Larry Dawalt, M. Div., CT, CTSS Senior Director of Spiritual & Grief Care Services hpccr.org Spiritual Care and the Noble Eightfold Path: An Exploration of Suffering (and Joy) in the Chaplain/Patient Encounter

2 Let me tell you about a journey Source information: Last name, first initial. Article title. year. (Journal/issue number): pages numbers.

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And then… there came this guy 14

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Two principles “The essence of the Buddha’s teaching can be summed up in two principles: the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. The first covers the side of doctrine The second covers the side of discipline 16

Doctrine and Disciple What one believes… How one disciplines themselves to actually live that belief. 17

When these match there is congruence…and when they do not…there is incongruence Doctrine Belief Congruent-the quality or state of agreeing or corresponding. Discipline Behavior Incongruent- the quality or state of not agreeing or not corresponding. 18

My conclusion… As a person reflects upon their life, the degree to which their behavior is congruent or incongruent with their beliefs is a significant source of spiritual joy or spiritual pain. 19

Let’s review… The Four Noble Truths The First Noble Truth: DukkhaDukkha Life is full of suffering. Dukkha usually is translated as suffering. In life, we have illness, poverty, disease, old age and death. We cannot keep what we like and can not avoid what we do not like. If this is all we know we suffer.suffering 20

The Second Noble Truth: Samudaya The Second Noble Truth states that there is an origin of suffering and that the origin of suffering is attachment to the three kinds of desire: desire for sense pleasure, desire to become and desire to get rid of. This is the statement of the Second Noble Truth, the thesis, the pariyatti. This is what you contemplate: the origin of suffering is attachment to desire. 21

The Third Noble Truth There is a state of mind free from suffering. By stopping the cravings, the suffering is stopped. 22

The Fourth Noble Truth There is a way to end suffering. To end suffering we must end our cravings. The way to ending cravings is the Eightfold Path 23

The Noble Eightfold Path “The search for a spiritual path is born out of suffering. It does not start with lights and ecstasy, but with the hard tacks of pain, disappointment, and confusion… it has to trigger an inner realization.” – Bhikkhu Bodhi 24

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The Christian Path Primarily found in The Sermon on the Mount Interpretations are many… Focus for many is on belief as much if not more so than behavior 26

The Buddhist Path One of the best summaries of The Sayings of the Buddha is the Dhammapada The path itself is best described by use of the Noble Eightfold Path 27

Right View Understanding suffering Understanding its origin Understanding its cessation Understanding the way leading to its cessation 28

Right Intention Intention of renunciation Intention of good will Intention of harmlessness 29

Right speech Abstaining from false speech Abstaining from slanderous speech Abstaining from harsh speech Abstaining from idle chatter 30

Right action Abstaining from taking life Abstaining from stealing Abstaining from sexual misconduct 31

Right livelihood Giving up wrong livelihood, one earns one’s living by right forms of livelihood One's job does not harm in any way oneself or others; directly or indirectly 32

Right effort The effort to restrain defilements The effort to abandon defilements The effort to develop wholesome states The effort to maintain wholesome states 33

Right mindfulness Mindful contemplation of the body Mindful contemplation of feeling Mindful contemplation of the mind Mindful contemplation of phenomena The mental ability to see things for what they are with clear consciousness 34

Right concentration “Single pointedness of mind," or concentrating the mind on a single sensation or thought-object to the point of absorption. …a state of consciousness that lies beyond waking, dreaming, or deep sleep. It's a slowing down of our mental activity through single-pointed concentration.“ “Be still and know…” 35

Two principles “The essence of the Buddha’s teaching can be summed up in two principles: the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. The first covers the side of doctrine The second covers the side of discipline 36

Doctrine and Disciple What one believes… How one disciplines themselves to actually live that belief. 37

When these match there is congruence…and when they do not…there is incongruence Doctrine Belief Congruent-the quality or state of agreeing or corresponding. Discipline Behavior Incongruent- the quality or state of not agreeing or not corresponding. 38

My conclusion… As a person reflects upon their life, the degree to which their behavior is congruent or incongruent with their beliefs is a significant source of spiritual joy or spiritual pain. 39

The path in modern language Right view- understanding the degree to which one was or was not responsible for their actions/behaviors/choices 40

Right intention Understanding the degree to which one did or did not carry out their positive intentions or rather ‘planned on getting around to doing good things’ but didn’t. 41

Right speech Did one tell the truth without slander Did one speak with kindness Did one hold their tongue at the appropriate times Did one gossip and belittle Did one speak encouraging words or yell and scream, etc. Are there hurtful words one can’t forget saying or hearing 42

Right action “Thou shalt not kill” “Thou shalt not steal” To what degree did one maintain appropriate sexual conduct 43

Right livelihood How did one make a living and was that way one that they considered noble and rewarding or one that harmed… or one they wish they hadn’t chosen because they really wanted to do something else. 44

Right effort Did one make the necessary effort to overcome Did one make the necessary effort to abandon fetters Did one work to develop good habits Did one work to maintain good habits 45

Right mindfulness To what extent did one maintain awareness and presence to the point of being mindful and not missing out on things that were right in front of them. To what extent did one learn gratitude as well as the principles of impermanence and interbeing. 46

Right concentration To what extent did one learn to control and discipline the mind to the point that they had some sort of control over themselves to be able to direct and focus the mind. 47

Spiritual Joy/Spiritual Pain As we review these areas with our patients, we find that behaviors congruent with beliefs probably bring spiritual joy. … and behaviors that are not congruent with beliefs may bring spiritual pain, regret, sorrow, etc. 48

… the bottom line We learn to help patients find and celebrate their joys, and we learn to sit with them through their sorrows… 49

Personal application “If a man hold himself dear, let him watch himself carefully…” the Dhammapada “The highway of the upright avoids evil; the one who guards their way guards their life.” Proverbs 16:17 50

Very Basic Reading List “The Noble Eightfold Path” by Bhikkhu Bodhi “For a Future to Be Possible,” “Living Buddha, Living Christ,” “Understanding Our Mind” and “The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching” by Thich Nhat Hanh “Without Buddha, I Could Not Be a Christian” by Paul F. Knitter “Buddhist Boot Camp” by Timber Hawkeye “Wherever you go, There you are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life” by Jon Kabat-Zinn 51