The Path to Nibbana

　　How is Nibbana to be attained

　　It is by following the Noble Eightfold Path which consists of Right Understanding (samma-ditthi), Right Thoughts (samma-sankappa), Right Speech (samma-vaca), Right Actions (samma-kammanta), Right Livelihood (samma-ajiva), Right Effort (samma-vayama), Right Mindfulness (samma-sati), and Right Concentration (samma-samadhi).

　　1. Right Understanding, which is the keynote of Buddhism, is explained as the knowledge of the four Noble Truths. To understand rightly means to understand things as they really are and not as they appear to be. This refers primarily to a correct understanding of oneself, because, as the Rohitassa Sutta states, "Dependent on this one-fathom long body with its consciousness" are all the four Truths. In the practice of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Understanding stands at the beginning as well as at its end. A minimum degree of Right Understanding is necessary at the very beginning because it gives the right motivations to the other seven factors of the Path and gives to them correct direction. At the culmination of the practice, Right Understanding has matured into perfect Insight Wisdom (vipassana-pañña), leading directly to the stages of sainthood.

　　2. Clear vision of right understanding leads to clear thinking. The second factor of the Noble Eightfold Path is therefore, Right Thoughts (samma-sankappa), which serves the double purpose of eliminating evil thoughts and developing pure thoughts. Right Thoughts, in this particular connection, are threefold. They consist of:

　　i. Nekkhamma — ” Renunciation of worldly pleasures or the virtue of selflessness, which is opposed to attachment, selfishness, and possessiveness;

　　ii. Avyapada — Loving-kindness, goodwill, or benevolence, which is opposed to hatred, ill-will, or aversion; and

　　iii. Avihimsa — Harmlessness or compassion, which is opposed to cruelty and callousness.

　　3. Right Thoughts lead to Right Speech, the third factor. This includes abstinence from falsehood, slandering, harsh words, and frivolous talk.

　　4. Right Speech must be followed by Right Action which comprises abstinence from killing, stealing and sexual misconduct.

　　5. Purifying his thoughts, words and deeds at the outset, the spiritual pilgrim tries to purify his livelihood by refraining from the five kinds of trade which are forbidden to a lay-disciple. They are trading in arms, human beings, animals for slaughter, intoxicating drinks and drugs, and poisons. For monks, wrong livelihood consists of hypocritical conduct and wrong means of obtaining the requisites of monk-life.

　　6. Right Effort is fourfold, namely:

　　i. the endeavor to discard evil that has already arisen;

　　ii. the endeavor to prevent the arising of unarisen evil;

　　iii. the endeavor to develop unarisen good;

　　iv. the endeavor to promote the good which has already arisen.

　　7. Right Mindfulness is constant mindfulness with regard to body, feelings, thoughts, and mind-objects.

　　8. Right Effort and Right Mindfulness lead to Right Concentration. It is the one-pointedness of mind, culminating in the jhanas or meditative absorptions.

　　Of these eight factors of the Noble Eightfold Path the first two are grouped under the heading of Wisdom (pañña), the following three under Morality (sila), and the last three under Concentration (samadhi). But according to the order of development the sequence is as follows:

　　I. Morality (sila)

　　Right Speech

　　Right Action

　　Right Livelihood

　　II. Concentration (samadhi)

　　Right Effort

　　Right Mindfulness

　　Right Concentration

　　III. Wisdom (pañña)

　　Right Understanding

　　Right Thoughts

　　Morality (sila) is the first stage on this path to Nibbana.

　　Without killing or causing injury to any living creature, man should be…

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