Expert: Joe McSorley - 2/29/2004

Question
Hi! I'm currently doing a project on Buddhism for a class, and hoped you'd be able to clear up a few questions for me. Thanks for your time/effort.

What do you think the most important teaching Buddha gave was and how is it applied to daily life? What would be your quick description of the eightfold path and how it is applied to daily life? Any other pointers on the role of morality in Buddhism?


Answer
I would say that the most important teaching of the historical Buddha is that  we do not see reality as it is.  This is described as ignorance.  If we realize that what we think about something is problematic then we can go about changing our view of reality.  The Eightfold Path is simply a method of attempting to clear the mind of this ignorance by practicing things like right thought, right action and right concentration, etc.  
 Morality should come out of a realization that we are all one and therefore you wouldn't want to be immoral.  When morality is imposed simply as some external code then you don't do it because you want to but because you have to.  This way you are only acting moral and not being moral.  If morality arises truly from your consciousness then it's easy to be moral for it's your nature.
  I hope this helps you, take care,
         Joe