follow the Eightfold Path

“malicious or divisive speech, abusive or harsh speech” – I don’t know why I can’t remember at work that the important thing is how we treat each other.

To me, what I actually do at work is absurd. If I look at the big picture of my job I cannot escape the conclusion that I am a tiny part of making rich people richer while doing next to nothing to improve the world.

The only lives that I can play any real part in improving right now are my coworkers. If what we’re doing is absurd, at least we can bring joy to each other doing it.

Why, then, do I find myself everyday saying something mean to or about somebody? Why, given that I think my job is for all intents and purposes without any real meaning, do I get so frustrated at things not being done “the right way” or “cleanly” or “correctly”?

Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t all I do. I try everyday to be light-hearted and make people smile and laugh. I try to approach everything with an open mind, open heart, and to remember that people are more important than projects. I try to be constructive, I try to mentor, be helpful, empower.

I do manage it for a bit. And then I forget and I bitch about some code or some process or some person who didn’t do something “correctly.”

The environment is difficult; some of the people are difficult people. This is good news. It wouldn’t be much of a practice if it were all easy.

Today I tried to observe what words came out of my mouth and to be wiser with my tongue. I’d say it went pretty well.

The noble eightfold path is essential in order to hold any sort of opinion, in MY opinion..hahaha.

Something I’m looking to do in the near future.

1. Right Understanding
2. Right Thoughts
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration

1. Right Understanding
2. Right Thoughts
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration

Not only is it the most pragmatic of spiritual structures, but in all my religious searching, i’ve found it the most powerful disipline for aligning oneself in a positive humane manner with oneself, with the world, and (oddly) with God. (even tho i know thats not a true part of buddhism)

_ i truly believe that if everyone adhered and worked to achieve this in their own lives, we’d have a world at peace. Not a perfect world, but a peaceful one._

_And not that i’ve “Mastered” any or all of these principles. (that “Right Livelihood” ‘Especially escapes me -!) But the essense behind each of these, the attention to the basis of what trips up us humans in our lives and dealings with others, and perpetuates our pain….this kind of mindful insight is key to resolving the inner demons we project upon the world. (i so wish i could mandate that the most radical fundamentalist Xtains & Muslims had to spend a month at a Buddhist Retreat, examining their OWN thoughts/ speech/ actions/understanding/ etc….instead of being so fixated on what anyone else should change (in their “humble & correct” opinions!)(ahem)

See how powerful following just this one part of the path could be:

Right Mindfulness is fourfold:
.

mindfulness with regard to body
mindfulness with regard to feeling
mindfulness with regard to mind
mindfulness with regard to mental quality

Right Mindfulness is the awareness of one’s deeds, words and thoughts. Being mindful of the heart of matters can help us to overcome suffering with understanding. When sitting, laying or moving, being mindful of the following four frames of references are said by the Buddha to help us achieve great understanding, and can even help us unlock the secrets that are within our hearts.

This will be a forever ongoing practice, a lifetime effort and goal for me. I dont hope for perfection; i hope for ever-present mindfulness and introspection of where i’m at on the Path….

today, an audio set I bought in October that’s about the lojong practice, led by Pema back in 2000 at the Berkeley Center. Great talk. I hated to see it end, but I’ve restarted it back at disc 1 again! :)

i have been shocked to hear my words in the last few days. I think I’m using the vocabulary I am for emphasis, & it cretainly DOES emphasize what I’m saying. I’m just not certain anything really needs the verbal equivalent of underscore, bold and italic...

Cribbed from here

The Eightfold Path (ariya-magga)

Wisdom/Discernment (pañña)
1. Wise or Right View/Understanding (samma-ditthi) – Knowledge of the Four Noble Truths
2. Wise or Right Intention/Resolve (sammá-sankappa) – Renunciation, Loving-kindness, Harmlessness

Virtue (sila)
3. Wise or Right Speech (sammá-vácá) – abstaining from lying, malicious or divisive speech, abusive or harsh speech, and idle chatter
4. Wise or Right Action (sammá-kammanta) – abstaining from killing, stealing and sexual misconduct
5. Wise or Right Livelihood (sammá-ájíva) – abstaining from dishonest and harmful means of livelihood

Concentration/Meditation (samadhi)
6. Wise or Right Effort (samma-vayama) – the effort of avoiding and overcoming unskillful qualities, and of developing and maintaining skillful qualities
7. Wise or Right Mindfulness (samma-sati) – The Four Foundations of Mindfulness
8. Wise or Right Concentration (samma-samadhi) – The Four Form Jhanas

Until recently, I didn’t know that taking one’s vows was to be done in public, ceremonially. I am contemplating taking them in June, but have written to find out if I really qualify, because the prerequisites listed are more than what I have in some areas. Even though I’ve identified myself as Buddhist for about 10 years now and have an ever-deepening spiritual life, still I lack some of the concrete things. I am hoping to receive an affirmation that I have more than enough experience to make me a good candidate. It may take a while.