Calligraphy by Michele Laporte.
Calligraphy by Michele Laporte.

The Buddha to his companions at the Deer Park:

“The fourth truth is the path which leads to the cessation of suffering. It is the Noble Eightfold Path of right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

“I call it the Right Path because it does not avoid or deny suffering, but allows for a direct confrontation with suffering as the means to overcome it. The Noble Eightfold Path is the path of living in awareness. Mindfulness is the foundation. By practicing mindfulness, you can develop concentration which enables you to attain understanding. Thanks to right concentration, you realize right awareness, thoughts, speech, action, livelihood, and effort. The understanding which develops can liberate you from every shackle of suffering and give birth to true peace and joy.”

Calligraphy by Michele Laporte.
Calligraphy by Michele Laporte.

Adapted from Old Path White Clouds: Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha by Thich Nhat Hanh (1991) with permission of Parallax Press.

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