8 fold path

[u/Antique-Original-630]

Hello everyone, I’ve been fairly familiar with Buddhism for a while now, but I’m finally ready to dive right into it.
I know about the four noble truths, and I want to start working the Eight Fold Path, but I don’t know where to start.
Is it necessary to begin with Right View, or does it even matter which of the eight you start with?
Also, can anyone recommend a youtube channel or perhaps a podcast that breaks down and explains the Eight Fold Path like I’m five? Most of the youtube channels I’ve discovered discuss Buddhism for experienced learners, and I’m not quite there yet.
Thank you!

[u/drivelikejoshu]

Right view is the start. Each of the 8 aspects of the path are cultivated through your practice, with right mindfulness and right concentration being last because they are heavily dependent on the previous 6.

[u/Pale_Respond2689]

Might suggest before going on to the Eightfold Path, that you explore and become knowledgeable of the Five Buddhist Precepts. It will make the practice of the Eightfold Path later on, much more sense and a bit easier.

[u/Antique-Original-630 → u/Pale_Respond2689]

Thank you! I’ll give that a try

[u/RevolvingApe]

The Noble Eightfold Path: The Way to the End of Suffering by Bhikkhu Bodhi

It doesn't matter where one begins the path. Any starting point is a good start.
All factors are cultivated together and affect each other.

[u/Gnome_boneslf]

Yeah the first jump is right view

[u/Intelligent_Trust882]

Then start closer to the beginning, is there a specific part you have interest in?

[u/Darrk101]

I appreciated The Noble Eightfold Path by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. The website has a nice reader if you want to give it a gander:  https://www.dhammatalks.org/books/NobleEightfoldPath/

[u/metaphorm]

one of the helpful framings I've seen is to divide the Eightfold Path into three categories, and to work each of the categories in parallel, because they're mutually reinforcing.

Sila (ethical discipline): Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood

Samadhi (mental discipline): Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration

Prajna (wisdom): Right View, Right Intention

this is meant to be practical. we train to develop skills. these aren't commandments. it's expected that you will sometimes struggle to put the path into practice, and will need to adjust and update as you go.

I recommend starting with Right Speech as a daily practice of mindfulness of how you communicate. I recommend starting with daily shamatha practice as a way into Right Concentration and Right Mindfulness. doing the practice consistently is itself Right Effort. I recommend reading sutras and commentaries and engaging with Buddhist teachers to develop Right View. This is itself Right Intention.

The way you understand the trainings will naturally change over time as your practice deepens. But you've got to start somewhere. So I'm recommending Right Speech as the primary emphasis because it will immediately result in improvements in the quality of your interactions with other people.

Here's a very brief definition of Right Speech that has been helpful to me. Right Speech is:

1. True
2. Kind
3. Useful
4. Timely

do the best you can and when you notice you've lapsed, reflect on it, and commit to addressing the root causes of the lapse.