Setting Out on the Journey
For the past five modules, we've been exploring fundamental insights about the nature of human experience: why we suffer, the fluid nature of identity, how everything is interconnected and constantly changing, and what it means to live mindfully in the face of life's uncertainties.
Now it's time to get practical. How do we take these understandings and translate them into a way of living? How do we move from insight to action, from philosophy to practice?
This is where the Eightfold Path comes in. Think of it as a detailed roadmap for the journey of life, complete with navigation tools, vehicle specifications, and driver training. Over the next three modules, we'll explore this ancient yet timeless framework that has helped millions of people live more skillfully and compassionately.
Let's begin with a metaphor that will guide our understanding. Imagine you're setting out on a long road trip—maybe a cross-country journey to visit family, or a dream vacation to places you've always wanted to see. What would you need for this journey to go well?
First, you'd need navigation tools: a good map showing you the terrain you'll be traveling through, and a compass to keep you oriented toward your destination regardless of detours or unexpected routes. Without these, you'd just be driving aimlessly, hoping you end up somewhere good.
This is the domain of Wisdom, and it consists of two essential elements: Wise View (your map) and Wise Intention (your compass). Together, they help you understand where you are, and where you're going.
Wise View: Your Map of Reality
When we talk about Wise View, we're not talking about having the "correct" view or opinion about everything, as if there were some cosmic answer key you need to memorize. We're talking about developing a clear, practical understanding of how life actually works—particularly how suffering is created and how it can be reduced.
Think of Wise View as your map of reality. A good map doesn't tell you where you should go, but it shows you the territory accurately. It shows you where the smooth roads are, where the construction zones are, where the scenic routes are, and where the dangerous curves are. With a good map, you can make informed decisions about your route.
Wise View is like this. It helps you see the landscape of human experience clearly so you can navigate it skillfully.
The Three Types of Truth
One of the most practical aspects of Wise View is understanding that we encounter different types of truth in our daily lives, and they require different approaches:
Objective truths exist whether we believe in them or not. Gravity works the same for everyone. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level regardless of our opinions about it. These truths are discovered through science and direct observation.
Subjective truths are true for individuals but may not apply to others. "I love classical music" is a subjective truth. It's completely true for me if I love classical music, but it doesn't mean you have to love it for my truth to be valid.
Intersubjective truths exist because groups of people agree on them. Money has value because we collectively agree it has value. Languages exist because communities agree on what words mean. Many of our social conflicts arise when we treat intersubjective truths as if they were objective truths.
Understanding which type of truth you're dealing with in any situation can completely change how you engage with it. Are you arguing about objective facts that can be verified? Are you sharing subjective experiences that don't need to be universal? Or are you negotiating intersubjective agreements about how to live together?
The Parable of the Horse
There's a story I love that illustrates the essence of Wise View. An old farmer's horse runs away, and his neighbor comes to express sympathy: "How unfortunate!" The farmer simply says, "Who knows what is good and what is bad?"
The next day, the horse returns with several wild horses. The neighbor rushes over: "How fortunate!" Again, the farmer says, "Who knows what is good and what is bad?"
The farmer's son tries to tame one of the wild horses and breaks his leg. "How unfortunate!" says the neighbor. "Who knows what is good and what is bad?" replies the farmer.
The next day, military officers come to conscript young men for war, but they leave the farmer's son because of his broken leg. "How fortunate!" exclaims the neighbor, who is beginning to understand.
This isn't a story about being indifferent to life. It's about the wisdom of not immediately categorizing every experience as absolutely good or bad. Wise View helps us respond to what's actually happening rather than to our stories about what's happening.
Seeing Through Your Tinted Glasses
We all see reality through what I call "tinted glasses"—our conditioning, our cultural background, our personal history, our current emotional state. Wise View isn't about removing all the glasses (I personally think that’s impossible) but about remembering that we're wearing them.
When you remember you're seeing through a particular lens, you can hold your perspectives more lightly. You can remain confident about what you can see while staying curious about what you might be missing. You can disagree with someone without assuming they're stupid or malicious for not seeing what you see—maybe they're just wearing different tinted glasses.
This is profoundly liberating. Instead of spending energy defending your viewpoint as the only possible way to see things, you can focus on sharing your perspective while remaining open to others.
Wise Intention: Your Compass
If Wise View is your map, Wise Intention is your compass. A map shows you all the possible roads, but a compass points you toward your chosen destination. No matter where you are on the map, you can check your compass and ask: "Am I heading in the direction I want to go?"
Wise Intention is about the deeper motivations behind your thoughts, words, and actions. It's about asking not just "What am I doing?" but "Why am I doing it? What am I trying to create or move toward?"
