Eightfold Path
In Buddhist Philosophy, the Eightfold Path is a framework for developing the mind of a monk or nun, (*bhikku* or *bhikkuni* in Sanskrit) to overcome Suffering and its cause, Desire .
It is divided into three categories:
- Right Speech
- Abstaining from lying
- Abstaining from divisive speech
- Abstaining from abusive speech
- Abstaining from idle chatter.
- Right Action
- Abstaining from killing
- Abstaining from sexual misconduct
- Abstaining from stealing
- Right Livelihood
- Abstaining from living off of soothsaying
- Abstaining from living off of environmental destruction
- Abstaining from living off of the suffering of sentient creatures.
- Right Concentration
- One-pointedness of mind
- The concentration of the mind's awareness on a single stimulus without being absorbed by it (meditation)
- Right Mindfulness
- Paying close attention to body-sensations
- Paying close attention to mental sensations (thoughts)
- Paying close attention to the underlying reality of all the above
- Right Effort
- Encouraging the growth of healthy states of mind
- Discouraging the growth of unhealthy states of mind
- Right Worldview
- On a personal level, the understanding of how our actions, individually and collectively, affects others and society at large.
- On a spiritual level, innate understanding of Fundamental Reality as a result of the above.
- Right Intention
- Personal resolve to achieve wisdom as above
- Personal resolve to minimize suffering of sentient beings