The Noble Eightfold Path
Author: Tony Ha

The Noble Eightfold Path also known in other languages and
cultures as Sanskrit Ārya 'ṣṭāṅga
mārgaḥ, Chinese Bāzhèngdào and Pāli Ariyo
aṭṭhaṅgiko maggo, is a Buddhist tradition
taught by the Buddha Śākyamuni. According to
instruction, this Path, which takes its place as the fourth
part amidst the fundamental Buddhist teachings known as the
Four Noble Truths, is supposed to guide followers along a road
that ends suffering.

The Noble Eightfold Path in a nutshell is the Buddhists
practical guide to end suffering or dukkha. If covers mental
rehabilitation, ethics and mind de-conditioning, divided into
eight elements that are subdivided into three main categories:

Wisdom (refers to the mental aspect)
1. Right understanding
2. Right intention

Ethical conduct
3. Right speech
4. Right action
5. Right livelihood

Mental discipline
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right concentration

Note these are not steps to follow, but a well-rounded process.
In fact, the Buddhist symbol for the Noble Eightfold Path is a
wheel with eight spokes that represent the path's eight
elements.

The Noble Eightfold Path, if viewed in the light of modern
cognitive psychology, would be compared to cognitive dissonance
or the not getting along of two cognitions. In relation to this
concept, some believe that Buddhism focuses around emotions,
sensations, cognition and feelings. And Buddha focuses on
emotional; desire-related or aversion-related, plus cognitive
suffering causes; ignorance-related along with the idea that
all things are not perfect, not satisfactory, not necessary.

If viewed in the light of psychology, the Noble Eightfold Path
tries to repair differences by changing thought and behavior.
Hence the first element of the path seeks the right
understanding how the mind views the world in reality. And
continuing, how through wisdom, this worldview interacts with
thought, what controls actions.

Resources for learning more include:

-An essay entitled, "Buddhism Meets Western Science", by Gay
Watson.
-Bhikkhu Bodhi. The Noble Eightfold Path: The Way to the End of
Suffering.
-Harderwijk, Rudy. A View on Buddhism: Mind and Mental Factors
-Kohn, Michael H.; tr. The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and
Zen. Boston: Shambhala, 1991.
-Rahula, Walpola. What the Buddha Taught. New York: Grove
Press, 1974. Niimi, J. Buddhism and Cognitive Science.
-Snelling, John. The Buddhist Handbook: A Complete Guide to
Buddhist Schools, Teaching, Practice, and History. Rochester:
Inner Traditions, 1991.
-Thanissaro Bhikkhu; tr. Magga-vibhanga Sutta: An Analysis of
the Path.


About The Author: Tony Ha is a freelance writer who writes
about buddhism. He loves to write about buddhism at
http://www.fundamentalbuddhism.com/ & he reads about the noble
eightfold path at
http://www.fundamentalbuddhism.com/noble-eightfold-path.html.