The Zen Journal #10: The Eightfold Path
The Eightfold Path
Good day and welcome back to The Zen Journal. It’s a joy to have you with us again today. As we continue our exploration, we're diving into some foundational teachings of Buddhism: the Eightfold Path. These teachings along with the Four Noble Truths (which was covered yesterday), and the Five Precepts (which we’ll cover tomorrow), form the backbone of Buddhist philosophy and practice, offering timeless wisdom for navigating life.
The Eightfold Path
The Eightfold Path. It's not just a set of rules. It's a roadmap, a journey. And it’s divided into three essential streams—each with its own purpose, yet all interconnected, guiding us toward a life of awareness, peace, and kindness.
Wisdom (Prajna):
Right View (or Right Understanding)
Right Intention (or Right Thought)
Ethical Conduct (Sila):
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Mental Discipline (Samadhi):
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Concentration
While these streams are interconnected, the Buddha emphasized the importance of starting with wisdom. Without proper understanding, we can't act rightly, and without right actions, our meditation will be ineffective. In other words, we must first wise up, then act right, and only then can we deepen our practice of contemplation or meditation.
First, there’s Wisdom—Prajna. This is about seeing the world as it truly is. Not as we wish it to be, but as it stands, in all its complexity and simplicity. Right View (or Right Understanding) helps us grasp this truth. It opens our eyes to the reality around us. And then there’s Right Intention (or Right Thought), which ensures that our hearts and minds align with this understanding, allowing us to act with pure, compassionate motives.
Next comes Ethical Conduct—Sila. This stream teaches us how to interact with others in a way that fosters harmony, not harm. Right Speech reminds us to speak with honesty, kindness, and clarity. Right Action pushes us to act ethically, to choose behaviors that uplift rather than destroy. And Right Livelihood asks us to pursue work that doesn’t cause harm, that contributes to the well-being of others.
Then we have Mental Discipline—Samadhi. This is the inner work. Right Effort helps us train our minds, to focus on what matters, to guard against distractions. Right Mindfulness brings us back to the present moment, helping us fully experience life as it unfolds. And finally, Right Concentration deepens our practice, allowing us to meditate with clarity and insight.
Now, these three streams—Wisdom, Ethical Conduct, and Mental Discipline—are all woven together, forming a path to living with awareness, kindness, and peace. But here’s the thing: Wisdom comes first. Without understanding, we can’t act rightly. And without right actions, our meditation won’t bear fruit. The Buddha made it clear—start with wisdom. Get the truth. Then act accordingly. Only then can you dive deeper into the practice of meditation.
Before we close today’s reflection, I’d like to state that I welcome your thoughts, comments, or questions—feel free to reach out! You may also find it helpful to read to the previous reflections here.
Stay tuned for the final pillar of Buddhist philosophy, the Five Precepts, which will be covered tomorrow.
Thank you for joining today’s reflection. If you’re enjoying the journey, please consider subscribing to the newsletter for more updates and daily thoughts as we continue through the year.
Wisdom is an interesting phenomenon. Buddha taught that life is impermanent, that we are interdependent beings, and that this view of the soul is ever changing phenomena. It is quite deep, I think. Thanks for sharing.