Fourth Noble Truth · Pali Canon
⚖️ Noble Eightfold Path
Ariya Aṭṭhaṅgika Magga · อริยมรรคมีองค์ ๘
The Middle Way — the Buddha's practical path to the cessation of suffering, first taught in the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (First Sermon) at Varanasi. 8 factors in 3 groups: Wisdom · Morality · Meditation.
Wisdom (Paññā)
Right View — Sammā-diṭṭhi
Understanding the Four Noble Truths; seeing things as they really are.
Right Intention — Sammā-saṅkappa
Intention free from sensual desire, ill-will, and cruelty.
Morality (Sīla)
Right Speech — Sammā-vācā
Abstaining from lying, divisive speech, harsh words, and idle chatter.
Right Action — Sammā-kammanta
Abstaining from killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct.
Right Livelihood — Sammā-ājīva
Earning a living in a way that does not harm others.
Meditation (Samādhi)
Right Effort — Sammā-vāyāma
Cultivating wholesome qualities; abandoning and preventing unwholesome ones.
Right Mindfulness — Sammā-sati
Mindful observation of body, feelings, mind, and mental objects (Satipaṭṭhāna).
Right Concentration — Sammā-samādhi
Development of the four jhānas — progressive levels of meditative absorption.
Context in the Four Noble Truths
The Noble Eightfold Path is the Fourth Noble Truth (magga-sacca) — the truth of the path to cessation of suffering.
It is not a linear sequence to follow step by step, but 8 mutually supporting factors that are developed together. Right view (understanding the Four Noble Truths) informs all other factors; right concentration supports the arising of wisdom; right mindfulness sustains both.
The path is called "middle way" because it avoids two extremes: sensual indulgence and self-mortification — both of which the Buddha himself tried before his enlightenment.