Part Two Chapter Nine Summary and Analysis

Buddha taught the Eightfold Path up until his death. Hanh asks his readers to use our intelligence to apply this path in our daily lives.

The first practice, the Right View, is a deep understanding of the four Noble Truths of suffering, the making of it, the fact that it can be transformed, and its transformation. Shriputra says it is also knowing the four kinds of nutriments we have ingested.

In our consciousness we have wholesome or unwholesome seeds, or roots that we can identify with mindfulness, and water them accordingly. Hanh uses an example of feelings toward our parents, and provides examples of wholesome and unwholesome seeds, such as craving, anger and violence. Right view requires "selective touching" of these seeds. The practice of the Five Mindfulness Trainings addresses the "goods" we ingest.

Our...