The Way

Buddhism is a way of life which the Buddha tried out and practised initially and then taught the world. The Buddha taught the Noble Truths that:-

Suffering exists in this world and that all beings in the world experience it in their life physically and mentally.
Suffering has a cause which brings about an effect.
There is a solution to suffering or a problem.
There is a path leading to the cessation of suffering or the end of problem.

Life is a journey, so we need to know the right path to walk. Which is the right path, then? To help us find this, the Buddha further explained that the right path is eightfold i.e. It consists of Right understanding, Right view, Right speech, Right action, Right livelihood, Right effort, Right mindfulness and Right concentration.

The path may not be smooth as there may be some hidden obstacles or problems alongside it. A life-traveller must be wise to avoid or get rid of the traps, obstacles, distractions, or temptations along the way. These traps, obstacles, distractions, or temptations mainly derive from greed, hatred and ignorance. We must overcome them in such a way that we are not stopped or distracted. The first thing, we must do, is to know or understand them rightly; that is, we need to appreciate how dangerous they are. Then we are not trapped. There are many teachers, teachings, and methods which can help us understand. We have to study under the teachers, learn the teachings and practise the methods.

There is a Zen Motivational story named ‘Which is the Way’ which advises about this well. Here is the story:

A young follower one day asked the Zen master, “Which is the Way?”

“Oh! Look at the mountain, it’s so beautiful,” the master answered.

“I did not ask about the mountain. I asked about the Way,” said the follower.

“As long as you cannot go beyond the mountain, you’ll never reach the way,” replied the Zen master.

Let’s think about the story. We are comparable to the traveller. The mountain is comparable to the traps, obstacles, distractions, or temptations and the way means the noble path. Therefore, we need to go beyond the mountain, and then we can find the right way of life, the happy way of life to live or to walk.

May I ask you, “Have you found your right way yet?” If you haven’t, I would like to advise you that the method to find it is to study the way and walk the way. Then you will know by yourself if it is right path for you or not.