the 8 fold path for a happy life explained simply and clearly. This is one of the tools for happiness provided by the Happiness Alliance @happycount.org
6. Unavoidable Suffering
Being with people you do not want to be with
Not being with people you want to be with
Having experiences you do not want to have
Not having experiences you want to have
10. The Fourth Noble Truth
4 The path to relief from suffering
is the Eightfold Path
11. Step One on the Eightfold Path
Wise Understanding
See things as they really are
(clear seeing)
12. Dependent Origination
How we experience life & where we often get stuck
seeing things differently from what they are
Senses & sense objects
Perceptions
Feeling
Thinking
Consciousness
13. Step Two on the Eightfold Path
Wise Intention
Let go of Anger
Let go of Greed
Let go of Ignorance
14. Step Three on the Eightfold Path
Wise Speech
Speak the truth
Speak with compassion
Give praise
Speak to help and benefit others
15. Step Four on the Eightfold Path
Wise Action
Be Compassionate
Give – time, gifts, love…
Protect life
16. Wise Action & the Five Precepts
Do not kill
Do not take what is not freely given
Do not use sexual behavior in a way that harms
Do not engage in harsh, false or idle speech (and no gossip)
Do not use intoxicants
17. Step Five on the Eightfold Path
Wise Livelihood
Engage in moral work
Do no harm to others
Do no harm to yourself
18. Wise Livelihood
Do no work involving gambling
Do no work involving prostitution
Do no work involving intoxicants
Do no work involving arms
Do no work involving killing, stealing or lying
19. Step Six on the Eightfold Path
Wise Effort
Avoid that which will lead to suffering
Encourage that which will lead to happiness
20. Wise Effort
When troublesome
thoughts come up, ignore
them. It that does not
work, observe them arise,
observe the feelings,
thought process and then
observe when it fades
away. Or change your
focus to wholesome
thoughts.
Practice loving-kindness
meditation, focus on the
outcome of activities you
know will harm you or
others, meditate on the
unattractive parts of
something or someone
you lust over, focus on
something simple like your
breath.
21. Step Seven on the Eightfold Path
Mindfulness
Be present every moment
24. Ill-will
Desire
Sloth & torpor
Restlessness
Doubt
Antidotes to the Five Hindrances
Loving kindness, give that person a gift
Think about consequences or ugly parts
Walk, look at light, up your determination
Focus on breath, focus on the thoughts
Talk to someone else who practices
25. Step Eight on the Eightfold Path
Concentration
Be present with all that is
all the time
26. The 10 Fetters
1. Personality
2. Doubt
3. Attachment to ritual
4. Desire
5. Ill will
6. Desire to go beyond human consciousness
7. Desire to be beyond a material form
8. Conceit
9. Restlessness
10. Ignorance
(ignorance is not directly realizing he 4 noble truths)
27. The Four Stages of Enlightenment
1. Destroy any of first 3 fetters
2. Weaken desire or ill will
3. Complete eradication of desire or ill will
4. Destroy any of last 5 fetters
Fruition of 1st
state when you destroy all three first fetters
Fruition of 2nd
state when you weaken both desire and ill will
Fruition of 3rd
state when you completely eradicate both desire and ill will
Fruition of 4th
state when you destroy all of the last five fetters.