Noble Eightfold Path

This is the best, meaning most easily understood, version of the eightfold path that I've seen. Buddhish says these are from Analysis of the Path (Maggavibhanga Sutta).

1. Right view: We begin by accepting the postulates laid out in the Four Noble Truths, in order to gain proper understanding of the mission before us.

2. Right intention: We then strongly commit ourselves to Awakening. Usually, this aspect also involves a commitment to avoid dwelling in anger or committing acts of violence.

3. Right speech: We vow to avoid telling lies, using divisive or abusive speech, and engaging in “idle chatter.”

4. Right action: We vow to avoid killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct. (The latter is defined differently whether you’re a celibate monk or a married householder and is frequently updated to reflect local cultural norms.)

5. Right livelihood: We resolve to make a living in an ethically sound way that is free from dishonesty.

6. Right effort: We make efforts to maintain the “skillful” qualities we have already and to cultivate new ones. We also try to overcome the “unskillful” qualities we have already and to avoid taking on new ones. Skillful and unskillful qualities refer to states of mind and behavioral patterns that either help or hinder one’s progress on the Path.

7. Right mindfulness: We reflect on the body and its sensations and the mind and its qualities. This practice is usually described in English as “meditation” and is a topic I’ll have a lot more to say about in future chapters.

8. Right concentration: Through deeper practice of focused meditation, we learn to produce certain states of intense concentration, which facilitate our realization of Awakening.

These eight aspects are presented in a different order or given different interpretations in different Buddhist traditions. One common way of talking about them is to divide them up into the “three trainings”: wisdom (steps 1–2 on the above list), morality (steps 3–5), and mental cultivation (steps 6–8).