Download The Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path
The Middle Way leading to Enlightenment
On the night of his Enlightenment the Buddha saw that
suffering is caused by attachment to desire, to ‘wanting things
to be different to how they are.’
We saw how the first three Four Noble Truths outlines
1. how suffering can be recognised, faced and understood
rather than avoided.
2. How its origin in attachment to desire needs to be
identified.
3. How the freedom and relief that come from letting go and
accepting need to be experienced.
The Fourth Noble Truth – magga or ‘middle way’
Think back to the story of Siddhartha.
How did he experience the extremes of self-indulgence and
self-punishment before discovering the Middle Way of his
own Enlightenment?
The Fourth Noble Truth outlines the way of life which, when
followed, leads step by step to greater fulfilment, freedom and
contentment.
This way of life has eight aspects. They are often represented by
a wheel with eight spokes reminding Buddhists that they need to
be developed at the same time and that developing one helps to
develop others.
The Eightfold Path is often known as the ‘Middle Way’ between
extremes.
The Eightfold Path
Right
Concentration
Right
Mindfulness
Right
Understanding
Right Intention
Right Speech
Right Effort
Right
Livelihood
Right
Action
Read and complete the worksheet ‘The Eightfold Path’ and answer the
following questions
1. A Buddhist might point out that sometimes speech might be
true but not appropriate to the needs of the particular
situation. Give an example of this.
2. Name three more jobs that would be unsuitable for a
Buddhist and three that would be especially unsuitable.
3. Explain what the phrase ‘presence of mind’ means. How
might the cultivation of this lead to greater contentment?
4. The foundation of the Eightfold Path is self-restraint. Do
you think that it easier to control your body first and then
your mind or your mind first and then your body.