The heart of the Lord Buddha's teaching lies in the Four Noble Truths

The heart of the Lord Buddha's teaching lies in the Four Noble Truths (Cattari Ariyasaccani The Fourth Noble Truth Path to the cessation of suffering (Magga) and The Eightfold Path is the fourth Truth of the Four Noble Truths. The Eightfold Path should not be taken as a commandment, as in 'you do this, or you're wrong' but rather a wholesome thought, deed and action in practice and very basically, the truths explain the nature of our dissatisfaction with life. The Lord Buddha taught that we must thoroughly understand the causes of our unhappiness in order to resolve it. There is no short-cut or quick fix, there is nothing we can obtain or hang on to that will give us true happiness and inner peace. What is required is a radical shift in how we understand and relate to ourselves and the world, and practice of the Path is the way to achieve that. The Eightfold Path is also called the Middle Way, it avoids both indulgence and severe asceticism, neither of which the Buddha had found helpful in his search for enlightenment.

The eight stages are not to be taken in order, but rather support and interdependent to each other. Following are the explanation of the Eightfold Path teachings in concise.

1.Right Understanding - Samma ditthi

Accepting Buddhist teachings. (The Buddha never intended his followers to believe his teachings blindly, but to practice them and judge for themselves whether they were true.)

2. Right Intention - Samma sankappa

A commitment to cultivate the right attitudes.

3. Right Speech - Samma vaca

Speaking truthfully, avoiding slander, gossip and abusive speech.

4. Right Action - Samma kammanta

Behaving peacefully and harmoniously; refraining from stealing, killing and overindulgence in sensual pleasure.

5. Right Livelihood - Samma ajiva

Abstain from making a living in ways that cause harm, such as exploiting people or killing animals, or trading in intoxicants or weapons.

6. Right Effort - Samma vayama

Cultivating positive states of mind, freeing oneself from evil and unwholesome states and preventing them arising in future.

7. Right Mindfulness - Samma sati

Developing awareness of the body, sensations, feelings and states of mind.

8. Right Concentration - Samma samadhi

Developing the mental focus necessary for this awareness.

The eight stages can be grouped into Wisdom (right understanding and intention), Ethical Conduct (right speech, action and livelihood) and Meditation (right effort, mindfulness and concentration). The Lord Buddha described the Eightfold Path as a means to enlightenment, like a raft for crossing a river. Once one has reached the opposite shore, one no longer needs the raft and can leave it behind.