The Middleway (Eightfold Path) – Realistic Action

This is the eighth than last post of the “middle way” articles. It is only a personal exploration of the middle way; just my understanding of it. The eightfold path (the “middle way”) is described as the path to the cessation of suffering or the fourth noble truth.

This post will cover the subject of Right or Realistic Action.

To review, the eightfold path, (the middle way) has the following parts (the discipline it is connected to is in parenthesis):

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1. Realistic Understanding (Wisdom)
2. Realistic Thought (Wisdom)
3. Realistic Speech (Ethical Conduct)
4. Realistic Action (Ethical Conduct)
5. Realistic Livelihood (Ethical Conduct)
6. Realistic Effort (Mental Discipline)
7. Realistic Mindfulness (Mental Discipline)
8. Realistic Concentration (Mental Discipline)

For a description of why I describe these as “realistic” as opposed to right or rightful please read my post Right or Realistic Effort.

- DV

I have been putting off this post for a while.  There is much more to write about Buddhism, in general, but this article is an end to a goal that was months ago conceived.  It has been a long personal journey through these articles and this knowledge, although a gratifying one.  I have learned much, and in a way saved the best for last.  The eightfold path, or any thought process really, ends in an action.  It seemed a fitting end to the eight posts that “action” would be the last to be explored.

Mindful, Rightful, or Realistic Action

After all of the complexity and nuances of the other steps of the path, if taken by itself, realistic action seems pretty simple.  What is more simple than the knowing to act best for the situation at hand?

At the onset of my writing these articles, someone commented that it is nearly impossible that the eightfold path be split up and quantified in order to gain its benefit.  I do understand that position in simple terms, but I disagree with it on more focused analysis.  After refection of looking at the separate portions of the path, in my world experiencing what I know of them, and in my attempt of acting in my knowledge of them, I conclude that it is most beneficial that each part of the path is understood separately except for one, Realistic Action.

As the end product of thought process, understanding, choices, effort, mindfulness, concentration, and in a ways speech, action is almost the automatic fruit of these other parts.  To try to change your actions without getting an understanding of these other aspects of the human experience and processes would, from my view, be very difficult or nearly impossible.

There is a paragraph from one of the texts I have been using to explore the eightfold path, “What the Buddha Taught.” The book explains the mix of these aspects for us:

“According to Buddhism for a man to be perfect there are two qualities that he should develop equally; compassion (karuna) on the one side, and wisdom (panna) on the other.  Here compassion represents love, charity, kindness, tolerance, and such noble qualities on the emotional side, or qualities of the heart, while wisdom would stand for the intellectual side, or qualities of the mind.  If one develops only the emotional neglecting the intellectual, one may become a good hearted fool; while to develop only the intellectual side neglecting the emotional may turn one into a hardhearted intellect without feelings for others.  Therefore to be perfect one has to develop both equally.  That is the aim of the Buddhist way of life; in it wisdom and compassion are inseparably linked together…”

So the outcome and focus of Buddhism and the eightfold path is to learn how to bring more compassion and wisdom, the emotional and intellectual securities, to make more balanced actions in our lives.  How would it be possible to act more from compassion and wisdom if we do not know what compassion and wisdom are, or even if we have them? The rest of eightfold path is a recipe of how to see the world and act in it with more compassion and wisdom.

What is Realistic Action?

So what is realistic action?  If you have read the rest of the articles, if you know a little about Buddhism, or if you are alive and breathing, you can probably guess what the goals of realistic action are.

Another quote from the book:

“Rightful Action aims at promoting moral, honourable and peaceful conduct.  It admonishes us that we should abstain from destroying life, from stealing, from dishonest dealings,  from illegitimate sexual intercourse, and that we should also help others to lead a peaceful and honourable life in the right way.”

Again, I would substitute the words “right and rightful” with realistic, but even with this difference the goals are pretty simple.   Realistic action is an end to a means of a path of compassion and wisdom.

Not too shabby.

Would I do it again?

Absolutely.  I would recommend exploring this stuff for anyone of any faith, or in my case no faith   It has brought about for me a different view of the world, given me new set of tools, and dusted off some compassion and wisdom that I already had.  It is good stuff.

Namaste

Articles that may interest you:

More Dharma Voyager’s Buddhism Explorations

What the Buddha Taught: Revised and Expanded Edition with Texts from Suttas and Dhammapada

ISBN: 0802130313
ISBN-13: 9780802130310

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