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Transcribed
by Frances Collins
Edited by Devin Ashwood
The cosmic
vision of the Buddha Shakiamuni is that there are two modes of existence
open to living beings - two and only two with no in between.
One mode is called the circle, samsara. The other is called cessation,
nirvana. These are the two ways that we can live. Practicing the
eightfold path is the realization of nirvana. Not practicing the
eightfold path is the realization of samsara. The eightfold path
is what I often speak of as being upright. Being upright is the
eightfold path.
Being upright realizes nirvana. Not being upright realizes samsara.
The eightfold path, being upright, is not messing with samsara.
Not messing with samsara is nirvana. Messing with nirvana is samsara.
The course of learning how to stop messing with samsara and thus
realize the uncreated, unmade, unfabricated nirvana is the eightfold
path. Nirvana is the un-messing, uncreated way of responding to
life, even life in samsara. Nirvana can exist in the middle of samsara.
The fourth noble truth was first spoken of as the eightfold noble
path leading to the cessation of suffering. The fourth truth is
the eightfold path leading to the realization of nirvana - the cessation
of suffering.
Later
disciples of Buddha would say that the eightfold path is the way
of realizing nirvana. The eightfold path leads to and is the realization
of the cessation of suffering. The first aspect of the eightfold
path is called right view or right understanding. It is the eye
of the path. It is the guide dog for the blind. It is also the ear
of the path and the nose of the path, the tongue and the body of
the path. Right view sees, looks at, and meditates upon the four
noble truths. It looks at the path. It looks at all the other aspects
of the path, watches them and guides them. It also looks at the
other truths. It watches suffering. It watches the cause of suffering.
It sees the end of suffering. It looks at samsara and looks at nirvana
at the same time. It sees the relationship between samsara and nirvana.
It sees delusion and it sees enlightenment ….at the same time.
This is right view. It just sees. It doesn’t prefer nirvana
over delusion, nirvana over samsara. It sees both at the same time.
It sees the first truth of suffering. It sees this is the truth
of suffering. It sees it all the time.
It sees this is the condition for suffering. It sees this is the
end of suffering. It sees this is the realization of the end of
suffering. It sees that. This is right view. Right view sees this
in the present. Right now, right view is to see the first truth.
Do you
see right now the first truth?
Do you see the truth of suffering right now?
Do you see right now that in brief, the truth of suffering is that
to see the self and the five aggregates as separate is suffering?
Do you see that right now?
Do you see right now that seeing yourself as separate from any other
living being is suffering?
Do you see that?
Do you feel that?
Do you smell that?
Do you touch that?
Do you taste that?
Right now!
Do you see the condition for the arising of suffering?
Do you see the delusion that you’re separate from other beings
as the condition of suffering?
Do you see the craving for something other than this as the condition
for suffering?
Do you see it right now?
Do you see right now that the abandonment of the delusion that you
are separate from other beings, that the abandonment of the delusion
that you are separate from your own five aggregates will be cessation
of suffering?
Do you see that right now?
Do you see that seeing that is the way of realizing the cessation
of suffering?
Do you see that not seeing that is the condition for endless suffering?
Do you see that?
If you see all that, this is called right view.
Do you see that?
Do you hear that?
Do you see that abandoning any kind of manipulation, any kind of
messing with what’s happening is the realization of freedom,
peace and the end of suffering?
This is called right view. Right view sees, right view hears, right
view smells, right view tastes the laws of karma. It sees how karma
drives the wheel of suffering. It sees. It studies karma. It studies
the delusion of separateness that gives rise to the delusion of
individual action. It watches the action. It sees the result. It
sees the suffering caused by this. It sees the response to suffering.
It watches this wheel of karmic misery. It sees the laws of karma.
It studies them. It sees that rebirth is necessary in order to understand
these laws. This is right view. It sees the other seven aspects
of the eightfold path. It watches them and it sees that they’re
operating all of the time. It sees if there is right thinking, if
there is right speech. It looks to see if there is right action,
if there is right livelihood. Is there right mindfulness? Is there
right effort? Is there right concentration? It watches. It looks
for the other seven. It sees the other seven….right now.
Do you see the other seven right now? If you do this is called right
view. If you don’t and you want right view, open your eyes
and see the other seven right now. Right view is the guide. It’s
the teacher. It provides the curriculum of study of freedom. It
doesn’t overlook what must be studied in order to be free
of suffering. Right view sees the laws of karma operating right
now and sees the dharma in the midst of the karma. Dharma is the
way the karma is working.
Do you
see the karma?
Do you see the dharma?
Right view is moral development in the midst of karma and the observation
of the laws of karma.
Right view is the guide.
Right view is the guiding aspect of wisdom.
Do you have right view to guide you in your moment to moment practice
of the eightfold path?
Do you have right view now?
Is there right view now?
Would
anyone like some postural adjustment?
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