Eightfold Path
The term “Right” is used in place of the Sanskrit word samyak which more closely means “genuinely pure.”
Genuinely Pure View refers to the profound meaning within each of the Four Noble Truths, including but not limited to: karma, meditation, Precepts, cause and effect and so on.
Genuinely Pure Thought is considered to be focused on the aspiration toward kindness, compassion and renouncing that which is unwholesome or incorrect.
Genuinely Pure Speech deals directly with refraining from harmful speech such as slander or verbal abuse.
Genuinely Pure Action focuses on physical actions: renouncing harmful actions such as killing, stealing, sexual misconduct etc.; it also implies developing compassionate actions that benefit our selves and others.
Genuinely Pure Livelihood literally refers to how we go about making a living, whether it is collecting alms as a monastic or holding down a job. In any case, it should be one that is not harmful to oneself, other people, sentient beings or the environment.
Genuinely Pure Effort may be said as Genuinely Pure Intent, meaning it is the stirring up of energy to support and practice that which is virtuous and to set aside all that is non-virtuous.
Genuinely Pure Mindfulness is the direct paying attention to this very moment, the activity/inactivity of mind, emotions and paying attention to our bodies.
Genuinely Pure Meditation means exactly that – the meditation practices that we take up.
The Mahasatipatthana Sutta explains these as:
“Right View is the understanding of the four noble truths. Right Thought is the pursuit towards kindness, compassion and throwing off all that is unwholesome. Right Speech refers to speech that is free of lying, slander, abuse and idle chat. Right Action abstains from killing, stealing and sexual misconduct. Right Livelihood is a mode of personal support that is free from any unwholesome actions towards people, animals and the environment. Right Effort refers to generating the energy to support all that is wholesome and to refrain from all that is harmful or non-productive. Right Mindfulness is to be in a state of mindfulness/awareness – paying attention to one’s own actions, thoughts, emotions and vows. Right Meditation is the perfection of meditation through the practice of samadhi, yoga and other meditative exercises.
Used as a training “outline” to manifest prajña:
The eight branches cover the full spectrum of activities of body, speech and mind within the three trainings. Thus Right Speech, Action and Livelihood are developed through the Moral Conduct training; Right Mindfulness and Meditation develop within Meditative Concentration training; and Right View, Thought and Effort arise from the Wisdom-knowledge training.
The Adhidharmakosabhasya teaches that each of the eight branches are not a part of the noble path until they become ‘genuinely pure’. Meaning they must be trained before one attains the fruits of the fourth Noble Truth.
The method to practice the three trainings – and therefore accomplish the eight branches – is outlined in the Five Precepts. A more advanced method that leads to even ‘finer tuning’ is the path of the Bodhisattva Vows (precepts).
