The Eightfold Path
- Right Action, which refrains from taking life, from stealing, and from immoral behaviour in general.
- Right Speech, which is free of lying, slander, harmful and useless speech.
- Right Thought, which free of desire, ill-will and cruelty.
- Right Living, which means that we make our living without killing or harming, and by just and honourable means.
- Right Effort, which commits wholeheartedly to:
- Avoid generating negative thoughts
- Put an end to negative thoughts once they have arisen
- Cultivate meritorious qualities and the conditions for Awakening
- Maintain these meritorious qualities and the conditions for Awakening.
- Right Mindfulness, which engages the mind in:
- contemplation of the body
- contemplation of the feelings
- contemplation of the mind
- contemplation of the five obstacles:
- sensual desire
- ill-will or anger
- physical or mental torpor and laziness
- sceptical doubt
- fear and worry, or mental excitement
- Right Concentration, where the mind rests without distraction on a single object for as long as one wishes
- Right Views, which is the perfect understanding of the Four Noble Truths.
Copyright 2026 by Buddhist Congregation Dharmaling
May all beings benefit
