The Eightfold Path: Right Concentration

The Noble Eightfold Path, Part Eight (an introduction, as I understand it…)

Wisdom

1. Right View

2. Right Intention

Ethical Conduct

3. Right Speech

4. Right Action

5. Right Livelihood

Mental Development

6. Right Effort

7. Right Mindfulness

8. Right Concentration

The final principle on the  eightfold path, right concentration, is concerned with developing a focused state of mind. Concentration is developed through meditation; and, through practice, this concentration can be maintained in everyday life.  The intent of right concentration is to focus on wholesome thoughts and actions; to intensify concentration in a willful effort to raise the mind to a higher and more purified state of awareness (an assassin’s focus on a victim can be the epitome of human concentration, but is not the intent of right concentration).

The Buddha likened the untrained mind to a fish flopping on dry land; the mind tends to be distracted, straying from thought to thought, prone to distractions, perceiving a distorted, fragmented reality. In contrast, the mind trained in meditative concentration engenders a peaceful, serene mind that is able to observe an unfiltered reality.

Concentration is attained in stages, but begins with focus — meditation —  on an object; if (when) the mind strays, the meditator notices, and gently, calmly, brings attention back to the object (the breath as it passes the inside edges of the nostrils is one common ‘object’ for meditation).

Meditation is essential, and it is useful even if Buddhism doesn’t interest you (meditation is certainly not a unique, Buddhist invention).

It is best to begin on the right path: if you plan on embarking on a meditation practice, I recommend seeking an instructor; however, there are innumerable books on the subject; and, if  you search carefully and selectively, there are good resources on the web (I would suggest you also search for abdominal breathing techniques, or diaphragmatic breathing techniques).

I wish you success on your journey.

May you be filled with loving kindness

May you be well

May you be peaceful and at ease

May you be happy

 

The Eightfold Path: Right Mindfulness

The Eightfold Path, Part Seven (an introduction to Buddhism…as I understand it)

Wisdom

1. Right View

2. Right Intention

Ethical Conduct

3. Right Speech

4. Right Action

5. Right Livelihood

Mental Development

6. Right Effort

7. Right Mindfulness

8. Right Concentration

 

Right mindfulness is pure awareness of the present moment; transparent perception, an awareness that penetrates our biased interpretations of reality.

Humans have a propensity to interpret with the bias of an ego-filter: an evaluation based on previous experiences. The goal of mindful perception is to live in the present moment without bias.

Meditation plays a key role in right mindfulness, and the purpose of meditation is to be fully aware in the present moment: any other goal invites the specter of dukkha (grasping, frustration, et cetera).

There are four foundations of mindfulness, which are the basis of meditation practice as taught by Shakyamuni Buddha (Maha Satipatthana Sutta):

• Contemplation of the body
• Contemplation of feelings (revulsion, attraction, neutral)
• Contemplation of the state of mind (a dispassionate observation)
• Contemplation of phenomena (dharmas: irreducible, fundamental units of experience)

No amount of effort will yield a profound result without mindfulness; it is the root of Buddhism.

 

“Breathe and you know you are alive.” Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh

 

The Eightfold Path: Right Effort

The Eightfold Path, Part Six (an introduction to Buddhism…as I understand it)

Wisdom

1. Right View

2. Right Intention

Ethical Conduct:

3. Right Speech

4. Right Action

5. Right Livelihood

Mental Development

6. Right Effort

7. Right Mindfulness

8. Right Concentration

Mental energy can be either wholesome (generosity, compassion, willpower, and empathy) or unwholesome (craving, aggression, and violence). Wholesome energy evolves from right effort; and, to be precise, right effort engages wholesome states of awareness that are guided by right view and right intention (aimed at liberation from dukkha). The Buddha provided the path and assured us that anyone can be successful, but the practitioner must apply energy in a persistent effort to transform his/her mind into a liberated state.

There are four endeavors associated with Right Effort:

1. To prevent the emergence of unwholesome states;
2. To discard unwholesome states that have already arisen;
3. To awaken wholesome states that have not yet arisen;
4. To preserve and perfect wholesome states already arisen.

There are also five hindrances associated with Right Effort (the first two are the most difficult and poison the mind to a greater extent; the others are less toxic, but are obstacles nonetheless):

1. Craving (greed) for sensual pleasures (agreeable sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches), opulence, power, position, fame…
2. Ill-will (aversion): hatred, anger, bitterness, and revulsion (directed towards other people, oneself, objects, or situations).
3. Dullness (mental apathy), and Drowsiness (mental sinking, heaviness of mind, or extreme tendency to sleep)
4. Restlessness (agitation or excitement), and Worry (regret of mistakes and angst regarding possible negative consequences of the mistake).
5. Doubt: chronic indecisiveness.

The Buddha revealed remedies for the hindrances (some of which are applicable to all five, while others are useful for a specific hindrance); and, in important discourses, he described techniques for eliminating distracting thoughts and cultivating wholesome states of mind.

That’s all I wanted to say as an introduction, but there is much more information available about Right Effort; and, of course, it is intertwined within the other ‘steps’ on the eightfold path.