Eastern Philosopher Letter
Buddha disciple,
Buddha desires to aid all persons in the search of freedom from suffering; it is a natural desire to pursue happiness, and a follower of the Noble Eightfold Path will realize personal happiness is not achievable without taking into account the happiness of others first.
The Noble Eightfold Path is referred to as the Middle way as it shuns extreme pursuits of happiness because these extremes have no lasting affect; following the Middle Way leads to tranquil enlightenment. Buddha teaches the Eightfold Path through wisdom using right understanding and right thought; morality using right speech, right action, and right livelihood; and meditation using right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.
The Noble Eightfold Path is the Fourth Noble Truth: the only way to end suffering. All have knowledge, understanding, and familiarity with suffering and unpleasantness as is the nature of our cycles of existence; however, these living conditions are preventable because we understand how they come about; we believe it can be conquered; and we are prepared to follow the Noble Eightfold Path to freedom. The Eightfold Path is expressed as 'right,' meaning exalted, unmatched, unbeatable, untouchable, and perfect. They are 'right,' in that they compel the freedom from suffering, yet they are not an expression of external judgments, rather they are the cause that accomplishes the effect.
Understanding can be separated into two distinct categories: the conformist understanding which is scholarly in nature and the ultimate understanding which seeks to view things by their true nature, without the hollowness of providing conventional classifications. Right Understanding is the analysis, observation, and examination of things the way they really are which is only possible when the mind has been uncluttered of impurities and is completely engaged and matured by meditation.
Right...
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