These “middle way “posts were originally going to be my attempt at diving into each of the Eightfold Path and see if I could gather as much as I could in one pass. After the first pass I would then see how much I could incorporate into my life. This approach seemed the most straight forward.
As I have started to work through the Eightfold Path, fortunately, or unfortunately my understanding and acceptance of each element shifts and morphs as I gain more understanding of myself as well as each of the other elements. Although this morphing of understanding lends to some fun exploration, it doesn’t lend very well to writing.
Now that I have written a couple of these (this is the first in which I have posted) I am guessing that as I type and explore each of these elements, by the time I reached the end and read back over the others, I would feel that each may require a complete rewrite. Each judgement I made at the first pass of each element may seem rather shallow, and/or fearful.
In recognizing as much, I do feel good about the process. Morphing thoughts, ideas, and opinions, can be a sign that I am actually learning. Also it could mean that not trying to use these posts to concretize a “way of life”. From where I currently stand, an attempt to use these elements as a way to solidify “dualistic” rules of behavior in a first pass, would make life and the process easier, but it would not seem like the most honest or even “Buddhist” approach.
Please also note the change from “Rightful” or “Right” to “Realistic” in the naming of the elements. I recently heard a talk by Robert Thurman on Buddhism where he mentioned that using the word “Realistic” instead of “Rightful” moved the elements of the path out of more dualistic view. Really, these elements were an attempt at living a realistic life. I am very glad he mentioned it. As soon as I heard him say it, my mind nodded happily in agreement…
Well enough apologies… - DV
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This is the first post of the “middle way” posts. The post is a personal exploration of the middleway only; my personal understanding of each element of the path at the time of writing. I expect like most concepts in Buddhism, my understanding of these elements to change over time.
The eightfold path (the “middle way”) is described as the fourth noble truth; the path for the cessation of suffering.
In my last post about Buddhism, I describe the four noble truths. In this post I’m attempting to describe the first of eight elements of the eightfold path: Right Effort.
To review, the eightfold path, (the middle way) has the following parts:
- Realistic Understanding
- Realistic Thought
- Realistic Speech
- Realistic Action
- Realistic Livelihood
- Realistic Effort
- Realistic Mindfulness
- Realistic Concentration
The “realistic” has replaced “right” in the above list to give a less dualistic bent to the elements of the path.
These eight elements are split into three disciplines for perfection within the Buddhist teachings. These three are:
1. Ethical Conduct: Realistic Speech, Action, and Livelihood
2. Mental Discipline: Realistic Effort, Mindfulness, and Concentration
3. Wisdom: Realistic Thought and Understanding
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Realistic Effort (Endeavor)
Realistic (right) effort was not first on the list elements, but based on my current set and settings, I thought it resonated with me the most, so I thought I would start my discovery of the eightfold path here.
Right off the bat, I don’t think I really understood the whole meaning of “right effort”. My first assumption was that it some how equated to a person practicing loving-kindness to one’s self by producing the right effort involved with a task at hand. No, not quite right. Again a clearer translation may help here. It appears a different or clearer translation of this element is “right endeavor” or “realistic endeavor”.
Right endeavor is described as four types of endeavors that rank in ascending order of perfection:
1. to prevent the arising of new detrimental states
2. to abandon of detrimental states that are already present
3. to cultivate beneficial states that are not yet present
4. to maintain and perfect beneficial states already present
This element on the path appears to be more about concentrating those things that motivate us, focusing those into positive outcomes, and finally being consistent about all of it.
Each mental or physical state begins with another state. So right endeavor practice also consists of the focusing of mental energy of a detrimental state (one that is detrimental to ones physical or spiritual well-being) into a new outcome that is beneficial. Each step or attempt will increasing the positive or beneficial states, and decreasing the detrimental ones.
Practicing Realistic Effort
Practicing meditation is actually a way of practicing “right effort.” In meditation practice, each time we become aware of detrimental state (recognizing grasping or pushing away) we can make it a positive outcome by recognizing it, accepting it, and then letting it go.
The Joy of Effort
Recently in an article I read in Tricycle magazine called “The Joy of Effort” (click here for the full article - dated 5/1/2008 ) I read about finding the joy in meditation. The article describes how we can bring the two ideas, my limited and erred concept of “right effort”, with the full concept of “right endeavor”:
Collectively, these analogies make an important point: Meditation is a skill, and mastering it should be enjoyable in the same way mastering any other rewarding skill can be. The Buddha said as much to his son, Rahula: “When you see that you’ve acted, spoken, or thought in a skillful way—conducive to happiness while causing no harm to yourself or others—take joy in that fact and keep on training.”
