Buddhism – Main Teachings: The Eight fold noble path
- Right View: The right way to think about life is to see the world through the eyes of the Buddha – with wisdom and compassion.
- Right Thought: We are what we think. Clear and kind thoughts build good, strong characters.
- Right Speech: By speaking kind and helpful words, we are respected and trusted by everyone.
- Right Conduct: No matter what we say, others know us from the way we behave. Before we criticize others, we should first see what we do ourselves.
- Right Livelihood: This means choosing a job that does not hurt others. Buddha said, “Do not earn your living by harming others.Do not seek happiness by making others unhappy.”
- Right Effort: A worthwhile life means doing our best at all times and having good will toward others. This also means not wasting effort on things that harm ourselves and others.
- Right Mindfulness: This means being aware of our thoughts, words, and deeds.
- Right Meditation: Focus on one thought or object at a time. By doing this, we can be quiet and attain true peace of mind.
Following the Noble Eightfold Path can be compared to cultivating a garden, but in Buddhism one cultivates one’s wisdom. The mind is the ground and thoughts are seeds. Deeds are ways one cares for the garden. Our faults are weeds. Pulling them out is like weeding a garden. The harvest is real and lasting happiness.