rightview
rightview
Right view can be summarised as seeing reality for what it is.
The first part is understanding kamma: how the motivation behind an action influences your world. The ‘fruit’ of kamma - what comes back to you from the outside - is only part of this. The most important thing is the intention behind the action. Taking actions that are motivated by greed or hatred will eat you up inside in one way or another, regardless of how things turn out.
The second part is understanding the noble truths. In short: everything is subject to change and decay; nothing will last forever. You cannot always influence the world to get your way, and even if you did, you would suffer the pain of loss and death eventually.
It is seeing that the cause of your suffering is the instinct to cling to things, ideas and feelings and try to retain them. Everything is in flux. The way to escape suffering is to accept the truth that things come and go and this is the way it is and will always be.
At the core of this is the fact that you are not a constant being. If you can grasp this on an intuitive level then the Buddha's entire worldview begins to present itself as a single thing, not disparate parts.
The way that you go about this is through using the noble eightfold path. Clinging is a product of reward-learning caused by phasic dopamine, and the buddha’s path can be split into two core precepts: the removal of old patterns of craving / trauma, and living in a way which prevents the arising of new craving / trauma.
I am dividing the eightfold path differently to tradition: I believe the buddha created a trauma therapy program and a trauma-prevention program. The trauma being addressed is the one inherent in us all: the fact that we feel like a permanent self in an ever-changing and uncaring world.
The cure:
cultivating a brain chemistry which enables you to release old conditioning and experience reality as it truly is.
observing reality without judgement so that you can understand and accept the truth.
various different approaches to trauma therapy and release, enhanced by the brain chemistries of right concentration.
ensuring you do not cause further trauma to yourself or others.
The vaccine:
having the desire to help both yourself and those around you
taking actions which help rather than harm others
speaking in ways which help rather than harm
earning a living in a way which helps instead of harms
The entire philosophy is based on the objective observation of reality and adopting a way of living which does not contradict the incontrovertible.
Everything will always change. If you try to hold onto it, you will suffer. The way to let go is to cultivate a view which aligns with reality while letting go of old thought patterns. The way that you do that is through manipulating your brain chemistry so that you are able to reprogram yourself to remove cognitive dissonance.
The net result is that you will be a more joyous and freewheeling individual, experiencing higher levels of wellbeing and satisfaction.
The only way to function in this world is to accept it as it truly is. This is right view.
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