The noble path eightfold is, in the Bouddhisme, the way which leads to the suspension of the suffering, of the attachment (Dukkha). It is also called Sentier of the medium, because it avoids the two extremes which are the continuation of happiness in the dependence of the pleasure of the directions and the continuation of the happiness in practice of the Ascétisme and of the Mortification.

The Buddha having made the experiment of these two extremes, discovered by experiment the noble path “which makes known vision and, which leads to the calm one, to the major vision, with the Nirvāna”.

Fourth of the Four noble truths, the path comprises eight members gathered in three parts. These eight members are not followed sequentially but simultaneously by the disciple. The three parts (wisdom, ethics and meditation) form the way triples , another expression of the Buddhist way (these various expressions are in particular there to help not to see the things in a too rigid or structured way, and to give various lightings on a practice which, primarily, must be a practice integrated ). The eight members sont :

1. prajñâ , the sagesse :

   1. sammā ditthi  : comprehension right, or vision right (of reality, the four noble truths)   ;
   2. sammā samkappa  : thought right, or emotion right (stripped of hatred, greed and ignorance).
2. shîla , morality, the discipline, the éthique :
   1. sammā vācā  : word right (not to lie, not to sow the discord by its words, not to speak wrongly, not to chatter idly)   ;
   2. sammā kammanta  : action right (respecting the 5 precepts)   ;
   3. sammā ājīva  : right means of existence.
3. samâdhi , meditation, or concentration (there is no satisfactory translation of the samâdhi term in French)  :
   1. sammā vāyāma  : effort right (to surmount what is unfavourable and to undertake what is favorable)   ;
   2. sammā sati  : attention right, or awakening right (of the things, oneself - its body, its emotions, its thoughts -, others, reality)   ;
   3. sammā samādhi  : establishment to be it in the awakening (vipassana).

The term just , the translation most frequent of the term sammā qualifying each stage of the way, is sometimes translated by perfect by authors who find just too restrictive.

The last stage of the way is the sagesse  ; it consists of a direct vision of reality (vipassana), and in particular of the three characteristics of the existence.

See too

Related articles

• average Way

External bonds

Simple: Noble Eightfold Path