The Noble Eightfold Path and Mindfulness

Buddhism and mindfulness are deeply connected.
The Noble Eightfold Path is a teaching of the Buddha that summarizes the eight practices one should follow to attain enlightenment.

In this article, we will take a closer look at "Right Mindfulness" (正念), which was briefly introduced in the article "Characteristics of Meditation in Buddhism."
Let's explore its connection to mindfulness.

What is the Noble Eightfold Path?

The Noble Eightfold Path consists of eight practices established by the Buddha.
By incorporating these practices into daily life, one is said to be able to free themselves from the suffering and desires of the human world and attain enlightenment.

・Right View (正見, Shoken): Seeing the truth correctly.
・Right Thought (正思惟, Shoshiyui): Thinking and making judgments correctly.
・Right Speech (正語, Shogo): Using and being mindful of proper words.
・Right Action (正業, Shogo): Avoiding the three poisons—greed (貪), anger (瞋), and ignorance (癡)—and acting righteously.
・Right Livelihood (正命, Shomyo): Earning a living without harming others and leading a disciplined life.
・Right Effort (正精進, Sho-shojin): Striving toward righteousness with correct effort.
・Right Mindfulness (正念, Shonen): Not being caught up in the transient nature of things, always seeking the truth, and making correct resolutions.
・Right Concentration (正定, Shojo): Maintaining a stable and proper state of mind.

The Three Poisons:

・Greed (貪, Ton): Also known as "desire," it refers to the excessive craving for things beyond necessity.
・Anger (瞋, Jin): Also called "resentment," it refers to feelings of anger and hatred.
・Ignorance (癡, Chi): Also known as "delusion," it refers to a lack of understanding of the truth.

In this article, we will focus on Right Mindfulness (正念) as part of the Noble Eightfold Path.

Shōnen (正念)

The seventh element of the Noble Eightfold Path, Shōnen (正念), is defined as "not being swayed by the phenomena of things, constantly seeking the true nature of reality, and making the right determination." The term "念" (nen) is often translated as "awareness" or "mindfulness."

Looking up Shōnen in the dictionary, it is described as "keeping the essence of things in one's heart as they truly are, never forgetting the pursuit of truth."

It is said that Shōnen involves observing one's own mind, being aware of the emotions arising from within, and observing one's body by being conscious of the sensory information received through the sense organs.

At this point, I would like to introduce the Buddhist concept of Rokkon (六根).

Rokkon (六根)

In Buddhism, Rokkon (六根) refers to the six faculties or functions that give rise to human sensations and consciousness. The first five are called Gokon (五根).

Buddhism emphasizes the function of these faculties rather than the physical organs themselves, which is why the term "root" (根) is used.

・眼根 (Genkon): Vision
・耳根 (Nikon): Hearing
・鼻根 (Bikon): Smell
・舌根 (Zekkon): Taste
・身根 (Shinkon): Touch
・意根 (Ikon): Consciousness

The objects perceived by these faculties are referred to as Rokkyō (六境). Rokkon and Rokkyō are always interconnected.

Rokkyō (六境)

Rokkyō (六境) refers to the objects perceived by each of the Rokkon (六根). They are also known as Rokujin (六塵).

・色境 (Shikikyō): The colors and forms perceived by Genkon (眼根)
・声境 (Shōkyō): The sounds and voices perceived by Nikon (耳根)
・香境 (Kōkyō): The smells and fragrances perceived by Bikon (鼻根)
・味境 (Mikyō): The flavors perceived by Zekkon (舌根)
・触境 (Sokkyō): The sensations perceived through Shinkon (身根)
・法境 (Hōkyō): All conceptual phenomena perceived by Ikon (意根)

Rokkyō is considered to be closely related to the concept of self-existence. Self-existence refers to the ontological notion of what we call "I"—our identity.

For example, a scent that one person finds pleasant may not be enjoyable for someone else. Likewise, a sound that one person dislikes may be enjoyable to another.

This demonstrates that objects of perception do not exist independently in a purely objective manner but are intimately connected with the self.

Without realizing this, we tend to accept things we like and reject things we dislike. We view the world through the lens of our own preconceptions and biases.

In other words, we fail to perceive the true essence of things as they truly are.

Faith in Mind (Shinjinmei, 信心銘)

At this point, I would like to introduce Shinjinmei (信心銘), a poem attributed to the Third Patriarch of Zen Buddhism in China, Sengcan. It is a text recited in the Zen tradition.

One of its verses states:

"If you are attached to thoughts, you turn away from the truth.
A sinking, clouded mind is undesirable.
If your mind is troubled, it will become exhausted.
Why engage in preferences of attachment and aversion?
If you wish to follow the One Vehicle, do not despise Rokujin (六塵).
If you do not despise Rokujin, you will find yourself in accord with true awakening.
True wisdom is without contrivance, but the foolish bind themselves with delusion."

