The Eightfold Path

Guatama Buddha was a philosophical spiritual leader who taught his disciplines to his followers.  His philosophy was called Buddhism, and taught The Four Noble Truths which had the goal of cessation suffering of those who followed it.  The first three truths described the issues of living in this world and the four was the path out of those hardships.  Buddha believed that existences in of itself was suffering, “Suffering takes many forms and is the most central aspect of existence.” his whole philosophy is based in this idea. However their was a way to live in which people could live that would minimize the suffering of existence.  This was the fourth truth which is his Eightfold Path.  The Eightfold Path is essential eight aspects of your existence you have free will over and can choose to create right action. Of the eight Right Livelihood stood out.  This step is described as follows, “Right livelihood means that one should abstain from making one’s living through a profession that brings harm to others, such as trading in arms and lethal weapons, intoxicating drinks or poisons, killing animals, cheating, etc., and should live by a profession which is honorable, blameless, and innocent of harm to others.” basically the idea is that one should earn a living honorably and not fortune off of dishonorable dealings. In this path its states that ‘intoxicating drinks’ is a dishonorable profession to hold however, I am a bartender and have mixed feelings about that. On one hand I understand that alcohol is bad for our health mentally and physically especially without moderation. On the other I believe that people should be allowed to partake in the substance as long as the are responsible which many are.  Like so many other things in this world I see alcohol as a avenue to many places, some being fun and exciting, others being sad or detrimental. So I understand why Buddha would disapprove despite my reasoning.  

I believe that right action would lead to less suffering. If everyone acted according to this idea no one would ever have to worry about others.  People would be honest and helpful and the world would be a much better place but so long as our society creates incentives for people to indulge in the opposite of right action people will continue to do so.  It is a very virtuous idea and we should all strive for it.