THE EIGHT-FOLD NOBLE PATH

Right seeing
Do I see things and people rightly and clearly?
Do I treat people with a Buddha-like heart?

Right thought
Do I think rightly? Do I conceive negative thoughts?
As negative thoughts pollute the world I must keep my heart pure.

Right speech
Do I speak rightly? Do I say things against my nature?
Do I say what may lead others into confusion and anxiety?
Do I hurt others with my words?

Right action
Do I work rightly?
Do I effectively use the time in my day which is as precious as a diamond?
Do I use time for the benefit of others?

Right living
Do I live rightly? Do I have complaints? Do I know how to be content?
Am I thankful for all things?

Right effort
Do I study Buddha's Truth with the right attitude?
Do I respect Divinity? Did I help many people's minds today?

Right will
Do I have the right plan for my life?
Do my prayers for self-actualization agree with Buddha's mind and serve to ennoble my own character?

Right meditation
Do I have sufficient time for right concentration?
Did I reflect upon my past day, and thank my guardian and guiding spirits before going to sleep?

For those on the spiritual path these eight points provide a helpful guide on the road to personal evolution and eventually enlightenment.

ZEN MEDITATION

On hearing the word meditation perhaps you are reminded of Zen meditation (Zazen, sitting in a cross-legged posture with hands folded in front of the navel) or possibly Yoga meditation (similar to Zazen, but with hands over the knees).

The Japanese Zen master Dogen (1200-1253) introduced a style of meditation called "Shikantaza" which means "just sitting without a purpose", simply sitting quietly. He was the founder of one of the major schools of Zen, and this method of meditation has long been accepted as an important part of Zen training.

It is true that Zen meditation and Yoga are ways to practice meditation but regrettably many people seem to think of meditation as simply "doing nothing" or "trying to think about nothing".

Why do people practice meditation in the first place? Many people do not seem to have ever considered this very deeply; they seem conscious mainly of the form or style.

What is the real purpose of meditation?

It is actually a method of communicating with the heavenly world or the world of higher spirit. Those who do not understand this may practice meditation for health, or perhaps they simply think it is good to spend time just sitting without thinking about anything, and without a purpose. However, we are not trees or stones. If it was only a matter of sitting still, trees and stones could do this much better than humans. But we have hearts and minds and this is the essence of being human.

The act of discovering your true self is the true purpose of meditation.

This reveals that what Shakyamuni taught his disciples in his last moments on Earth was a long way from the sort of faith which involves the complete abandonment of one's own effort and trusting in an outside power. He did not teach his disciples to worship him to attain salvation after his death. Instead, he taught them: "Rely upon yourself, for each of you has Buddha-nature within. As you continue to live your lives, it will guide you."

As well as the torch within, Shakyamuni Buddha left behind the 'torch of Dharma' He taught that after his death, the disciples should live according to his teachings, because although they would have understood that they must rely upon themselves, when it came to solving day-to-day problems, there would be certain situations they would not know how to deal with. Wishing to turn to their teacher for guidance, he would not be there, in the same way as the moon is hidden behind clouds Shakyamuni taught his disciples that so such occasions they should base their decisions on the teachings that he had left for them. This shows clearly that Shakyamuni, even in the last days of his life, still placed much importance on a way of life that was not passive, through constantly refining the self, trusting the self and observing the Dharma as a guide.

Although the basic style for meditation is usually sitting cross-legged, you do not have to use this form. The first step is to distance yourself from daily life and to do this you need to find a place where you will not be disturbed by worldly vibrations. Avoid noisy places or a room where the telephone might ring or a room where people often go in and out. Choose a quiet place where you will not be interrupted for a time so that you can concentrate on your dialogue with yourself.

To escape the vibrations of the third dimension and discover your true self it is necessary that the physical body be relaxed. Choose the posture that is the most comfortable for you. Although in India the traditional style of sitting meditation is a cross-legged posture, you do not necessarily have to keep to this. This posture is fine for people, sitting in this way can be a distraction for the mind because they are continually having to check their posture. Remember that what you have to do now is relax the body and calm the mind. When you are relaxed, gradually regulate your breathing-inhale and exhale deeply from the abdomen, repeat this deep breathing slowly and rhythmically so that oxygen circulates through the body easily and the heart settles down.

After shutting out the outside world, the waves of your mind will gradually change, becoming calmer and calmer until your thoughts are no longer attuned to the wavelengths of three-dimensional thought. Once you enter this state, which is quite different from the everyday, your mind will no longer waver and thoughts about various people and everyday matters will also gradually disappear. You will begin to experience a feeling of relaxation as if you were somewhere in a village deep in the mountains or lying on a beach relaxing all day long. This is the first stage of meditation practice...