Walking on the Stable Path of the Eightfold Path
1
The Buddha’s Eightfold Path,
is a safe and stable path for the mind.
By stepping onto it, your heart will not encounter troubles, nor the causes of troubles;
you will not encounter suffering, nor the causes of suffering.
By stepping onto it,
even if you encounter troubles, you will know how to deal with them;
even if you encounter suffering, you will know how to escape from it.
Sila (moral conduct) is the initial cause of eliminating troubles;
Samadhi (meditative concentration) deals with arising troubles;
Panna (wisdom) extinguishes all subject-object dualities.
Following the Eightfold Path,
your heart,
will always walk safely and steadily on that path free from suffering.
2
Regardless of whether you have attained enlightenment,
by adhering to the Buddha’s teachings,
you can walk on a stable and peaceful path for the mind.
Do not speak hurtful words; only speak gentle and compassionate words;
Do not engage in unwholesome deeds; only do things that benefit others;
Do not pursue improper livelihoods; only engage in professions that align with righteous laws;
What kind of troubles or sufferings could arise from this?
Guard your body,
guard your speech,
guard your mind;
by diligently guarding these three at all times and in all places,
you will be a peaceful person.
3
Even if troubles and sufferings arise,
there is nothing to fear.
According to the Buddha’s teachings on “Samadhi,”
we have ways to deal with them.
With right diligence, counteract distraction and laziness;
with right concentration, address thoughts that wander everywhere;
with mindful remembrance of the correct state, avoid letting the mind fall into ignorance and illusion.
Regardless of whether you possess wisdom,
as long as you act according to what the Buddha said,
you can certainly distance yourself from distress.
Sila is a treasure; Samadhi is another;
both are very effective.
4
If you wish to thoroughly eliminate troubles,
or completely sever their roots,
the Buddha also provides methods and reference experiences for you,
which is “Panna.”
How can one embody wisdom?
Through right view;
How can one realize wisdom?
Through right thought.
Right view is the view of all Buddhas;
Right thought is the thought of all Buddhas;
but being able to think correctly must lead to seeing as a Buddha does.
5
Walking on the final link of the Eightfold Path—
which is also its initial link—
you will bathe in the light of Prajna (wisdom),
while witnessing absolute objectivity and absolute subjectivity,
seeing everything while also extinguishing everything.
Always engaging in right thought,
without any delusions;
everywhere there is right view,
without clinging to any views.
Walking on this stable road of the Eightfold Path,
walking in its radiance,
how wonderful it is!
That is living in utmost happiness among humans.
The luckiest people in this world are those who walk on the Eightfold Path;
they are safe, stable, composed, joyful, transcendent;
what a beautiful life, what a blissful dream—
because they encountered the Buddha, because they walk on this path.
From now on, you are someone unrelated to suffering, troubles, ignorance, etc.
6
The safest road in this world is the Eightfold Path;
when you travel upon it,
your body becomes an excellent vehicle while your mind serves as a reliable driver;
here there are never accidents;
old age, sickness, death—suffering and sorrow do not exist anymore.
The Eightfold Path is a route that avoids pain;
it leads toward liberation;
it reveals truth directly;
it guides one toward tranquil Nirvana.
Those walking on this path—
regardless of their capabilities or whether they have attained enlightenment—
are always among those who are safest, happiest, and most joyful.
The Eightfold Path is a celestial route;
it’s an invisible way created by the Buddha for sentient beings to escape suffering and attain joy.
Sila (moral conduct), Samadhi (meditative concentration), Panna (wisdom) are different stages along this road—
meeting various needs at different mental levels from beginning to highest fulfillment.
The disciples of Buddha simply walk along this Eightfold Path—
following where he has walked until reaching where he has reached—
living lives filled with wishes fulfilled.
Walk on this stable road of the Eightfold Path!
by – Taiwan Fearless Tathagata Ya Great Perfection Zen Center