Modern Interpretation

Worrying excessively leads one away from the supreme path.
Allowing the mind to sink into darkness is also undesirable. If you are consumed by worry, your mind will become fatigued and lose its peace.
Why should we hold onto likes and dislikes?
If one wishes to enter the world of enlightenment, one must not reject the objects of Rokkon (六根).
If one does not reject the external world (Rokujin 六塵), one will, in turn, be in harmony with the true awakening of the Buddha.
True wisdom acts without artificial effort, but the foolish become lost in their own delusions and bind themselves.

Concepts such as "existence and non-existence," "gain and loss," or "life and death" are not absolute truths but mere distinctions.

In Buddhism, "distinction" (分別) is understood as:

"Separating the subject of perception from the object of perception, clinging to the subject as 'self,' or engaging in incorrect speculative judgments and erroneous assumptions."

Distinguishing between self and others, male and female, inside and outside—all of these divisions create attachments to the self, which in turn lead to suffering.

Additionally, it refers to the illusions we create through words and thoughts, which Buddhism warns against.

The goal of Buddhism is to attain Mufunbetsuchi (無分別智), or non-discriminating wisdom, which allows one to perceive reality as it truly is, without being trapped by delusions.

What is Mindfulness?

Let’s take another look at mindfulness.

Mindfulness is the English translation of the Buddhist term sati in Pali, an ancient Indian language. (Although Pali is no longer spoken today, it was the language spoken by the Buddha approximately 2,500 years ago.) In Japanese, sati is translated as "念" (nen) or "気づき" (kizuki), meaning awareness or mindfulness.

The term sati is generally understood to have three main meanings:

1. Awareness before words
2. Attention to things as they are
3. Remembering

Mindfulness corresponds to Shōnen (正念) in Buddhism.

The Japan Mindfulness Society defines mindfulness as "intentionally directing awareness to the experience of the present moment, observing it without judgment and without attachment."

This includes "awareness," which involves directing attention to both external and internal experiences, and "acceptance," which means receiving information without being influenced by preconceived notions or biases, allowing things to be as they are.

We often unconsciously direct our attention to the past or the future, failing to focus on what is right in front of us in the present moment.

One method for cultivating awareness of our thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations is Vipassana meditation.

What is Vipassana Meditation?

The Pali word Vipassana (ヴィパッサナー) consists of "Vi," meaning "as it is, clearly, objectively," and "Passana," meaning "to observe, to see with the mind’s eye, to perceive."

Vipassana meditation, which allows one to understand the constant flow of assumptions and attachments, is also called "the meditation of awareness." It is a simple yet powerful mental training that anyone can practice.

The essence of Vipassana meditation is to objectively observe "the present moment" in any situation, at any time.

The basic principles of Vipassana meditation are considered to be the following three:

1. Slow Motion
Move the body as slowly as possible.

2. Live Commentary
Internally verbalize what you are doing in simple terms. By continuously doing this, distractions fade, and concentration increases.

3. Feeling the Body’s Sensations
Notice the bodily sensations that change as you walk, stop, or move.

For example, I am currently working on my computer at a low table. I am typing using both my right and left hands. I hear the sound of my child’s breathing as they sleep in the same room.

My legs, folded beneath me, are starting to feel numb. I shift my position. I hear the wind outside.

I recall hearing on the news that tomorrow morning will be cold. My right foot is itchy.

Feeling a little tired, I take a deep breath. I inhale. My lungs expand. My shoulders rise. The breath I exhale from my mouth touches the back of my left hand.

I start to feel sleepy. But my desire to finish this article is stronger.

In this way, I describe my normally unconscious actions, bodily sensations like numbness or expansion, and even mental sensations like distractions or drowsiness. By continuously narrating these experiences, I cultivate awareness in daily life.

Through consistent practice, mindfulness can become a natural part of everyday living.

A Fulfilling Life Through the Practice of Mindfulness and the Noble Eightfold Path

In this article, we explored mindfulness and the Noble Eightfold Path.

One of the eight principles taught by the Buddha, Shōnen (正念), is the foundation of modern mindfulness.

Shōnen is defined as "keeping the essence of things in mind as they are and never forgetting the pursuit of truth."

Mindfulness, on the other hand, is defined as "intentionally directing awareness to the experience of the present moment, observing it without judgment or attachment."

We often perceive the world through the lens of our own preconceptions and beliefs without realizing it. Buddhism teaches that by freeing ourselves from delusions and seeing the truth as it is, profound wisdom naturally arises.

The Vipassana meditation we introduced is a practice that can be done anytime, anywhere.

Hear what you hear, see what you see, feel what you feel—without adding any interpretation or judgment. Do not chase after or push away the thoughts that arise.

When you learn to embrace "this present moment" as it is, you will no longer be easily swayed by emotions like sadness or frustration. Your mind will naturally become more peaceful and stable.

Why not start incorporating mindfulness into your life at your own pace?

Thank you for reading to the end.