Extracted from The Essential Teaching, published by Dian Dharma

1. Right view
2. Right intention
3. Right speech
4. Right action
5. Right livelihood
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right concentration

1. Right View

Understanding the Law of Kamma :
Our actions will produce results in this life and in future lives; thus we have to be responsible for our deeds.

Understanding the Four Noble Truth :
Suffering, its cause (craving), its cessation (Nirvana), and the way leading to its cessation (the Noble Eightfold Path).

Note :
Right View (Pali: Samma Ditthi) is the first factor of the NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH. It is important to start off with the Right View because the wrong views will only lead us round and round in samsara, undergoing rebirth and suffering, sometimes in extreme miserable states such as hell, ghost, titan, and animal realms. The Right View, on the other hand, can take us to Nirvana, the end of all rebirth and suffering – in other words, the highest peace and happiness.

2. Right intention

Thoughts of :

1. Renunciation
2. Non-greed
3. Generosity
4. Giving
5. Sharing

Thoughts of :

1. Non-hate
2. Non-anger
3. Rational love
4. Friendliness
5. Goodwill
6. Forgiveness

Thoughts of :

1. Non-cruelty
2. Non-hurting
3. Kindness
4. Rational compassion

*Pali: Samma Sankappa
sometimes it’s called right thought

Note :
Whatever we think, that we will become. If we often think unwholesome intention thoughts, our mind will be inclined that way. On the other hand, if we often think wholesome thoughts, our mind will be inclined towards the wholesome. The Buddha urges us to become the master of our thoughts, so that our mind will be directed only towards the wholesome and will shun the unwholesome.

3. Right speech

Abstaining :

1. From lying
2. Slandering
3. Malicious speech
4. Rude and harsh speech
5. Idle chatter

Speaking the Truth :

1. Speaking politely, gently
2. Peaking kindly
3. Promoting concord rather than discord
4. Speaking what is beneficial
5. Comforting
6. Encouraging
7. Inspiring

*Pali : Samma Vaca

Note ;
As regards to monks and nuns, the Buddha encourages them to speak on “such talks as deals with effacement, as favours the mind’s release, and which leads to complete disenchantment, dispassion, cessation, peace, direct knowledge, enlightenment and Nirvana, that is, talk on wanting little, on contentment, seclusion, aloofness from society, arousing energy, virtue, concentration, wisdom, deliverance, and knowledge and vision of deliverance.”

4. Right Action

1. Abstaining from killing or harming living beings
2. Abstaining from stealing or cheating
3. Abstaining from misconduct in sensual pleasure

*Pali : Samma Kammanta

Note :
Through (1) we practice compassion
Through (2) we practice honesty or truthfulness
Examples of (3) misconduct in sensual pleasures are adultery and taking alcohol and drugs, which are harmful to the mind and body.

5. Right Livelihood

Earning one’s living in an honest way, i.e., without stealing, cheating, or deception.

Abstaining from occupations that would hurt and harm others, such as slaughtering of animals, fishing, manufacturing, and selling alcohol, drugs, tobacco, armaments, and poison, and procuring women for prostitution.

* Pali : Samma Ajiva

Note :
The best occupation is that spent in the service of others, that contributes towards the betterment of society both materially and spiritually. By material we would mean wholesome material things and not unwholesome ones. Spiritual-wise, meditation to uproot one’s own mental defilements may also be considered as one of the best occupation one can set about doing. This is especially so for those who have become monks and nuns for the purpose of such mental purification.

6. Right Effort

The effort to prevent the arising of unwholesome states of mind that have not arisen.

The effort to abandon unwholesome states of mind that have arisen.

The effort to arouse wholesome states of mind that have not arisen.

The effort to maintain wholesome states of mind that have arise, increasing, strengthening, making them come to perfection through development and not allowing them to lapse.

Note :
Effort (Pali: viriya/vayama) is described as the root of all attainment. The Buddha assures that one who strives diligently is certain to reach the goal of Nirvana.

7. Right Mindfulness

“Monks, this is the only way for the purification of beings, for the overcoming of sorrow and lamentation, for the disappearance of pain and grief, for the attainment of the true way, for the realization of Nirvana – namely, the Four Foundation of Mindfulness.

“What are the four ? Here, Monks, a monk abides contemplating the
1) body as a body, ardent, fully aware, and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world. He abides contemplating
2) feeling as feeling, …
3) mind as mind, …
4) mind-objects as mind-objects, ardent, fully aware and mindful, having put away covetousness and grief for the world.”

* Pali : Samma Sati

Note:
Mindfulness or awareness of what goes on in the body and mind. Essential for checking of mental defilements and the attainment of Nirvana, as stated by the Buddha.

8. Right Concentration

This is the four Jhanas – deep states of concentration during which the mind is purified from mental defilements of sensual desire, ill-will, sloth torpor, restlessness, worry and anxiety, and so on. With this concentration, a meditator can penetrate into the three characteristics of existence – impermanence (anicca), suffering (dukkha), non-self (anatta), and thereby attain direct knowledge and wisdom.

Notes :
The Pali word ‘samadhi‘ here translated as concentration is also linked to calm and tranquility. This is because the undistracted mind becomes serene and steady, and in this state of calm, wisdom can arise. As stated by the Buddha : “He who is concentrated knows and sees things as they are”. ~ Anguttara Nikaya 5(3)

Besides the Jhanas, the Pali commentarial tradition accepts that access concentration (i.e. concentration close to Jhana) and moment-by-moment (khanika) concentration, when developed in strength, can also do the work of penetration into the three characteristics of existence and the attainment of Nirvana.