8 GOLDEN RULES TO A FULLER LIFE IN 2023
Whatever resolutions you have made for the coming year—be it the almost ubiquitous objective of losing weight or something more creative—all of them have one thing in common: the desire to feel better than we do right now. We frequently misinterpret this need to feel different as a call to action to acquire more things or improve our appearance, among other things.
What if your objective this year was to alter how you feel and interact with the life you've already built, rather than to change your life? Instead of hurriedly moving on to your next work, what if you could truly recognise and savour moments of happiness and peace? What if you could take your time and react to annoyances intentionally rather than reflexively? What if you could truly appreciate every day and breath you are given, regardless of what happens outside of you? What would it feel like to truly awaken?
One of the Buddha's most important teachings is the Noble Eightfold Path. It is essentially a guide for adopting "the middle method," which the Buddha claimed to be the route to enlightenment and the end of suffering. The Four Noble Truths' descriptions of life's difficulties are addressed by the Eightfold Path, which also provides a method for achieving greater fulfilment in any situation we find ourselves in. Below are the 8 golden principles:
RIGHT VIEW
This means accepting reality as it is. It entails having an unbiased understanding of the nature of things. It is our goal to comprehend the Four Noble Truths, the inherent principles that govern everything, including us, and how they benefit us. It entails being able to see our own and the surrounding world's realities clearly.
RIGHT INTENTION
This notion is being conscious of the mental energy—such as appetites, resentments, and hatreds—that motivates our actions. These emotional sensations are not suppressed or denied; rather, we simply accept their occurrence without allowing them to lead to imprudent or cruel behaviour. Additionally, we actively foster our dedication to acting ethically and seize chances to develop personally.
RIGHT SPEECH
This guideline entails being mindful of our language and refraining from lying and hurtful statements. It also include our damaging internal dialogue that is judgmental of ourselves.
Adequate action. This has to do with acting in a way that doesn't hurt oneself or other people. This includes not engaging in any murder, theft, or sexual misbehavior.
RIGHT ACTION
This has to do with behaving in ways that are non-harmful to self and others. This includes no killing, stealing, or sexual misconduct.
RIGHT LIVELIHOOD
This idea entails being deliberate and moral in our means of subsistence. We don't survive by exploiting the misery or harm of others. This idea aims to lessen the harm we cause to others, as well as to make our lives more peaceful and free from guilt or shame.
RIGHT EFFORT
The phrase "right effort" alludes to the idea that in order to nurture goodness in our lives, we must expend effort in the proper amounts and directions. We don't overwork ourselves and burn out, and we're not lazy either. We actively engage in efforts to cultivate traits like joy, equanimity, tranquilly, and concentration while accepting responsibility for our part in the conditions of our lives. We make an effort to do it with delight since it refuels us for the arduous road.
RIGHT MINDFULNESS
The cornerstone precept of right mindfulness is what makes the other tenets of the eightfold path possible. Being mindful involves paying attention to what is happening in the present moment without bias or judgement. It requires paying close attention to what is going on without being influenced by or affected by past experiences, beliefs, expectations, etc.
RIGHT MEDITATION
The practice of mindfulness and the ability to clearly perceive the nature of your own mind come from meditation. Concentration is the focus on one aspect of the experience if mindfulness is the awareness of everything happening at any given time. This is why, while meditating, we frequently pay attention to our breath or a mantra. Practice with meditation improves our ability to focus, enabling us to complete tasks without becoming sidetracked, and with time, leads to deeper realms of consciousness.
It's not as simple as making a few guidelines for yourself as new year's resolutions to adopt an intention to wake up to your life. It is, however, a much more forgiving procedure because all that is necessary is a commitment to a growth process. More than anything else, it involves a change of perspective. You must comprehend and put all eight of the mindset's tenets into practice in order to properly comprehend its meaning.
BEGIN with "right mindfulness" or "right meditation" if you want to immediately start on the eightfold path. One method for practicing "proper mindfulness" is to perform a quick body scan when you get up and when you go to bed as well as look for opportunities to zone out during the day.
You could begin your "proper meditation" practice with a daily five to ten-minute breath meditation. Both mindfulness and meditation are similar to mental strength training, supporting our ability to comprehend and participate in the other levels. You'll notice that as you go through this process, your focus will automatically become more in the present. Your ability to understand, appreciate, and see your life more clearly will grow. You'll become more assured of your own actions and of your influence on the world. You will feel more at ease and be more engaged with the daily wonders that go place in front of your eyes yet are sometimes easily neglected.