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The Tranquility of Non-Addiction
The Noble Eightfold Path | Thoughts of Renunciation
Today, we will continue our exploration of thought as it relates to the Buddha’s Eightfold Path. To quickly recap, in the last episode, we went over some general exercises to begin opening us to the world of thought. Specifically, I invited you to start organizing your thoughts into two camps: (1) those motivated by goodwill and (2) those by ill-will.
I asked you to explore the energetic imprints and consequences of these two types of thought. And suggested that, as you move toward thoughts of goodwill, you will find more happiness and ease in your life, which in turn will lead to more concentration and awareness, which in turn will lead to more wisdom, insight, and understanding, which will lead to yet more peace and joy, and so your life will spiral upward.
I also emphasized that thoughts shape our morality, our footprints on the world. And that thoughts, or aims and intentions, in turn, both shape and are shaped by our worldview, our understanding, our beliefs. So, when our views haven’t been rigorously examined, when we see only the surface appearance of experience, when our understanding doesn’t align with the Dharma, then our intentions will lead to unhelpful, if not harmful, actions and consequences, both internally and externally.