The Right View

 

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The Right View

The right view is the one of the essences of spirituality on the eight-fold path as propounded by Buddha – namely Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action. Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration.

It is important to understand that the Eightfold Path is not a series of progressive steps to be mastered one after another. Each of the steps is to be developed and practiced together with the other steps because they all support each other. Strictly speaking, there is no ‘first’ or ‘last’ step. The eight steps of the path also support the three essential factors of Buddhist training -- ethical conduct, mental discipline, and wisdom.

Right view supports wisdom, which is nothing but understanding things as they are. This understanding is not mere intellectual understanding – it means seeing a thing in its true nature, without any name and label.

Our happiness and the happiness of those around us depend on our degree of Right View. Touching reality deeply - knowing what is going on the inside and outside of ourselves - is the way to liberate ourselves from the suffering that is caused by wrong perceptions. Right View is not an ideology, a system, or even a path. It is the insight we have into the reality of life, a living insight that fills us with understanding, peace, and love.

Right View develops from practice of the Eightfold Path. For example, the practice of samadhi through Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration prepares the mind for penetrating insight. Meditation is associated with ‘Right Concentration’.

Ethical conduct through Right Speech, Right Action and Right Livelihood also supports the Right View through cultivation of compassion. Compassion and wisdom are said to be the two wings of Buddhism. Compassion helps us break through our narrow, self-centred views, which enables wisdom. Wisdom helps us realise nothing is really separate, which enables compassion.

By the same token, the wisdom parts of the path - Right View and Right Thought - support the other parts of the path. Ignorance is one of the root poisons that brings with it greed and ill-will.

Right View is a penetrating insight into the nature of reality. So, while Right View is something much more profound than merely an understanding doctrine, the doctrine is still important and should not be brushed aside.

Although these teachings do not have to be ‘believed in’ on faith, they should at least be understood. The teachings provide essential guidance, keeping us on the path to genuine wisdom. Without them, mindfulness and meditation can become just self-improvement projects.