Developing Right View

[Tad]

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.

[Jhanananda]

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.

[Tad]

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.

[Jhanananda]

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.