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The Eight-Fold Path of Buddha

(A Comparative Study)

The Eight-Fold Path

The Way according to Jesus Christ

1. Right understanding

   a. Receive the Four Holy Truths by faith

   b. Ultimately as experiential wisdom

a. Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).

b. To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said: "If you hold on to my teaching you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free  (John 8:31-32).

2. Right mental attitudes

   Turn away from sensuous desire,

    malice and cruelty

a. Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).

b. Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires (Ephesians 4:22b).

c. You shall not covet your neighbors house, your neighbors wife, or anything that belongs to your neighbor  (Exodus 20:17).

d. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice (Ephesians 4:31).

e. Foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? (James 2:20).

3. Right speech

   Say nothing that is untrue

a. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor (Exodus (20:16).

b. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off the old self with its practices (Colossians 3:9).

c. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building up others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).

4. Right bodily conduct

   Abstain from killing, stealing and

   sexual immorality

a. You shall not murder (Exodus 20:13).

b. You shall not steal (Exodus 20:15).

c. You shall not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14).

5. Right livelihood

   Don't be a trader of arms, dealer of

   intoxicants or drugs (or a butcher)

a. Each one should (initially) remain in the situation, which he was in, when God called him (1 Corinthians 7:20b).

b. We urge busybodies ... to settle down and earn the bread they eat. (2 Thessalonians 3:12).

6. Right effort

   Avoid evil and develop wholesome

   states of mind

a. Continue to work on your salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12b).

b. And as for you brothers, never tire of doing what is right (2 Thessalonians 3:13).

c. I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil (Romans 16:19b).

d. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things (Philippians 4:8).

7. Right mindfulness

   Develop true self-awareness and

   self-control

a. To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12-13).

b. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8).

c. The fruit of the Spirit is ... self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

8. Right concentration

    Seek nirvana (extinction of self)

Aspire to be conformed to the likeness of God's  Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29).

 

Sources:  Ling. Trevor. A Dictionary of Buddhism. New Delhi: K P Bagchi & Company, 1981.

                The Holy Scriptures of the Bible (NIV), 1985.