The Noble Eight Fold Path The Middle way

The Noble Eight Fold Path The Noble Eight Fold Path is also known as the Middle Way It is a way of living between the extremes It is a path to a more favourable rebirth It is a path to enlightenment It is a path to peace, balance and self harmony It is a path to happiness

The Noble Eight Fold Path Right intention Right thought Right speech Right action Right livelihood Right effort Right mindfulness Right concentration

The Triple Way (The Threefold Way) Right view Right thought Right speech Right action Right livelihood Right effort Right mindfulness Right concentration Wisdom Morality Meditation

Right View Seeing the true nature of reality Developing insight and understanding of reality Not simply academic knowledge Understanding the truth of impermanence Understanding the truth of no self Insight into selflessness Insight developed through meditation Seeing how one’s actions affect others

Right Thought The right motivation to follow the path Intention to act in a selfless way Removing thoughts of a self Banishing selfish thoughts and replacing them with selfless thoughts Focus to reach enlightenment

Right Speech No lies No gossip No boasting No talking behind people’s backs Using speech in a thoughtful way Speech can cause great harm Speech can also do good Compassionate, skilful speech is encouraged

Right Action Practical and demands application Doing the right thing Acting in a way that causes least harm or suffering Being aware of how actions affect others Being in control of one’s actions and the consequences of them Intentional actions carry karmic consequences Cultivation of skilful action Elimination of unskilful action

Right Livelihood Practical Doing a job or earning a living in a way that does not cause suffering could be a doctor, nurse, vet Cannot work in an industry that exploits animals, children or the environment Not able to: Be a butcher Work in the Scottish whiskey industry Work for companies that cause environmental harm such as destruction of habitats or pollution Being aware of the consequences of unskilful action

Right Effort The energetic will Diligence and effort to prevent unwholesome states of mind Diligence and effort to prevent unwholesome actions that result from unwholesome thought Cultivation of skilful thoughts and action

Right Mindfulness Being aware/mindful Being continually aware of the activities of the body Awareness of how thoughts can lead to actions Being continually aware of one’s own feelings and thoughts

Right Concentration Mental effort Avoiding distractions of the mind Being in control of one’s own mind Developed through samatha meditation

The Triple Way: Wisdom, Morality and Meditation All three are cultivated together, at the same time Wisdom developed through meditation Morality developed through wisdom and meditation Meditation develops insightfulness enabling one to see how their actions affect others Seeing how actions affect others develops wisdom Wisdom developed through meditation helps one to be in control of thoughts, actions and feelings Many other benefits achieved through the higher trainings

The Noble Eight Fold Path You will be: examining in depth, the Fourth Noble Truth, the Noble Eight Fold Path Looking at the threefold division of the path into the Triple Way You will be able to: Describe fully three parts of the path Explain why the Noble Eight Fold Path is called the Middle Way Explain the connectedness of the higher trainings of the Triple Way