Preface
In 2006, I wrote an article about my attempt to study Buddhism after a long period of straying from the path. At the time, I had hoped to submit the article to the Buddhist University in London as part of my application for a master's degree, but unfortunately, my application was unsuccessful. However, a professor at that University did me a favor by giving me the title of my book. I was so grateful to him. Consequently, the article was later transformed into a book published in Vietnam, though its content remained incomplete.
It has now been reprinted in the US, and I have endeavored to edit and supplement it with additional content based on my practical experiences.
However, I remain cautious about delving too deeply into the significance of the Eightfold Path, as my primary aim is to present Buddhism in a simple and accessible manner for readers who may be new to Buddhist philosophy.
The Eightfold Path is a critical practice towards Enlightenment, a challenging journey for many practitioners. The profound nature of the Eightfold Path necessitates diligent effort from practitioners, a task daunting for us as ordinary individuals. Therefore, this book endeavors solely to assist ordinary people in cultivating their own personality through a simplified presentation of the philosophy under the ultimately noble meaning of the Eightfold Path. Yet, I aspire for everyone to embark on a journey toward truth, goodness, and beauty through self-improvement to benefit themselves, others, and society.
In the past, I often complained about my life, which seemed filled with tribulations. I felt distraught and could only see the negative aspects of life - how harsh it could be and how unkind people seemed. I convinced myself that I was being mistreated by both my family and life. However, the more I tried to justify my feelings, the more pain I experienced.
One day, I realized that despite having taken refuge with the Buddha for a long time, I had still lost my way. It was because I had never turned over every single word of the Buddha in my mind. I supposed that His teachings were only for monks who strive to attain Enlightenment, while human beings like me could not understand or practice. Maybe I always found faults with others without feeling sympathy for them.
People, by nature, are imperfect. The division between the spirit of evil and good in man is as thin as a hair. We cannot deny that this is true. However, if human beings’ nature tends towards the good, they are likely to improve themselves. In this way, the present work is for my wish to improve myself and to express sympathy for those who have the same misunderstanding about the Buddha’s teachings. His words are always a torch to light the way of the Sangha (monastic community), lay followers, and even people who know very little of Buddhist philosophy.
From time to time, we are told that the sutras are beyond our understanding. Only people who have perfect wisdom can understand them. Are all human beings wise enough to thoroughly grasp the sutras? Then they practice reaching Enlightenment? That is why we feel apprehensive about studying His teachings. Frankly speaking, we should only ponder over his simple words, for example:
“Don’t lead a life of indulgence. Don’t perform a despicable act. Don’t support a wrong view. Don’t make the world worse.”
In order not to exacerbate the situation but to lead a righteous life, we must conquer ourselves. It is because “Victory in battle is easier than triumphing over oneself. Being victorious in the battle against yourself is the most significant triumph in your life.”
Now, both you and I can fully understand the significance of these simple yet resolute words. If we commit to practicing His teachings every day, even in small increments, we will increasingly nurture our spirit of goodness. Through this spirit of goodness, our personality will be strengthened and affirmed.
However, it is pretty difficult for us to improve ourselves because, by nature, we can scarcely recognize our mistakes. We tend to support our views while finding others’ perspectives unsound. Thus, if we are too cowardly to achieve victory for our common sense, we are still trapped in the delusion of grandeur.
Therefore, from now on, “we should no longer exacerbate situations, no longer find fault with others, and no longer comment on their actions.” Instead, We should focus on identifying our faults and reflecting on our actions. Moreover, We should consider that “Being a victim of glaring injustice serves as an effective method of self-development.”
May this work be dedicated to all sentient beings advancing their understanding. Later, everyone will earnestly strive to practice the Noble Eightfold Path, with the ultimate aim of attaining Enlightenment.
Reprinted in Virginia, USA, in 2024
I. Introduction
Since the Buddha passed away, His teachings have spread all over the world. Over an extended period, His ideology has penetrated people's thoughts from all social classes. His philosophy, influenced by everyone’s karma and the teachings of various Buddhist schools, has been studied, analyzed, and applied to human life.
Motivated by the strange twists of fate in my own life, my present work will be a study of Self-development through the Eightfold Path.
When “Self-development through the Eightfold Path” is mentioned, one might assume that it refers to the Sangha’s Self-development. However, it is not solely about this aspect. Self-development through the Eightfold Path, which both Sangha and lay followers can realize, is presented in this work. It is not only reflected in the Sangha’s precepts but also expressed through one’s behavior. This is the path of spiritual practice following the Eightfold Path. The present study focuses on the cultivation of virtue in individual persons and does not delve deeply into the Sangha’s transcendent ideology.
Actually, the Eightfold Path is the noblest path to Enlightenment. However, it is pretty challenging to attain Enlightenment as we are everyday individuals living in luxurious surroundings and modern industrial society. For the sake of argument, let us assume that the Eightfold Path is a saintly way of life that we can practice refining our own personality.
Advancing our personality toward perfection means that we are enhancing our lives to achieve true happiness in our present life. The Buddha once said, “The Eightfold Path that I have shown will lead you to a secure and peaceful life.”
What is the Eightfold Path (Atthangikamagga)?
According to the Comprehensive Study of Buddhism, the Eightfold Path refers to the eight paths or eight effective methods that guide people to a perfect life. In the Dhammapada, the Buddha said, “The Eightfold Path is the holiest way.”
The Eightfold Path is divided into three groups:
- Precepts (Sila)
- Concentration (Samadhi)
- Wisdom (Prajna)
Precepts, known as Sila, are the rules that guide people on how to conduct themselves with dignity and cultivate their virtue. Buddhists who strictly observe the Five Precepts (Pancasila) can refine their character. The Precepts are the beginning of emancipation, or the beginning of concentration, and the arising of wisdom, including the Right Speech, the Right Action, and the Right Livelihood.
Concentration, known as samadhi, is a method that guides people in practicing achieving mental balance and self-control. When feelings and the mind are stable, one can determine precisely what to do and how to act. A person’s correct actions can reveal his excellent character. Samadhi includes the Right Effort, the Right Mindfulness, and the Right Concentration.
Wisdom, known as Prajna, is what helps people realize their bad habits, prejudices, or wrong views so that they can end them. Wisdom is a good guide that leads people toward a life of virtue. In the Upasaka Sutra, the Buddha said, “Wisdom distinguishes humans from animals.” Wisdom enables people to judge their actions and to take responsibility for their behavior. Wisdom includes the Right View and the Right Thought.
In a lecture on the Four Noble Truths, Venerable Thich Chan Quang emphasized, “Every single action in the Eightfold Path is always to bring happiness to people and lessen their suffering. If people completely practice the Eightfold Path, they can stop being in the samsara. This reminds us of correctly practicing the Eightfold Path.”
Thus, we firmly believe that those who earnestly practice the Eightfold Path will experience profound changes in their lives, leading to complete happiness. By diligently following this path, individuals can enhance their personal development and refine their personalities...
