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.
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