihood." This means that one should earn his living in a righteous way. In the step Buddah describes things people should avoid. Avoid dealing with weapons, dealing with living beings, working in butchering animals, and selling intoxicants and poisons.

The sixth step is, " Right Effort." This is seen as one of the most important of the eight steps. Without effort, no steps can be achieved.

The seventh step is, "Right Mindfulness." This is the ability to see things as they really are with clear consciosness.

The eighth step is, "Right Concentration." The final of the eighth steps, right concentration means to have a state of mind where all thoughts and ideas are pure and are concentrated on one thing.