My Eightfold Path

so far, being immersed in all psychology courses for my last semester in college has been relaxed, contemplative and an encouraging premonition for spring 2012. for my History of Psychology course, we’ve begun by studying the works of Lao Tzu and Siddhartha Gautama (already very targeted to my areas of interest).

Part of my “homework” (actually very calming, difficult for me to lump this in with groan-inducing worksheets and the like) assignment for today was to interpret Buddhism’s Eightfold Path with my own views.

For me, right views means harboring acceptance toward and learning from others’ perspectives and incorporating these views into your own. With the great deal of uncertainty this mortal life holds, it is arrogant for one to believe his initial viewpoint on an issue is the only truth. An unwillingness to have an open mind also limits mental and spiritual growth, and makes forming strong connections with anyone but oneself nearly impossible.

For me, right aspirations means following a path that will benefit one’s own happiness without diminishing the happiness of others. Even better is aspiring toward an end facilitating both the happiness of oneself and of others.

For me, right speech means conveying words of respect and using speech as a tool to form close, healthy connections with other people.

For me, right conduct means finding enjoyment in the process of bettering one’s surroundings, appreciating the gifts provided to you by others and your environment, and treating oneself with respect.

For me, right livelihood means the love of another person. Sustenance, shelter, clothing and some other provisions are necessary for one to exist, but reciprocal love is essential to a rich life.

For me, right effort means applying your capabilities to share joy or help others, not with ulterior motives or to demonstrate your superior ability at the task involved. A lack of effort altogether leads to nothing but a cycle of lethargy and decline in self-respect. However, productivity may lose its healthy benefits when measured on the standards of others, as this can actually diminish one’s sense of worth.

For me, right mindfulness means accepting the past has happened and is unchanging, the future is unpredictable, and the only true capability of the individual is to savor each moment of the present.

For me, right contemplation means sharing one’s thoughts with others, whether it be speculation on the various facts of the world, or how one can better their environment or reflection on what brings one joy. Internal contemplation is beautiful, but the exchange of these thoughts sparks an even deeper level of understanding, as the introduction of another person’s perspective unearths even more facets of that idea to ponder