Boonkanjanaram Meditation Center

Wisdom State
Satipatthana (continued)

1.3.7 Eight-Fold Path

These are the last eight elements of Bodhipakkhiyadhamma, which come to thirty-seven all together. The Eight-Fold Path is both lokiya (mundane) and lokuttara (supramundane). When the Bojjhanga become perfect, it becomes lokuttara (Ariya Magga). At this point Nibbana becomes the object.

It is important to understand that the Eight-Fold Path is realized and not just followed. For example, after the 7 Factors of Enlightenment become perfect, the Eight-Fold Path becomes perfect, the Four-Noble Truths are realized and nibbana is reached. It is Satipatthana practice that realizes the Four-Noble Truths. That is why Satipatthana comes first in the 37 Qualities. Satipatthana is the cause - it is mundane when the Eight-Fold Path becomes perfect- and it becomes supramundane when the Four-Noble Truths are realizes. The Lord Buddha said, in the Samyutta Nikaya, "My teaching of the Four-Noble Truths is deep and very difficult to realize. It is supramundane and it is void and empty of self - sunnata. In the future the monks will not listen to this teaching, because it will be too difficult for them to understand. As long as real gold is there - meaning the truth - fake gold disappears. But when real gold is not there, fake gold appears. This is why Buddhism will decline." (For additional Eight-Fold Path, see 1.1.1, 1.4.7).