I was deep into creating my online course “Love Your Enemies” when the seriousness of the coronavirus crisis hit. This put me a bit behind in responding to the current situation. I’m planning to start a new course this month, possibly titled “Meditating in a Crisis.” Today, I’d like to share some thoughts using the Buddha’s Eightfold Path as a guide.
If you’re not familiar, the Eightfold Path is a set of practices designed to help us move from ignorance to Awakening, and from suffering to peace. It’s not a series of steps to be followed one after the other, but eight aspects that can be practiced at all times. Think of it as a multi-lane highway to Awakening, or like a brick path that’s eight bricks wide. With every step, you engage with all eight aspects. Alternatively, you can imagine it as a rainbow with eight colors or a woven cord with eight threads. The goal is to demonstrate that the Eightfold Path is flexible and can be applied to our modern lives.
We begin by examining our views, which are our core beliefs and assumptions about life. Some of these views contribute to our happiness, while others cause us suffering. Often, we only notice our unhelpful views when we’re suffering and start questioning why that is.
For example, many people have the assumption that “Bad things shouldn’t happen to me.” When something disruptive like the coronavirus happens, it feels unfair. But thinking this way leads to self-pity, which isn’t helpful. A more useful perspective might be “Shit happens.” Things change and sometimes in ways we don’t like, but we have to make the best of it.
Another unhelpful view is “This kind of thing always happens to me!” This mindset wrongly gives us a sense of being singled out for mistreatment. But in reality, this crisis isn’t about us individually; it’s affecting many people, some far worse than us. Narrowly focusing on ourselves only makes us more miserable.
We need to be mindful of the views we hold about the pandemic, discard those that don’t help us, and adopt ones that align with reality and bring us peace. For instance, consider the notion that “Every difficulty is a spiritual opportunity.” This view can be more beneficial and uplifting.
The concept of “right resolve” or “right attitude” relates to our emotional interactions with the world. Self-pity, panic, and despondency aren’t helpful. Since these reactions happen automatically and cause suffering, we need to find healthier ways to respond. Self-compassion and compassion for others are crucial here. They provide inner support and help us see that we’re all in this together.
Right speech involves speaking truthfully, avoiding divisive or abusive language, and not engaging in idle chatter. It means communicating with kindness and pointing others toward positive goals. In these challenging times, we should aim to offer support and reassurance to others, appreciating the efforts of those helping in various ways.
We should also be mindful of the kind of speech we expose ourselves to, particularly the news and social media, which can often amplify anxiety. Taking a break from these sources can have a calming effect.
Right action involves doing things that benefit ourselves and others in the long-term. During the current crisis, this means observing physical distancing, minimizing shopping trips, and not hoarding supplies. It’s also about checking up on friends and neighbors, especially those who are vulnerable, with compassion and care.
Right livelihood refers to work that doesn’t cause harm and ideally benefits others. Even if we’re not working now, we can spend our time doing things that promote our well-being and growth, like exercising, learning new skills, or decluttering our living spaces.
Right effort focuses on managing our inner states of mind. It involves preventing unskillful states like worry and anger while cultivating positive states like kindness and patience.
Mindfulness is essential because it allows us to observe our thoughts and feelings. It helps us recognize when we’re getting caught up in negative thinking and brings us back to the present moment.
Concentration, or samadhi, is about maintaining continuous awareness. It helps us stay focused on positive states of mind and understand that emotions like anxiety are transient. Recognizing this helps us take our feelings less seriously and prevents us from being overwhelmed by them.
View, effort, and mindfulness are involved in every moment of our practice. We need to understand the benefits of ethical and mindful living, recognize whether our actions are helpful or harmful, and put in the effort to let go of unhealthy habits while cultivating beneficial ones.
I hope you see how the Eightfold Path remains relevant, especially during challenging times like these. I’m looking forward to exploring these ideas further in my upcoming course.