It is a good article.
About the “realistic” as opposed to “right” naming: I think it is important for me to remember that just making steps on the path, even if they are not “perfect” or “right” is still a perfectly reasonable joyful endeavor.
Metta
Articles that may interest you:
More Dharma Voyager’s Buddhism Explorations
Link to the Tricycle Article “The Joy of Effort”
What the Buddha Taught: Revised and Expanded Edition with Texts from Suttas and Dhammapada
ISBN: 0802130313
ISBN-13: 9780802130310
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Please pardon my ignorant (but earnest
questions Dharma, but I’m curious about how realistic effort might transfer into broader facets or life. Is it about the balance between work and rest in life to prevent a detrimental state? If afraid the only meditations I’m able to accomplish are the moving variety so my understanding is quite limited.
I’m just learning myself, and can only give you my view from my limitations. So please take this with a grain of salt. I will try to do my best with my knowledge of “Realistic Effort”
From my understanding taking up the goal of realistic effort is to attempt to decrease suffering in your life (not just work life) by reducing the number of “detrimental” states. Those detrimental states are ones in which cause actions that cause suffering to both you and others. For example…
If someone “shits” on my day by giving me a vanilla latte instead of a hazelnut one, especially when I really really really wanted that hazelnut one. You know what I’m talking about here? I have a choice… I can shit on everyone else’s day because of it or:
1. to prevent the arising of new detrimental states
I can remember the last time I messed up something as simple as a latte, look across the counter at the new person and feel sorry for them and then leave them a tip.
2. to abandon of detrimental states that are already present
I can taste the vanilla latte and think to myself that … perhaps this is pretty good, and hazelnut can wait for tomorrow. Or I can take a breath and mention nicely that I got the wrong order, attempting not to make the person behind the counter feel like a complete idiot.
3. to cultivate beneficial states that are not yet present
I can think that this place actually has really good music, and that even though out of the last 50 times I have come here, they have gotten my order perfect, today was that just first bad day. I can decide this is really no big deal and come in tomorrow for that white chocolate raspberry mocha I’m going to be hot for.
4. to maintain and perfect beneficial states already present
Damn I love coffee… just feels so good on the palette.. so so so yummy… what a great start to the day
It seems difficult to do, but I have to say that it does soften me a bit and has been beneficial to me. I did in a uninformed way start this in my last job, and it helped me keep a good attitude as much as I could in a unhealthy situation. You can also ask me in a week after I have started my new job.
Let me know if I am making any sense here, and also if you think it is a complete crock of shit.
-DV
Oh that makes perfect sense and very applicable with young faeries. Thank you for that. I have a friend who, whenever she’s made to wait always says “thank you for the gift of time.” It’s a great way to look at it. So next time my youngest urinates on the floor, hits the poor patient cat or empties out the expensive organic liquid soap. Instead of turning into witch-mommy and bitching out my oldest I need to take a breath and appreciate that she’s learning and maybe it will take her 100 lessons but it will be my kindness (or crabbiness) that she’ll take with her in life. It’s a difficult discipline for me these days to stay patient and calm. Thank you for this piece of wisdom that will prevent many detrimental states in the tender little faeries.
I am glad it makes sense. Some of it seems really unintuitive to me, or just the plain opposite from how I would probably react to the situation.
We were chatting last night in the discussion group, about how it is great to learn and read about this stuff, but as soon as something annoying happens it is the hardest thing to put into place. I for one can type this stuff and try to learn it, but then can I really do it… I guess the real answer so far is… as much as I can.
This post was very difficult for me to post simply because I know how difficult it all is to me. The other thing is I’m no guru, I am an average joe… and this is only my interpretation of how I read it. It is helpful to me, which is why I type it out, so being that average person I think it may help out someone else out, which I think is cool.
This one for example kind of opened up to me the whole positive thinking thing. Before this post I thought “positive thinking” yeah right… I’m so groovy… Your so groovy… let’s hop a bus and see the sites… Well, realistic effort (endeavor) gives a little bit of framework around that type of process that really seems coherent to me.
Namaste
Hahaha after reading your post I resolved to bring more loving kindness and calm into my parenting but the first round of toddler wails started an electric storm in my central nervous system. Arrrrgh! There’s something about the toddler wail, the abandon…that dredges up a roiling morass of grief anger and despair. I barely managed to keep my voice even while running the peaceful conflict resolution, but I remained calm on the exterior anyway. It’s a start, right?
I have some pretty sl pictures of you on my hd.
Namaste!
Cool… You will definitely have to share next time we see each other there…