In Advayavada Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path is interpreted dynamically as an ongoing and autonomous, non-prescriptive, investigative and creative process of progressive insight reflecting in human terms overall existence, i.e. totality, advancing over time.
Adherence to the familiar Five Precepts (not to kill, not to steal, sexual restraint, not to lie, and avoidance of alcohol and drugs) and a well-considered understanding of the Four Signs of Being and the Buddha's Four Noble Truths as explained in this recurring plan suffice to start off on the Path at any time.
The Noble Eightfold Path in Advayavada Buddhism is fully personalized: it is firmly based on what we increasingly know about ourselves and our world, and trusting our own intentions, feelings and conscience.
Nirvana means, in Advayavada Buddhism, the total extinction of existential suffering (duhkha, dukkha) by becoming one with the universal process of change and progress.
The Path or Middle Way we follow is (1) that of our very best (samyak, samma) comprehension or insight followed by (2) our very best resolution or determination, (3) our very best enunciation or definition of our intention, (4) our very best disposition or attitude, (5) our very best implementation or realization, (6) our very best effort or commitment, (7) our very best observation, reflection or evaluation and self-correction, and (8) our very best meditation or concentration towards an increasingly real experience of samadhi, which brings us to (1) a yet better comprehension or insight, and so forth.
By following the Noble Eightfold Path in this way you get in tune with wondrous overall existence advancing over time; old mistakes are left behind; sorrow, doubt and remorse immediately start disappearing; and your life at once gathers new positive impetus.
(Week 40) Last week's preliminary ASP subject was the First Sign of Being, i.e. the first fact of life: omnia mutantur, everything changes, the impermanence and changeability (anityata, aniccata) of all existents, including ourselves. Impermanence is certainly the most important property of everything existing, as without actual and potential change, progress and liberation would not be possible.
(Week 41) This week the preliminary subject is again the Second Sign of Being, the second fact of life: anatman (anatta), the selflessness of everything, and therefore the finitude or transitoriness of all individual existents, including ourselves. It is important to grasp how everything originates in causes and conditions and to see and accept that everything, including ourselves, depends on everything else and has no permanent self-existence, i.e. that all things are completely interdependent and individually finite.
The purpose of the ASP is that we study (and debate in the group, family circle and/or with good friends) the meaning and implications of the recurring weekly subject, particularly in the context of whatever we ourselves are presently doing or are concerned with, or about, such as our health, relationships, work, study, and our place and responsibilities in the family, group, sangha, society at large, etc.
Tip: Write down this week's subject ("we only live once, for some 4,000 weeks!") in your pocket diary!
John Willemsens,
Advayavada Foundation.
<http://www.euronet.nl/~advaya/index.htm#plan>
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