DEVELOPMENT OF THE EIGHTFOLD PATH IN THE DISCIPLE

CONFIDENCE AND RIGHT-MINDEDNESS (2nd Step)

SUPPOSE a householder, or his son, or someone reborn in any
family, hears the law; and after hearing the law he is filled with
confidence in the Perfect One. And filled with this confidence, he
thinks: "Full of hindrances is household life, a refuse heap; but
pilgrim life is like the open air. Not easy is it, when one lives at
home, to fulfill in all points the rules of the holy life. How, if now
I were to cut off hair and beard, put on the yellow robe and go
forth from home to the homeless life?" And in a short time, having
given up his more or less extensive possessions, having forsaken a
smaller or larger circle of relations, he cuts off hair and beard,
puts on the yellow robe, and goes forth from home to the homeless
life.

MORALITY (3rd, 4th, 5th Step)

Having thus left the world, he fulfills the rules of the monks. He
avoids the killing of living beings and abstains from it. Without
stick or sword, conscientious, full of sympathy, he is anxious for the
welfare of all living beings.-He avoids stealing, and abstains from
taking what is not given to him. Only what is given to him he takes,
waiting till it is given; and he lives with a heart honest and
pure.-He avoids unchastity, living chaste, resigned, and keeping aloof
from sexual intercourse, the vulgar way.-He avoids lying and
abstains from it. He speaks the truth, is devoted to the truth,
reliable, worthy of confidence, is not a deceiver of men.-He avoids
tale-bearing and abstains from it. What he has heard here, he does not
repeat there, so as to cause dissension there; and what he has heard
there, he does not repeat here, so as to cause dissension here. Thus
he unites those that are divided, and those that are united he
encourages; concord gladdens him, he delights and rejoices in concord,
and it is concord that he spreads by his words.-He avoids harsh
language and abstains from it. He speaks such words as are gentle,
soothing to the ear, loving, going to the heart, courteous and dear,
and agreeable to many.- He avoids vain talk and abstains from it. He
speaks at the right time, in accordance with facts, speaks what is
useful, speaks about the law and the disciple; his speech is like a
treasure, at the right moment accompanied by arguments, moderate,
and full of sense.
He keeps aloof from dance, song, music and the visiting of shows;
rejects flowers, perfumes, ointments, as well as every kind of
adornment and embellishment. High and gorgeous beds he does not use.
Gold and silver he does not accept. Raw corn and meat he does not
accept. Women and girls he does not accept. He owns no male and female
slaves, owns no goats, sheep, fowls, pigs, elephants, cows or
horses, no land and goods. He does not go on errands and do the duties
of a messenger. He keeps aloof from buying and selling things. He
has nothing to do with false measures, metals and weights. He avoids
the crooked ways of bribery, deception and fraud. He keeps aloof
from stabbing, beating, chaining, attacking, plundering and
oppressing.
He contents himself with the robe that protects his body, and with
the alms with which he keeps himself alive. Wherever he goes, he is
provided with these two things; just as a winged bird, in flying,
carries his wings along with him. By fulfilling this noble Domain of
Morality he feels in his heart an irreproachable happiness.

CONTROL OF THE SENSES (6th Step)

Now, in perceiving a form with the eye- a sound with the ear- an
odor with the nose- a taste with the tongue- a touch with the body- an
object with his mind, he sticks neither to the whole, nor to its
details. And he tries to ward off that which, by being unguarded in
his senses, might give rise to evil and unwholesome states, to greed
and sorrow; he watches over his senses, keep his senses under control.
By practicing this noble "Control of the Senses" he feels in his heart
an unblemished happiness.

ATTENTIVENESS AND CLEAR CONSCIOUSNESS (7th Step)

Clearly conscious is he in his going and coming; clearly conscious
in looking forward and backward; clearly conscious in bending and
stretching his body; clearly conscious in eating, drinking, chewing
and tasting; dearly conscious in discharging excrement and urine;
clearly conscious in walking, standing, sitting, falling asleep and
awakening; clearly conscious in speaking and keeping silent.
Now, being equipped with this lofty Morality, equipped with this
noble Control of the Senses, and filled with this noble "Attentiveness
and Clear Consciousness, he chooses a secluded dwelling in the forest,
at the foot of a tree, on a mountain, in a cleft, in a rock cave, on a
burial ground, on a woody table-land, in the open air, or on a heap of
straw. Having returned from his alms-round, after the meal, he sits
himself down with legs crossed, body erect, with attentiveness fixed
before him.

ABSENCE OF THE FIVE HINDRANCES

He has cast away Lust; he dwells with a heart free from lust; from
lust he cleanses his heart.
He has cast away Ill-will; he dwells with a heart free from
ill-will; cherishing love and compassion toward all living beings,
he cleanses his heart from ill-will.
He has cast away Torpor and Dullness; he dwells free from torpor and
dullness; loving the light, with watchful mind, with clear
consciousness, he cleanses his mind from torpor and dullness.
He has cast away Restlessness and Mental Worry; dwelling with mind
undisturbed, with heart full of peace, he cleanses his mind from
restlessness and mental worry.
He has cast away Doubt; dwelling free from doubt, full of confidence
in the good, he cleanses his heart from doubt.

THE TRANCES (8th Step)

He has put aside these five Hindrances and come to know the
paralyzing corruptions of the mind. And far from sensual
impressions, far from unwholesome things, he enters into the Four
Trances.

INSIGHT (1st Step)

But whatsoever there is of feeling, perception, mental formation, or
consciousness-all these phenomena he regards as "impermanent,"
"subject to pain," as infirm, as an ulcer, a thorn, a misery, a
burden, an enemy, a disturbance, as empty and "void of an Ego"; and
turning away from these things, he directs his mind towards the
abiding, thus: "This, verily, is the Peace, this is the Highest,
namely the end of all formations, the forsaking of every substratum of
rebirth, the fading away of craving; detachment, extinction: Nirvana."
And in this state he reaches the "Cessation of Passions."