What do buddhists mean by the Noble-Eightfold Path?
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS 1. Suffering exists and is unavoidable 2. Causes of suffering – attachment and desire (in the forms of greed, craving, and grasping) 3. End of suffering – complete eradication of all attachment and desire 4. The Eightfold Path or Middle Way – Right Understanding: understanding skillful behavior in terms of cause and effect and the Four Noble Truths and how they fit into the overall scheme of the Buddha’s teachings – Right Thinking: generosity, letting go, loving-kindness, and compassion – Right Speech: telling the truth and avoiding malicious talk, harsh language, and gossip – Right Action: the principles for leading an ethical life; abstaining from killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, and intoxication – Right Livelihood: choosing an appropriate profession that is important to spiritual practice – Right Effort: preventing negative states of mind, overcoming negative states of mind, cultivating positive states of mind, and maintain positive states of mind – Right
Suffering is cause by unbalanced desire. The eightfold path is a way out of suffering. It is important to note that the path takes many life times. Many people wish to escape the wheel of life and try to get rid of desire all at once. This in it self is an unbalanced desire. It takes many lives for this evolution. The path is just that, a path not a destination. I hope that helps.
