Analysis of the Path
SN 45.8
One time at Savatthī the Buddha said,
“Seekers, listen closely, I will analyze the noble eightfold path:
The path is right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right lucid unification.
Right view is knowledge of suffering, the origin of suffering, the ending of suffering, and the practice that leads to this end.
Right thought refers to thoughts of letting go, good will, and harmlessness.
Right speech means avoiding false, divisive, or harsh speech, as well as pointless talk.
Right action means to avoid killing, stealing, and sexual wrongdoing.
Right livelihood is when a noble student avoids dishonest and harmful means of making a living.
Right effort is when a seeker generates desire, eagerness and makes an effort to prevent unwholesome qualities from arising. They make an effort to give up unwholesome qualities they already have. They also work hard to attain the wholesome qualities they do not have. And they try to make sure wholesome qualities they do have are not lost, but grow, mature and become perfected.
Right mindfulness is when a seeker meditates by observing an aspect of the body, intensely, mindfully and clearly knowing, rid of desire and aversion for the world.
Likewise, they observe aspects of feeling tones, the heart-mind and principles. They do so intensely, mindfully and aware, rid of desire and aversion for the world.
Right unification is when a seeker is secluded from sensual pleasures and unwholesome qualities. Then they enter into the first meditation, which has these qualities: bliss and happiness born of solitude, thinking and evaluating.
When thinking and evaluating disappear, they enter and remain in the second meditation. It has these qualities: bliss and happiness born of lucid unification, inner clarity, confidence and oneness.
When joy fades away, they enter and remain in the third meditation, where they are equanimous, mindful and aware. The noble ones state that this is a peaceful and happy state.
When one gives up all pleasure and pain, happiness and sadness, they enter and remain in the fourth meditation. Here there is just pure mindful equanimity.”