What Would the Buddha Do?

Is there really a path that leads out of suffering?

It seems too good to be true, doesn't it?

If there is, what is it?

And how might we walk that path?

The Buddha answers these questions by telling us of the Eight Steps on the Path which he himself tried and found did indeed lead from distress to joy, and from inner and outer conflict to peace.

Here is a brief summary of the eight steps on the path of the Buddha. I am indebted to Eknath Easwaran's explanation of these steps in his wonderful book "The Dhammapada."

These are the eight steps: Right understanding, right purpose, right speech, right conduct, right occupation, right effort, right attention, and right meditation.

Right understanding is seeing life as it is in all its inter-connectedness. What we do to others we do to ourselves. It is an illusion to think we are separate independent beings. Life is actually an intricately connected web in which each is affected by all, and all by each. This is why selfishness leads to suffering.

To understand this, and to understand that happiness cannot come from outside us, and that everything changes and passes away, is the beginning of wisdom.

Right purpose follows right understanding. It means willing, desiring, and thinking that is in harmony with the oneness and inter-being of life. It also means realizing that death sweeps us all away, and it is best to be prepared by learning to live life wisely and well, in harmony with it's essential nature.

Right speech, action, and occupation follow from right purpose. They mean living in harmony with the unity of life by speaking kindly, acting kindly, and living not just for oneself but for the welfare of all. This involves making a living in a way that is not at the expense of others, or in support of those who bring harm to other creatures. For all creatures, like us, love life and fear pain. It is well to treat them as you yourself, for the duty of a human being is not to harm but to help.

The last three steps deal with the mind, for everything depends on it. Our life is shaped by our mind. We become what we think. Suffering follows negative thoughts as the wheels of a cart follow the oxen that draw it. Joy follows pure and positive thought like a shadow that never leaves.

Right effort is the constant endeavor to train oneself in thought, word, and deed. As an athlete trains the body, those who desire to be free of suffering must train the mind. This is possible only through ceaseless effort.

Earnest vigilance is the price of freedom from suffering.

Right attention follows from right effort. It means keeping the mind where it should be. The wise train the mind to give complete attention to one thing at a time, here and now. Those who follow the eight fold path must be always mindful, focusing on what is positive, what benefits others, what leads to kindness or peace of mind. Give these full attention. whatever is negative, self centered, feeds malicious thoughts or upsets the mind pulls one downwards. Turn attention away from such thoughts.

It is hard to train the mind, which goes where it likes and does what it wants. An unruly mind suffers and causes suffering whatever it does. But a well trained mind brings health and happiness.

Right meditation is the means of training the mind. As rain seeps through a leaky roof, selfish desires will seep through an untrained mind. Train your mind through meditation and concentration. Selfish passions will not enter, and your mind will grow calm and kind.

Follow this path and be free of bondage to suffering and sorrow.

But all the effort must be made by you. Buddhas only show the way.