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A Buddhist Wisdom
Matthew Arnold
Help Received: See Last Slide
Eightfold Path
O The eightfold path is divided into three
subcategories of wisdom, ethics, and
concentrations
O The three categories are broken down
further numbering from one to eight; the
eight parts of the eightfold path
Eightfold Path Breakdown
O Wisdom
O Right View
O Right Intention
O Ethics
O Right Speech
O Right Action
O Right Livelihood
O Concentration
O Right Effort
O Right Mindfulness
O Right Concentration
Wisdom
O Pronounced “prajna” or “pranna”
O Wisdom provides the sense of direction with
a conceptual understanding of reality
O It is to see things as they really are
O Later in life, when one’s mind has been
refined by experiences and training in moral
discipline, concentration, and the increase
of right knowledge; one will then arrive at a
superior right view and right intention
Right View
O Tainted view – will not bring merit and no
support of the favorable existence of the
sentient being in samsara
O Untainted view – will lead to self awakening
and liberation from samsara
O The right view is known as a way of seeing
which transcends all views and is completely
unbiased
Right View Continued
O The right view looks at: life, nature, and the
world as it really is for us as humans living
and experiencing life with one another
O It acts as the reasoning with which someone
starts practicing the eightfold path and gives
direction and efficacy to the other seven
parts of the eightfold path
O It also explains the reasons for: human
existence, suffering, sickness, aging, death,
greed, hatred, and delusion
Everyday Buddhists
O What most Buddhists call the right view is
knowledge with reference to every aspect of
suffering
O This includes the origination of and its
cessation
Right Intention
O The right intention is also known as the: right
thought, right resolve, right conception, right
aspiration, and the exertion of our own will to
change
O It is said that we should aspire to rid ourselves
of whatever qualities that are known to be wrong
and immoral
O This basically means a greater commitment to
the spiritual path, good will, and a commitment
to non-violence towards other living things both
human and nonhuman
Help Received
O Prothero, Stephen R. God Is Not One: The
Eight Rival Religions That Run the World-and Why Their Differences Matter. New York:
HarperOne, 2010. Print.
O "Fundamentals of Buddhism: Wisdom."
Fundamentals of Buddhism: Wisdom. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2015.