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the 8FoldPath decribes 'right this,right that' but is there such thing as morally 'right and wrong'
Ok, of course i do believe and *try* to follow the 8fold path.
But deep deep down I've always thought that nothin in life is *morally right or morally wrong* I believe everything is an oppinion.
So when the 8 fold path describes *the right etc etc......do you think a better word would have been *skillful* so for example:
Skillful view
Skillful thinking
Skillful speech
Skillful action......and so on.
Because I don't think there is a RIGHT way to do things coz everyones different. But there could be a *SKILLFUL Way* to do things.
A friend is reading a book by 'Bhante Henepola Gunaratana' which he talks about *skillful instead of right*
What are your thoughts??
But deep deep down I've always thought that nothin in life is *morally right or morally wrong* I believe everything is an oppinion.
So when the 8 fold path describes *the right etc etc......do you think a better word would have been *skillful* so for example:
Skillful view
Skillful thinking
Skillful speech
Skillful action......and so on.
Because I don't think there is a RIGHT way to do things coz everyones different. But there could be a *SKILLFUL Way* to do things.
A friend is reading a book by 'Bhante Henepola Gunaratana' which he talks about *skillful instead of right*
What are your thoughts??
0
Comments
IMO, Right in the sense of Dharma isn't a moral concept, it is a pragmatic concept about suffering reduction.
So its more like "If you want to reduce Dukka in the world (internal and external) then the Right things to do are....."
And moreover you shouldn't believe that they are the Right things to do to reduce Dukka because others have told you etc, but because you can see for yourself bu understanding and practising.
So its more like "If you want to reduce Dukka in the world (internal and external) then the Right things to do are....."
''makes sense thanks''
the word "right" means according to the goal of peace/Nirvana (rather than an arbitary judgment)
Bhante Henepola Gunaratana has skilfully & correctly said it sides with what is 'skilful'
but the word 'right' comes from the Pali 'sammā', which literally means 'right', 'correct', 'proper', 'thorough'
however, the essence of the matter is 'right' is what is skilful
kind regards
One option would be to simply see what other people are translating it as. I have heard 'harmonious' before, and now you are suggesting 'skillful,' which are both satisfactory. Perhaps one might also think about which word satisfies their mind the most. I have come to think of it as a 'conducive' path, because when you look at it they are eight factors that when cultivated sufficiently will 'conduce' to the realization of final Nibbana.
-Tikal
If it were a case of anything and everything ultimately leading to freedom from suffering then the Buddha would not have bothered teaching anything. But, the Buddha taught us the Noble Eightfold Path because it is the Path which he re-discovered as the path which leads to the End of Suffering (Nirvana).
It is true, everyone is different, everyone is entitled to their own opinion...but...some people appear to create far less problems for themselves than others. Some rare people seemingly are unaffected by events and circumstances that would upset the average person. It is not by chance that we end suffering, it is through the practice of the Noble Eightfold Path.
Metta,
Guy
Hope that earth is always a lovely places for all of us and it is your onus to make it happens through the rights. :thumbsup:
google "5 precepts" and "10 wholesome actions"
The easy option, saves the trouble of further investigation.