The Noble Eightfold Path

Terms

Sanskrit : Āryāṣṭāṅgamārga (आर्याष्टाṅgamārga)

Pali : Ariya Aṭṭhaṅgika Magga

Etymology

The term means :

— Ārya / Ariya : noble ;

— Aṣṭāṅga / Aṭṭhaṅgika : eight branches ;

— Mārga / Magga : path, way.

The Noble Eightfold Path is the way taught by the Buddha to end suffering and attain Enlightenment.

Translations in the major languages of Buddhism

Sanskrit : Āryāṣṭāṅgamārga

Pali : Ariya Aṭṭhaṅgika Magga

Chinese : 八正道 (Bā Zhèngdào)

Tibetan : འཕགས་པའི་ལམ་ཡན་ལག་བརྒྱད་ (Pakpé Lam Yenlak Gyé)

Japanese : 八正道 (Hasshōdō)

Korean : 팔정도 (Paljeongdo)

Vietnamese : Bát Chánh Đạo

Thai : อริยมรรคมีองค์แปด (Ariya Magga Mi Ong Paet)

English : Noble Eightfold Path

French : Noble Eightfold Path

Definition

The Noble Eightfold Path constitutes the Fourth Noble Truth.

It represents the practical path that leads to :

— understanding ;

— inner transformation ;

— the cessation of suffering ;

— Enlightenment.

The Buddha does not only offer a diagnosis of suffering.

He also indicates a concrete path to liberation from it.

The Eight Branches of the Path

1. Right View

Understanding reality as it is.

See also :

020VIEWRIGHT

2. Right Intention

Cultivating motivations based on benevolence and wisdom.

See also :

021INTENTIONRIGHT

3. Right Speech

Avoiding falsehood, slander, and hurtful words.

See also :

022SPEECHRIGHT

4. Right Action

Acting with respect towards living beings.

See also :

023ACTIONRIGHT

5. Right Livelihood

Earning one's living in an ethical manner.

See also :

024MEANSOFEXISTENCERIGHT

6. Right Effort

Developing beneficial qualities and reducing harmful tendencies.

See also :

025EFFORTRIGHT

7. Right Mindfulness

Cultivating mindfulness.

See also :

026MINDFULNESSRIGHT

8. Right Concentration

Developing stability and depth of mind.

See also :

027CONCENTRATIONRIGHT

The Three Great Categories

The Noble Path is often grouped into three domains :

WISDOM (Prajñā / Paññā)

Right View

Right Intention

ETHICS (Śīla / Sīla)

Right Speech

Right Action

Right Livelihood

MEDITATION (Samādhi)

Right Effort

Right Mindfulness

Right Concentration

A Balanced Path

The Buddha describes the Noble Path as a Middle Way.

It avoids :

— excess of pleasure and attachment ;

— excess of austerity and mortification.

The Path invites to a balanced and progressive practice.

The Path in Daily Life

The Noble Path does not concern only monks or meditators.

It can be applied :

— in the family ;

— at work ;

— in human relationships ;

— in our relationship with nature ;

— in each of our decisions.

Understanding According to Traditions

THERAVĀDA

The Path constitutes the heart of the practice towards Nibbāna.

MAHĀYĀNA

It is integrated into the Bodhisattva's path and the practice of compassion.

VAJRAYĀNA

It remains the foundation of all advanced practices.

Associated Images and Symbols

THE EIGHT-SPOKED DHARMA WHEEL

Symbol of the Noble Path.

THE PATH

Progress towards Enlightenment.

THE BRIDGE

Passage from ignorance to wisdom.

THE LOTUS

Progressive blossoming of the mind's qualities.

Associated Concepts

014FOURNOBLE_TRUTHS

020VIEWRIGHT

021INTENTIONRIGHT

022SPEECHRIGHT

023ACTIONRIGHT

024MEANSOFEXISTENCERIGHT

025EFFORTRIGHT

026MINDFULNESSRIGHT

027CONCENTRATIONRIGHT

030_WISDOM

Quote

« Of all paths, the Noble Eightfold Path is the best. »

— Dhammapada

Buddhachannel — A Simple Practice

Today, choose a single branch of the Path.

For example :

Right Speech.

Observe your words for a few hours.

Are they :

true ?

useful ?

benevolent ?

This simple practice already allows one to enter the Noble Path.

The path always begins with a first step.

Keywords

Noble Path • Eightfold Path • Middle Way • Ethics • Meditation • Wisdom • Dharma • Enlightenment • Liberation • Buddhism

Buddhachannel Multilingual Buddhist Encyclopedia

019NOBLEPATH

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