Tibetan buddhism and the eightfold path

[ryu]

Hi friends,

Ive noticed in a few tibetan buddhist books that i have read the four noble truths always gets a mention but the eightfold rarely does. The eightold path is the fourth noble truth.

Is the eightold path..right wisdom,right morality and right meditation in tibetan buddhism.


Thanks friends,

xx

Ryu

[dzoki]

Is the eightold path..right wisdom,right morality and right meditation in tibetan buddhism.
Ryu

It certainly is, however the emphasis lies more on the the paths utilizing six paramitas:
generosity, morality, patience, perseverance, meditation and wisdom.

Apart from sutras that were translated into Tibetan form Sanskrit the eightfold path is explained and mentioned also in some tibetan text books for instance Jewel Ornament of Liberation. But as I said above the emphasis is more on the approach of the 5 paths and 6 paramitas. One can aslo subsume the 8fold path into six paramitas in the following way:
1.correct view is included in the paramita of wisdom
2.correct thought is likewise included in the paramita of wisdom
3,4,5.correct speech, correct action and correct livelyhood are included in the paramita of morality, generosity and patience.
6. correct effort is included in the paramita of perseverance and paramita of meditation
7., 8. correct mindfulness and correct concentration are again included in paramita of meditation.

[dzoki]

Just to add one thing, in the post above I treated the noble eightfold path as it is seen from theravadin perspective, from the perspective of Tibetan buddhism, the eightfold path is practiced on the 4th of 5 paths, on the path of meditation,
while from the theravadin perspective the eightfold noble path is engaged from the very beginning.
So that is one difference which ensues in a bit different interpretation of the four noble truths. Where in theravadin form it states explictly that the truth of the path is the eightfold noble path. While in Tibetan buddhist version it is simply stated that there is a path that leads out of suffering which is to be relied upon.

[LastLegend]

Buddhism has never departed from 8 fold paths. It's ingrained in there. For example, one must fosters a right view or understanding if one practices giving or dana. Or practicing right view.

[Lhug-Pa]

In Tantra and Dzogchen there are Ten Paramita's, and as each of the first Ten Bodhisattva Bhumi's is completed, a corresponding Paramita is perfected.

On the Eightfold Noble Path, from teachings of H.H. the Dalai Lama:

http://www.berzinarchives.com/web/en/ar ... nd_ei.html

Additional teachings on the Eightfold Noble Path:

http://gnosticradio.org/lectures/course ... fold-path/

[catmoon]

Thanks for the references, Lhugpa. I'll be spending the next hour or two on them. I'm big on the Eightfold Path, but do not often come across high caliber teachings on the subject.

[Lhug-Pa]

You're welcome Catmoon