The Eightfold Path

Question 1

AO3: How may the EP not be seen as a moral guide for all Buddhists?

Answer 1

It is useful for monastics - lay life is too complex for it.

Question 2

AO3: How could the EP be seen as vague?

Answer 2

Only has three correct behaviours - right speech, action and livelihood.

Question 3

AO3: Which parts of the EP could be said to permeate into lay life?

Answer 3

Right speech - encourages positive interactions - and Right action.

Question 4

AO3: How may the EP be useful for all against violence?

Answer 4

Principle of inoffensiveness based off of the concept of Ahmisa.

Question 5

AO3: How may the EP be useful for all against violence?

Answer 5

Principle of inoffensiveness based off of the concept of Ahmisa.

Question 6

AO3: How can behaviour be seen to extricably link to awakening?

Answer 6

Indian ideal that one needs to be moral to practice meditation which leads to enlightenment.

Question 7

AO3: What does Harvey describe nibanna as and how does it link to behaviour?

Answer 7

‘A transcendent, timeless experience which totally destroys attachment, hatred and delusion’ - destruction of emotions links behaviour to awakening.

Question 8

AO3: How could behaviour be linked at least to the very experience of enlightenment?

Answer 8

Has destroyed the three fires of attachment and ensured actions do not create karmic result.

Question 9

AO3: How does meditation nurture behaviour?

Answer 9

Focus on loving kindness, and Bodhisattva path to help hatred by visualising your enemies as your mother in a former life.

Question 10

AO3: How may enlightenment not aid behaviour?

Answer 10

Need to ‘let go’, this detachment leads you away from society into minimal non-existence.

Question 11

AO3: How may the Bodhisattva path be said to link to behaviour?

Answer 11

The flow of compassion they form in meditation to all sentient beings.

Question 12

What outlines the Eightfold path?

Answer 12

The fourth Noble Truth, that is the magga, outlines the Eightfold Path, which is also known as the Threefold Trainings: Morality, Wisdom and Meditation.

Question 13

What order should the Eightfold path be followed?

Answer 13

There is no sequence to the magga as each ‘step’ may be practised alongside another ‘step’.

Question 14

What are the practices of morality?

Answer 14

(1) samma vaca (right speech) ; (2) samma kammanta (right action) (3) samma ajiva (right livelihood) refers to work in society which causes no harm but which instead benefits others.

Question 15

What are the practices of wisdom?

Answer 15

(1) samma ditthi (right view) (2) samma sankappa (right/directed thought) refers to thought which is directed to that which is pure/wholesome/beneficial.

Question 16

What are the practices of meditation?

Answer 16

(1) samma vayama (right effort) refers to the determined approach to developing a positive mindset free from the Three Poisons; (2) samma
sati (right mindfulness) refers to being fully aware/conscious of the body, mind and external reality, and being fully aware of one’s motivation; (3) samma samadhi (right concentration) refers to having a mind fully focused on detachment and on the jhanas in following the example of the Buddha as the basis for correct meditation.

Question 17

Why does the Buddha describe the eightfold path as the middle way?

Answer 17

The Buddha describes the Eightfold Path as the Middle Way because it steers Buddhists away from a path of luxury and indulgence, but also away from a path of asceticism and self-mortification. The Buddha experienced both paths and realised that the best path lay between the two extremes.

Question 18

Theravada views on the eightfold path:

Answer 18

Generally, in Theravada Buddhism the Eightfold Path is practised most fully as can be seen in the monastic sangha. A bhikku, for example, lives a life of poverty – although extremes of fasting are not accepted - in order to keep focused on detachment and the removal of the Three Poisons. This promotes samma ajiva. Likewise, being vegetarian if possible, promotes samma kammanta, whilst the amount of time spent in a bhikku’s day on meditation promotes the Trainings of Meditation.

Question 19

Mahayana views on the eightfold path:

Answer 19

Mahayana Buddhists might focus on the Eightfold Path, but with a different emphasis, e.g. the Trainings of Meditation might be elaborate and advanced and development of the paramitas would be seen as a priority.