Morning Words on the Eightfold Path
Ed Mushin Russell
An early and fundamental teaching of the Buddha is what is called the eightfold
path which begins with right view. What is right view? The Buddha is advising us
to see, to experience our life, exactly as it is. This is where True Nature
reveals itself. It's always right here, right now. There is no secret formula or
hidden reality to discover. In being just this moment, we don't just have right
view, we are right view.
Second on the eightfold path is right intention. Can we choose what our
intentions are? Perhaps or perhaps not, but we can become aware of them. We can
ask ourselves, "What am I believing? Is this true?" And we can recognize our
reactive habits and the trouble they cause. Only in recognizing our human nature
we can realize and manifest compassion for ourselves and others. In opening our
heart to life as it is, we become right intention.
Third on the eightfold path is right speech. The Buddha described it as that
which is true, kind and beneficial. I won't add anything to that but I would
like to mention the corollary of right speech which is right listening.
Sometimes, right speech is being silent, attentive and truly hearing what
someone is saying to us. We take time in our day for zazen, but zazenning is a
full time practice.
Next on the eightfold path is right action. It is referring to our ability to
respond skillfully and appropriately to whatever arises. What can hinder this
ability is our self-centered desires and aversions. What supports this ability
is our effort to be present in this moment and to see, as clearly as we can, the
Buddha Nature that pervades everywhere, revealed right here now. With this
awareness our functioning is based on compassion for ourselves and all beings
and can be none other than right action.
Next on the eightfold path is right livelihood. This is more about how we do our
job than what our job is. Of course, I doubt that there is a right way to be a
thief or assassin but, fortunately, most of us don't choose these career paths.
For the rest of us, are we mindful of how our work affects others? Do we give
ourselves to the task at hand? Do we perform our responsibilities with kindness
and compassion toward those we encounter? If so, this is right livelihood.
Now we come on the eightfold path to right effort. In our practice, there can be
no expectation or requirement for success. How would we even define success? All
that is required is our consistent effort to be present, to be honest with
ourselves and others and to strive to appreciate and embrace this life as it is.
Then we can respond skillfully to whatever arises and, perhaps, improve on the
perfection that our lives always are. Doing so is right effort.
Next on the eightfold path is right mindfulness. This is our ability to be
present within this moment experiencing. More exactly, to be this moment, since
experiencer and experience are not two. We all have this ability and our
practice teaches us how to use it. When happy, be happiness. When sad, be
sadness. This is not a mind that is empty or full, but an open mind. Open to our
life as it is. This is right mindfulness.
Lastly on the eightfold path we have right meditation. I won't say that there is
a right way to meditate since the practice varies from just being present to
following or counting the breath to koans, etc. For some styles, it might even
include mantras or visualization. In Zen practice we tend to keep it simple and
specific to each individual. I can say what wrong meditation is, however. It's
the zazen we put off until tomorrow and never seem to get around to. Without our
zazen, there is no true practice. It just becomes ideas and theory. As Genmyo
said, "No need to do zazen, therefore we must do zazen".
The eightfold path speaks of right view, right intention, etc. "Right" is
probably not the best word here since we tend to contrast it with wrong. Better,
perhaps, would be skillful, appropriate or beneficial. I would like to include
sincere. Our practice isn't about what we get from it, but about what we give to
it and the most important ingredient is our sincere effort. In fact, it's all
that is required. No wisdom, no gain, no goal. Just doing our best, moment by
moment.