why do Buddhists believe that following the eightfold path leads to a better life?
Answers
Buddhism's Eightfold Path
and how it leads to a better life.
In Buddhism, the followers believe in the eightfold path of life for a better living. This was originally laid down by Lord Buddha.
This eightfold path includes - the right view, the right intention, the right speech, the right action, the right livelihood, the right effort, the right mindfulness and the right concentration. By following this path, the Buddhism followers believe that their sufferings would come to an end and they can lead a healthy and happy lifestyle.
Answer:
Buddhism developed out of Hinduism in the sixth century B.C. For a Buddhist salvation is reaching Nirvana. Nirvana is a transcendental, blissful, spiritual state of nothingness--you become a Buddha.
The Noble Eightfold Path is:
1. Right Understanding: accepting the Four Noble Truths.
- The existence of suffering;
- the cause of suffering;
- the end of suffering;
- and the end of pain.
2. Right Resolve: renounce the pleasures of the body. Change your lifestyle so that you harm no living creatures and have kind thoughts for everyone.
3. Right Speech: do not gossip, lie or slander anyone.
4. Right Action: do not kill, steal or engage in an unlawful sexual act.
5. Right Occupation (Right Livelihood): avoid working at any job that could harm someone.
6. Right Effort: heroically work to eliminate evil from your life. Through your own effort develop good conduct and a clean mind.
7. Right Contemplation: make your self aware of your deeds, words and thoughts so that you can be free of desire and sorrow.
8. Right Meditation: train your mind to focus on a single object without wavering so as to develop a calm mind capable of concentration.
Following the Noble Eightfold Path requires that a person do the above eight things. Nirvana (Salvation) is through what a Buddhist does. It is through human works, what a person does with his life.