BE A LIGHT UNTO YOURSELF

From time immemorial many spiritual personages have embellished the spiritual horizon of India who have made substantial contribution to the spiritual upliftment of man in India. Some amongst them have been Mahatma Buddha in the 6th century BC, who brought a spiritual message of Eight Fold Path (Pali: ariyo althangiko maggo; Sanskrit: aryastangamarga) [1]. This is one of the principal teachings of the Buddha, who described it as the way leading to the cessation of suffering (dukkha) and the achievement of self awakening. It is used to develop insight into the true nature of phenomena (or reality) and to eradicate greed, hatred and delusion. The Noble Eight Fold Path is the fourth of Buddha’s Four Noble Truths; the first element of the Noble Eight Fold Path is, in turn, an understanding of the Four Noble Truths. It is also known as the Middle Path or Middle Way. All eight elements of the path begin with the word right. The Noble Eight Fold paths are: – Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livlihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. Buddha’s contemporary was Bhagwan Mahavira, last of the twenty four Tirthankara of the Jains who, among other things, laid emphasis on ahimsa (Buddha’s non- violence). Mahavira taught the three things :- Right Faith – we must believe in truth – Right Knowledge – understand what life is all about Right Conduct – the conduct which our faith and knowledge show us to be correct. These are the three Jewels, or Ratnatraya, of Jainism.