Vision and Transformation: An Introduction to the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path

by Sangharakshita

The Eightfold Path is the most widely known formulation of the Buddha's teaching. It is ancient, reaching back to the Buddha's very first discourse, and it is highly venerated as a unique treasury of wisdom and practical guidance. The teaching of the Eightfold Path challenges us to grasp the implications of that vision, and asks us to transform ourselves in its light. Like the teaching itself, this work covers every aspect of life.

Genres: Buddhism

Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Sangharakshita was born Dennis Lingwood in South London, in 1925. Largely self-educated, he developed an interest in the cultures and philosophies of the East early on, and realized that he was a Buddhist at the age of sixteen.

The Second World War took him, as a conscript, to India, where he stayed on to become the Buddhist monk Sangharakshita. After studying for some years under leading teachers from the major Buddhist traditions, he went on to teach and write extensively. He also played a key part in the revival of Buddhism in India, particularly through his work among followers of Dr B.R. Ambedkar.

After twenty years in the East, he returned to England to establish the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order in 1967, and the Western Buddhist Order in 1968 (now known as the Triratna Buddhist Community and the Triratna Buddhist Order respectively).

Sangharakshita has always particularly emphasized the decisive significance of commitment in the spiritual life, the paramount value of spiritual friendship and community, the link between religion and art, and the need for a ‘new society’ supportive of spiritual aspirations and ideas.

In recent years Sangharakshita has been handing on most of his responsibilities to his senior disciples in the Order. Based at the Adhisthana retreat centre in Herefordshire UK, he is now focusing on personal contact with people. For more, go to www.sangharakshita.org.

A collection of 27 volumes will represent the definitive edition of his life’s work as a Buddhist writer and teacher. Find out more about The Complete Works of Sangharakshita

A series of talks by Sangharakshita: ‘Launch of The Essential Sangharakshita and Living Ethically’.

Reviews

[Fernando Rivero · Rating 2 out of 5]

No hay mucho para decir al respecto. Me choca ciertas interpretaciones, de la misma forma que categoriza de bellas a las metáforas (sólo cuéntalas, yo veo si son bellas o no).

Tiene muchas enseñanzas, que cualquier persona que sea "considerada" tendrá integrada muchas de ellas sin siquiera razonarlo.

Tengo que decir, que los preceptos del budismo son más similares a mi forma de ver las cosas que los judeo-cristianos, y que sus enseñanzas van más allá.

Sin embargo, no generé empatía, y más que acercarme, me alejó. Puede que simpatice más con otra corriente dentro del budismo, pero a la que hace referencia éste libro no me llama.

[Catherine S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sangharakshita has a beautiful way of making hard-to-grasp concepts very accessible and almost inspirational to the average reader - and this book was no exception.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an accessible introduction to the N8P, and it contains a lot of stuff that seems wise and worthwhile. But I have to admit I got bored with it and about halfway through I started skipping like crazy, desperate to dive back into the mire of illusion. Not sure if I'm a lost cause or just not ready. A lot of the generic aspects of the path seem admirable and applicable (in theory at least); "right speech" or "perfect speech" for instance is definitely worth the attention of a sometimes sharp-tongued or sarky bigmouth. But the endless lists of ever higher levels of consciousness and all that kind of thing, not really my cup of tea - no point kidding myself. This is my weakness, not the book's. I just haven't got enough hunger for enlightenment. But if you have, and if you happen to be looking for a readable but substantial intro to some basic Buddhist concepts then (as a non-expert, obviously), I can recommend this. Might be a good idea to read it a bit at a time, slowly, rather than try to speed-read it before rushing along to the next item on your to-read pile like I did.

[Karol Kudra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Książka traktuje o Ośmiorakiej Ścieżce Buddyzmu. Dla mnie książka bardzo przyjazna i napisana w prosty sposób. Mamy polską wersje ale jej tu nie znalazłem.

[Kazza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good content for the most part, but clearly written by an older white man (or rather transcribed from his dharma talks), so there are a lot of assumptions he makes and perspectives he posits that were hard to connect with, a bit dated and sometimes problematic (for example a brief interlude into some kind of weird tangent that almost seemed to take a page from a eugenics-based philosophy). Overall it wasn't terrible and it was useful as an introduction to the 8-fold path... and it sparked some good discussions. Definitely to be read with a critical eye, though, and be prepared for white, cis-male privilege to crop up as well as some latent colonialist mentality.

[Nava · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was worth reading given Sangharakshita's roll as founding father of the Triratna/FWBO. He breaks down the 8-fold path, and gives explanations of Buddhist fundamentals. Terms like the 5 hindrances and explained.
I found a lot of the analogies difficult to internalize. It's a bit more scholarly in nature and so I found it in parts harder to tie to my meditation. Harder, but it wasn't completely disjoint.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a thorough explanation of the 8 "limbs" of the Buddha's noble eightfold path. Clearly presented, and with tangible reference to modern(ish) life. Sangharakshita's descriptions don't always hit the nail on the head for me, but certainly do provide a useful angle to further consideration and a way for me to access the concepts.

[Blanca Ivonne Montaño Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excelente libro de cabecera para mantenerse en el camino. Muy bonita visión de la filosofía budista. Para leer varias veces.