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When we convert from looking at the objectives as listed in The Eight-Fold Path to putting things into action, we then see that what is needed is to spend our time in life developing the skills that create ever greater happiness. And, of course,
the sooner, the better! (Read Eight Mindful Steps To Happiness, Bhante Henepola Gunaratana for an understandable, practical discussion with exercises.)
THE STEPS
Skillful Understanding
Skillful Thinking
Skillful Speech
Skillful Action
Skillful Livelihood
Skillful Effort
Skillful Mindfulness
Skillful Concentration
SKILLFUL UNDERSTANDING
Understanding cause and effect and what reality is and isn't is vital to life, but few do it, so they live in a made up world where they create unnecessary suffering. Although life must have some pain, as a result of being human, the total pain and suffering in life only need be 1% or less of what most people are experiencing. Few people seems to be able to see that, so they need to learn, so that they will have the skill of understanding life and how it [body, mind, world] it all works.
SKILLFUL THINKING
If one can't think, one can't navigate this life, obviously. But we fail to notice how badly we are thinking, because we are like fish in the ocean not seeing the water (bad thinking) around us. But the proof of unskillful thinking lies in our choices in life and the results we are feeling in life.
We allow unintelligent, erroneous thoughts to govern our lives. How unskillful is that!!!!?
So learning how to (and that we must) use logic and reasoning based on facts is essential to being skillful enough to create excellent thoughts to base our lives on and to be able to solve any problems that occur in life - in an easy, effective, efficient way where we do not feel threatened, operating in a game where we control the chess pieces and adjust to our metaphorical adversary's (life's) moves - and where we are essential fearless.
Once you learn to be skillful at thinking, you then practice (use) the thinking to manifest compassion and loving-kindness for others - and for yourself - completely.
With right thinking, there is no other reasonable path, after all!
SKILLFUL SPEECH
Language conveys messages to others and to one's own brain-recorder. Empowering language empowers, but we often fail to realize how negatives should not even be uttered (unless it is to nail them down and correct them, so that they no longer persist). It is common for people to use words as weapons - which is totally unwise and harmful to others and to oneself. This also means you do not engage in useless conversations (chit chat, gossip, etc.).
SKILLFUL ACTION
We can do things we think we can get away with or that we think are effective but aren't, but what works best in life is to operate from "ethics" and only from "what works". That is skillful action. And there is no "right/wrong" game wasting one's energy.
SKILLFUL LIVELIHOOD
It is essential that the way you make your livelihood is something that fits you, as in "do what you love" and don't allow a lower standard. Matching what you do with your skills and talents and interests causes much greater effectiveness with much less effort and more satisfaction.
And the livelihood must be "ethical", contributing some good to the world or don't bother to start.
Obviously, it will pay off immensely for you to become very, very skilled and to become a master at your livelihood, not just be a "get by" person.
And realize that it is not about being able to make lots of money, though we want to be smart about being in something with decent pay. Part of right thinking is knowing you can live on just a decent income.
SKILLFUL EFFORT
Living a "wholesome" life is what I see as a life I can feel good about. So what I do (action is "effort") is that which is wholesome. That is what I am committed to.
If we are aware (mindful) of our feelings, thoughts, and right understanding, then we stop ourselves from unskillful behavior - and our world is not repeatedly shaken! We see erroneous messages for what they are and know we don't have to act on them to produce the toxic results. With the skills pointed out initially, we realize that we are not compelled to follow up on improper programming so we dont engage in unskillful, reactive behaviors, such as anger, rage, jealousy, lust, or vengefulness. We only do loving-kindness, which is the only choice when living a wholesome life.
Given right understanding, we would not engage in greed, doubt, worry (one of the most unskillful practices with vast ineffectiveness and harm), hatred and such.
Your efforts are to be directed, based on greater and greater levels of skill toward
1. Preventing and overcoming negative states of mind (and using skillful thinking to reply and replace false beliefs toward creating a positive state of mind)
This requires zero tolerance and "unremitting mindfulness" (paying attention, being watchful). It also requires returning the mind to the present (using the simple noticing what is going on, via a practice called "naming and noticing" what you are feeling in your body and what is going on around you, including noting that there is nothing actually happening [in most cases] in any concrete way outside of your mind.) This, of course, requires you also to "label" thoughts as just brain recordings firing off with no intelligence while matching some association.
2. Cultivating and maintaining positive states of mind
And not accepting anything less or being lazy (unskillful or wishy-washy) about it.
SKILLFUL MINDFULNESS
For godsakes, we should be aware of what is going on in our bodies (breathing, tensions, pains, posture, etc.), feelings (valence?) and minds (harmful thoughts, "mental constructs" believed as real), so that we can manage them toward a point of balance and harmony, where we do not let things get too far out of whack, where we can avoid virtually any stress throughout the day. This means that we will go without "feeling bad" the entire day.
Although this is also a function of skillful thinking, we should constantly be returning ourself from a position of higher perspective, which we must insist on as the preferred operating mode. In this, we simply ask: "from a higher perspective, what would I do now?" and this returns us to the higher thinking brain that is the real "I am".
SKILLFUL CONCENTRATION
This is, essentially, the skill (ability) of directing the mind to where you want it to be and then maintaining that attention there. It is being "one-pointed" (single focused) but in an easy way, with gentle but firm attention directing and intervention to redirect as needed.
When we direct our mind away from the unhappiness-causers, it leaves us with happiness. Getting good at this is the first level of the skill. Happiness is left when we disappear hatred, when we stop worry, when we focus only on wholesome things (goals, compassion, kindness, self-care, etc.). As you perfect this ability, the effort of it begins to disappear and it becomes a natural, automatic (habitual) way of focusing - and mindfulness itself is enhanced since the mind is freed of distractions occupying its attention.
THE ULTIMATE SKILL
The ultimate skill, which is the combination of these skills, is skillful living, where you are a master of managing yourself such that it is easy to acquire whatever skills and knowledge are required to manage the outside world skillfully to produce whatever verifiable effects (results) you want in life. Even a skill level of 80% will transform your life to a very high level of happiness (most of us are in the 20% ranger, being run by life, emotions, false beliefs, etc., giving in to avoidance, escape, and addictions).
The increased life happiness you will experience will start when you first work on the skills and will then compound in a faster rising increase in happiness over time. Not bad: short term results that are better and long term results that are beyond priceless.
NOTE OF CAUTION: NO SHORTCUTS
I hope this helps you see that you cannot skip the steps to acquiring these skills and hope that circumstances will create you being happier (which would indicate a poor level of the skill of understanding life). You cannot go around, you cannot find effective shortcuts (though you can find efficiencies with good thinking), you cannot rely on hope - you must go "through" - and then you'll arrive, because this road definitely will get you there. Don't waste your time in peripheral things, in getting, in trying to be approved of, in eating to feel better, etc. and etc., just focus on this - look at what has little value and dump all of it that you can - you'll know you've dropped enough when you notice progress that is faster than you've experienced and a sort of peace of mind knowing you are creating progress yourself, and getting better and better at mastering the components of creating a great life and a pervasive, permanent deep happiness as a natural way of being.
