The Eightfold Path as the Way of Salvation

The eightfold path (astàngikamarga in Sanskrit) is one of the main foundations of Buddhism. The Buddha of the Enlightened One proclaimed him already in the first sermon on the Wheel of the Law, which explains the path to the cessation of suffering and to self-awakening. This path is also called noble, but also medial, as it lies in the middle between the two extreme Buddhist doctrines in relation to passions that torment the soul and lead to suffering: total indulgence to them and extreme asceticism leading to self-torture and mortification of the flesh.

The path that the Buddha of Gautama proclaimed consists in the gradual retreat from the "three roots of vice" (malice, ignorance and thirst) and the gradual approach to insight into the true reality of all things and, thus, to liberation and enlightenment, that is, true Salvation.

In Buddhist symbolism, the octal path is often represented as a wheel with eight spokes, each of which means one of its elements. At the same time, this path is the last of four truths, called noble ones.

What do these eight spokes mean, through which the path proclaimed by the Buddha is called octal?

This, first, correct views, that is, the knowledge of the four noble truths.

Secondly, the right intentions, that is, the true desire to follow them.

Third, correct speech.

Further on the list there are such actions which in Buddhism also are called correct: correct actions, a way of life, diligence and efforts, comprehension and concentration.

One can divide the octal path into three main components, which lead the human being to salvation: the culture of behavior, the culture of meditation and the culture of wisdom.

The culture of behavior includes right thoughts, words and actions. They constitute the basic precepts of Buddhism for believers - an analogue of the Christian decalogue: do not kill, do not take what is not yours, do not tell lies, do not commit adultery, do not "get drunk" with pride, and also contains a list of true virtues: generosity, humility, Purification and others.

If we follow only the correct culture of behavior, this will only lead to a temporary relief of karma, but will not free from samsara (the cycle of rebirths).

The culture of meditation includes a true awareness of the world and itself, the full concentration of thoughts. In fact, this is a system of special exercises with which you can achieve inner peace, move away from the hassles of the world and curb your passions.

But without a culture of behavior and culture of wisdom, the culture of meditation will only turn into gymnastics, which can only improve the body's well-being.

Culture of wisdom is the right views and intentions, knowledge about the noble truths of Buddhism.

But, as they say, the road will be mastered by the going, and therefore just the right knowledge is not enough to be at the end of the path of Salvation. It is possible to break the chain of samsara and attain nirvana, that is, complete liberation from samsara and true enlightenment, only when you fully follow all the elements of the eightfold path. Passing along this ancient path, which is not in vain still called the "true path", one can, without outside help, attain Enlightenment and become a Buddha.

This is how the path of salvation, the eightfold path, describes itself-the Buddha of Gautama: "And I saw the ancient way through which truly self-awakened ancient times passed ... And when I walked this road, I realized the true knowledge of aging and death (that is, suffering), the true Knowledge of the origin of aging and death (that is, desire), the true knowledge of the cessation of aging and death (that is, the rejection of desires) and the true knowledge of the path that leads to the cessation of aging and death (that is, the path to nirvana) ... Having received this true knowledge , I opened it and yet Hall this way to the monks, nuns and secular people ... ".