The Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism: What is its

Purpose?

How we are introduced to a new person, situation,

activity, life experience or any other mental and

behavioral phenomena can have a profound impact on how

well we go on from their.

It can be something that is very noticeable, such as

sex, love, relationships and parenting.

These are things that all of us experience in life,

and in performing them, we are either skillful and

wholesome or not.

Most of the time we are a mixture of these things

depending on our mindfulness and moods.

These things, because they involve so many aspects of

our relationships, can bring about both skillfulness

and unskillful ness in how we act, and wholesomeness or unwholesomeness in how we live and feel.

Perhaps in any of these things, if we are less

selfish, and more mindful and patient, we will have a

greater chance of a fulfilling, successful and

meaningful experience.

For many of us, our introduction to Buddhism is one

that consists of something through the senses,

especially the eye gate.

The hairless monk, who goes barefoot with his alms

bowl and saffron colored robe is something that can

intrigue us.

The temples and pagodas with their ornate design and

trimming can be something else that we wonder at.

The idea of a still and silent meditation practice can

also give us a sensual impulse that may not be correct

or be even deceiving.

Once in a while we meet someone who is interested in meditation, thinking that it sounds relaxing, but when they sit down to

 practice, are greeted with discomfort and confusion, which can lead them to go away from both Buddhism and meditation

 practice with a feeling of great disappointment and a loss of interest in and enthusiasm for practicing it in the future.

This can also happen in Yoga, especially when those

who are new to its practice are exposed to Hatha Yoga

sessions where many difficult postures are taught, or

the teacher is one who intimidates his or her students

or fosters a competitive attitude in the class.

Perhaps when people are new to the path and practice

of Buddhism, instead of having them learn and practice meditation immediately, or be exposed to concepts of reincarnation

 and loving Kindness, they should be just exposed to The Noble Eightfold Path and what it consists of.

It forms the path of teachings and practices of which

one learns and applies in order to be what we might

call a “practicing Buddhist”.

So what is its purpose?

Its purpose is to give us a way to attain

enlightenment, along the way weakening those

defilements of the consciousness and mental and

physical hindrances that darken our lives while at the

same time awakening and strengthening those things

which brighten our existence and the existence of

others.

Each step of The Noble Eightfold Path teaches us

something that is easy to learn and understand,

practical to modern day living and within our grasp

and ability to apply.

Each step of the path can be applied individually as

one more fully understands it and integrates it more

fully into their consciousness, and as one grows in

their understanding of all of the various steps, they

can be applied simultaneously in thought, word and

action.

The changes that the various steps of The Noble

Eightfold Path bring about are ones that any human

being can see the skillfulness of and appreciate, such

as weakening ill – will while cultivating mindfulness, abandoning restlessness and worry while strengthening tranquility and joy

 and alleviating doubt and sensual desire while bringing about a greater state of equanimity and concentration.

The Noble Eightfold Path does not have as its purpose

one in which we blindly follow an orange robed monk or

adhere to one temple, as happens sometimes in some

Buddhist cultures.

The Noble Eightfold Path does not teach us or imply

that we should worship other human beings, monks or

images of the Buddha in order to become purer and

enlightened.

In fact, the very nature of how it is presented and

what it consists of implies that it is through our own intellectual, verbal and behavioral effort that we get the benefits that it

 promises us.

The Noble Eightfold Path does not present us with

mental and behavioral concepts and actions that are

impractical or difficult to understand and apply.

It just gives us guidelines about how to more

skillfully use those aspects of our being that we have

always used.

The Noble Eightfold Path does not teach us to blindly

attach to the idea of the superiority of a particular

ethnic group or nation, but to see the suffering and

goodness in all people, of all ethnic groups and

nations.

So in addition to its long-term goal of enlightenment,

it provides us with a way of reaching a number of

smaller, but just as important goals along the way.

The Noble Eightfold Path provides us a practical way

to live a better life.

©2004 John C. Kimbrough

(John lives and teaches in Bangkok, Thailand. He can

be reached at johnckimbrough@yahoo.com)