Fruit of the Contemplative Life

Fruit of the contemplative life: => Ecstatic Buddhism => : Tad February 08, 2022, 08:12:52 AM

: Developing Right View
: Tad February 08, 2022, 08:12:52 AM
How should we approach developing right view? It is the first step of the noble 8th fold path. Undoubtedly, it is the most important one since it builds the foundation for the rest of spiritual practice.
: Re: Developing Right View
: Jhanananda February 08, 2022, 01:00:27 PM
Good question, Tad.  I think right view connects us back to the Four Noble Truths, so when we realize craving is the cause of our suffering, and following the ALL of Noble Eightfold Path, not just pieces of it, will bring us out of craving, then we have right view.
: Re: Developing Right View
: Tad February 10, 2022, 10:31:54 AM
Thank you, Jhananda, for the clear summary of right view. Sometimes I like to look at right view as assembling a puzzle by investigating reality. Of course, it all leads to the four noble truths like you said. Once we have most of the picture assembled, even if our mind is still clouded, I think that is the point where we really get on the path. At that point we know what needs to be done to finish assembling the puzzle and seeing the picture with full clarity.
: Re: Developing Right View
: Jhanananda February 10, 2022, 02:36:05 PM
Agreed, but we always have to be alert for those who have corrupted the dhamma into a 5-fold or 7-fold path, because with an incomplete practice path there is no attainment.