My Dear Daughter,

Today, I will tell you the story of Aunt Eight as I know it. Her real name is the Noble Eightfold Path, but I prefer to call her “Aunt Eight” because it sounds more approachable. Anyone who has heard of the Buddha Shakyamuni has probably heard of Aunt Eight. She has eight precious qualities, often grouped into three categories as follows:

(1) Wisdom includes Right View and Right Thought.

(2) Morality includes Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood.

(3) Concentration includes Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

We often speak of Morality – Concentration – Wisdom. So why is Wisdom listed before Morality here? Moreover, the teacher often says that only when there is Morality can there be Concentration, and only when there is Concentration can Wisdom arise. Why then is there this seemingly out-of-order arrangement? I brought these questions into meditation to explore further. I also wanted to understand how Aunt Eight’s path leads to the end of suffering, and specifically how to apply it. Depending on conditions, some days I felt inspired to investigate, other days not. In any case, after about two months, I recounts here what I observed during meditative absorption:

+ One day, when I asked, “What is Right View?” the symbol that appeared was the act of trimming a dog’s fur. At that moment, I understood: Right View is the act of trimming away excessive, unnecessary information.

+ When asking, “What is Right Thought?” a mental image appeared of the process of baking a cake. I understood that Right Thought is about thinking in the correct way, following a clear and precise process.

+ Then, when asking “What is Right Speech ?” the symbol was a large standing mirror, and I was looking at myself in it. I understood: Right Speech is to speak the truth, to say things as they really are.

+ I continued with “Then what about Right Action?” The symbols that appeared in succession were the words diversification and balanced. I grasped that Right Action means one must act with balance, harmony, and openness.

+ On another day, I asked about Right Livelihood. The mental image was a small octopus or a small flowerpot and the action/process shown was it slipping quietly into a rocky crevice (the image was of a flat surface with a gap underneath), and it was understood to be in a watery environment. At the time, I only vaguely grasped the idea of retreat but didn’t yet fully understand what this withdrawal meant, so I exited meditation. Curious, I checked The Buddha and His Teachings and saw that Right Livelihood is about living a pure life and “staying away” from five harmful trades: dealing in weapons, human trafficking, meat trade, intoxicants, and poisons. At that moment, I understood that the action of slipping into the crevice symbolized withdrawing from worldly life and minimizing excessive engagement (exposure), i.e., it is best to retreat inward to preserve oneself.

+ On yet another day, I asked, “What is Right Effort?” The symbol was simply the character ‘diligence’. Its meaning was clear: to be diligent, industrious, and never give up.

+ Two days ago, I investigated Right Mindfulness. Initially, the symbol that appeared was the word ‘Letting Go’. When I asked what “Letting Go” meant, another term appeared: ‘Mindfulness of Letting Go’. At that moment, I felt a bit of unfamiliarity, as if he had never heard this before. Still unsure of the meaning, I asked, “What is Right Concentration?” The symbol was an open hand gently releasing, then clenching into a firm grip. At that point, I immediately understood: Right Mindfulness is to let go of chaotic, entangled thoughts to allow the mind to be relaxed, gentle, and ungrasping (symbolized by the open hand). Only then can Right Concentration become strong and steady (symbolized by the clenched hand).

+ Today, I practiced and wondered why Right View and Right Thought are considered Wisdom in the traditional Buddhist teaching of Aunt Eight. The mind responded that this is not accurate. Wisdom only arises when there is Concentration. It is the inevitable result of deep concentration.

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After seeing Aunt Eight in this way, I sat down to think (not meditate) and reflected that perhaps the first five (even seven) qualities of Aunt Eight are all Morality (Sīla):

(i) Right View is the channel through which we receive and filter correct, necessary information. Then Right Thought is the processor that handles this information in a clear, orderly, unbiased way. These two belong to the Mind Discipline (Mental Morality).

(ii) Right Speech and Right Action are outward expressions once the information has been processed. If words are honest, straightforward, and beneficial, that is Right Speech—belonging to Speech Discipline (Verbal Morality). If actions are proper, that is Body Discipline (Physical Morality).

(iii) Right Livelihood serves as a foundation, creating the living and informational environment for the four qualities above. The better the Right Livelihood environment, the more likely our reception, processing, and responses will be Right rather than Wrong—and vice versa.

(iv) Before entering and practicing Right Concentration, if we are skilled in Right Mindfulness—meaning whatever information arises, we discard as much of it as possible—then the practice of deep one-pointed concentration will be easier and smoother. Of course, when concentration is strong, steady, and diligent (Right Effort), Wisdom naturally arises. At that point, Wisdom is the destination of the path that Aunt Eight is guiding us along to end suffering, just as the Buddha taught.

That’s for today, my dear.

nbt

31/05/2020