Right Thinking in Western Society-Noble Eightfold Path 2

Hello to all,

Buddhist practice in the West is considerably different than in Eastern cultures. Rightfully so because the thought processes, environment, social situations, job opportunities (you get the point) couldn't have been considered when Siddartha sat under the Bodhi tree and reached enlightenment.

The Buddha offered the Eightfold Path in his first Dharma talk, continued to teach it for forty-five years. Near the time of his death he gave a final Dharma teaching and presented the Noble Eightfold Path - Right View, Right Thinking, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Diligence, Right Mindlfulness, and Right Concentration. He taught that the Path should be used intelligently in your daily life. The Buddha also said that all the Eight Elements are interconnected, one having a direct effect on all others.

This is the second of eight articles where I will touch on each one. I will look at each from my own Western perspective. Look at from your own and make a comment. 

"The Heart of Buddha's Teaching" by Thich Nhat Hahn is my source book.

As for me, I am no expert, have no degree, and live the same Western life most of you lead. My intent is to initiate discussion and learn from the viewpoints of others.

The above will look familiar to those of you who read Right View in Western Society-Noble Eightfold Path 1. Please refer back to it if you haven't read it.

RIGHT THINKING - The second teaching of the Path is anchored by Right View. Concurrently, if Right Thinking is strong in us, our Right View will improve. Thinking is our mind speaking with us. Right Thinking will make that conversation more likely to keep us on the Path.

The Buddha - "changing the peg" When a builder finds a weak support on his house, he pulls it away and replaces it with a strong one. Right Thinking does that by replacing an unwholesome thought with a wholesome one.

Descartes - "I think, therefore I am." We can prove we are here because we think. Thich Nhat Hahn concludes the opposite, "I think, therefore I am not." When mind and body are not together we are not truly here.

The four practices of Right Thinking:

1. "Are You Sure?" - Perception is everything. It can lead to wrong thinking, leading to suffering.
2. "What Am I Doing? - Ask youself this question. You are in a hurry sawing through a 2x4 to finish your backyard gazebo. Do you hear the purring sound the saw makes cutting through the wood? The sawdust drifts down and piles up like pale yellow snow. Do you see it? You might be missing something. Be in the moment.
   
3. "Hello, Habit Energy" - My personal favorite. Being aware of this one thing has done more to further my practice than any other. To put it simply, when you recognize a bad habit greet it. It's power will wane.
4. Bodhichitta - Build a structure of love for yourself and others will be able to enter more freely.

To me, Right Thinking is struggling to keep the past in the past, the future something that may, or may not happen. It is keeping myself in the moment, being mindful of my breathing, and letting the present keep me in touch with life. Okay, it confuses me sometimes. Western Society is big on the past formed the present, and the present forming the future. Forget the past and you are doomed to repeat it. We have all heard it thousands of times. 

Everyday I reminded of the past - bills, endlessly repeated media stories, family photos to name a few. The hazy future intrudes - insurance (that what if?), retirement, more media stories. It all makes it difficult to stay focused on the now. To be mindful of just the moment.

In Western Society we are bombarded with images and sounds until we feel they are a natural part of life. Can you turn off the CD player that runs in your head? Can you find a silent moment, internally and externally?

How do you do it? How do you keep your thoughts in the moment? I look forward to learning from all of you.

I ask this from a Buddhist perspective but the Buddha taught to respect all faiths. Right Thinking is a foundation in all religions and teachings.

Namaste, Wayne