The Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism: What Does “Right Understanding” Give Us?

The Noble Eightfold Path and the whole philosophy of

Buddhism is built around the four axioms put forth

under the first step of The Noble Eightfold Path,

Right Understanding.

These four axioms are

1. There is suffering

2. There is an origin of suffering

3. There is a cessation of suffering

4. There is a way to bring about the cessation of

suffering

These four axioms alone are referred to as being The

Four Noble Truths.

Sometimes, those new to the practice of Buddhism or

even those individuals who have been practicing

sometime get very caught up in the experience of

meditation and lose mindfulness of the other teachings

of The Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism, especially

Right Understanding.

But Right Understanding, just as the other factors of

the path has a profound impact on how we see ourselves

and others and how we relate to them.

When we have the kind of understanding that Right

Understanding teaches us, we are more open and

compassionate to the thoughts, feelings, words and

actions of others.

We are better able to listen to, and discuss and

communicate with others.

This is because we see that they are operating under

the constraints and influence of the same things that

we are.

When we understand this, we see the need for and

benefits of putting into action the axioms of Right

Intention, Right Speech, Right Action and Right

Livelihood.

The axioms of these other factors of the path create

wholesome states of being for both ourselves and those

that we interact with when the interaction is built

around their teachings.

In these modern times, there is much confusion and

suspicion.

We sometimes feel that if we interact with others

based on the Noble Eightfold Path, we may be taken

advantage of or put in a disadvantage in our dealings

with others.

That kind of way of thinking and feeling is something

that we should work our way out of as we make progress

in our understanding of Buddhism and our practice of meditation.

If we have grasped the concepts of right

understanding, we have grasped an important truth of

life, which even though we may have problems acting on skillfully in the present time, we can still build our thoughts, words and

 actions on more skillfully in the future.

To understand Right Understanding also gives us a

wisdom to better see what is creating suffering for

ourselves and not let us blindly accept that it can

not be dealt with and give into despair, anger or

unskillful and unwholesome behaviors.

If we understand and accept that each step of The

Noble Eightfold Path is designed and practiced in

order to weaken and alleviate the defilements and

hindrances while at the same time cultivating and

strengthening the factors of enlightenment, we can see

that the investigation, and clear comprehension and

application of right understanding has many facets to

it, and is just as important as meditation practice.

©2004 John C. Kimbrough

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

be reached at johnckimbrough@yahoo.com)