In Buddhist teachings, Wise Intention is often described as having three aspects:
The Intention of Letting Go (Renunciation)
This isn't about giving up all your possessions and living in a cave. It's about recognizing when your clinging to things—outcomes, identities, other people's opinions—is creating suffering, and being willing to loosen your grip.
I think of a conversation I had with a friend going through a difficult divorce. She said, "I realized I was holding onto the marriage I wished I had, not the one I actually had. Letting go of that fantasy was the hardest thing I've ever done, but it was also the most freeing."
That's renunciation in real life. It's not about deprivation—it's about recognizing when holding on is causing more pain than letting go.
The Intention of Goodwill (Loving-kindness)
This is the intention to wish well for yourself and others, even when it's difficult. It's the opposite of resentment, spite, or the desire for revenge.
This doesn't mean being passive or never setting boundaries. You can wish someone well while still protecting yourself from their harmful behavior. You can hope someone finds happiness while choosing not to have them in your life.
Goodwill is particularly powerful when directed toward yourself. Many of us are incredibly harsh with ourselves—we say things to ourselves we'd never say to a friend. The intention of goodwill includes treating yourself with the same kindness you'd show someone you care about.
The Intention of Harmlessness (Non-violence)
This goes beyond not physically hurting people. It's about being mindful of the impact of your words, your tone, your presence. It's asking not just "What do I want to say?" but "What effect will this have?"
Harmlessness doesn't mean never saying anything that might be uncomfortable for someone to hear. Sometimes the most compassionate thing is to have a difficult conversation or set a firm boundary. But it means choosing your words and actions with care for their impact.
The Two Wings of Wisdom
Wise View and Wise Intention work together like the two wings of a bird. One wing helps you see where you are; the other helps you move skillfully toward where you want to go. Without both wings, the bird can't fly.
Without Wise View, you might have great intentions but poor judgment about how to fulfill them. You might try to help someone in ways that actually make things worse, or work really hard in directions that don't lead where you want to go.
Without Wise Intention, you might see very clearly but lack the motivation to act on what you see. You might understand intellectually how to reduce suffering, but not be committed to actually doing it.
Together, they form the foundation of wisdom—seeing clearly and moving skillfully based on what you see.
Living from Intention Rather Than Reaction
Here's where this gets practical. Every moment offers a choice between reaction and response. Reaction is automatic, unconscious, driven by habit. Response is conscious, intentional, guided by your deeper values.
Let me share a personal example. The other day, one of my kids came in asking for help with homework while I was in the middle of writing something important. My immediate internal reaction was frustration—I was being interrupted, I needed to focus, this wasn't a good time.
But I paused and checked my compass: What's my deeper intention here? What kind of parent do I want to be? How do I want my kids to remember these moments?
That pause changed everything. Instead of sighing and saying "Not now," I said, "Give me two minutes to finish this thought, and then I'm all yours." Same basic message, completely different energy behind it.
This is the difference between living reactively and living intentionally. The pause doesn't eliminate difficult emotions or challenging situations—it creates space for more skillful responses.
The Practice of Checking Your Compass
Throughout your day, you can check your compass by asking questions like:
- What am I trying to create or move toward in this situation?
- Are my words and actions aligned with my deeper values?
- Am I responding from wisdom or reacting from habit?
- What would love look like in this moment?
- If this interaction were being recorded and my children watched it years from now, would I be proud of how I showed up?
These aren't questions to create guilt or self-judgment. They're tools for staying oriented toward what matters most to you.
The Driving Analogy Begins
Let me introduce the metaphor that will guide us through the entire Eightfold Path. Imagine the path as everything you need for a successful road trip:
Wisdom (Wise View + Wise Intention) = Your navigation tools (map and compass)
Ethical Conduct (Wise Speech + Wise Action + Wise Livelihood) = Your vehicle (communication system, steering, and fuel)
Mental Discipline (Wise Effort + Wise Mindfulness + Wise Concentration) = Your driver training (using the accelerator/brakes, mirrors/windshield awareness, and steady hands on the wheel)
This week, we're focusing on getting your navigation tools in order. You need to know where you are (Wise View) and where you're heading (Wise Intention) before you can make good decisions about the rest of the journey.
Put It Into Practice
Develop Your Map (Wise View)
Practice noticing what type of truth you're dealing with in different situations:
- When you disagree with someone, ask: "Are we arguing about objective facts, sharing subjective experiences, or negotiating intersubjective agreements?"
- When you find yourself certain about something, pause and ask: "What might I be missing from this vantage point? What would someone with a different background or perspective see differently?"
- Try approaching one challenging situation this week with the farmer's wisdom: "Who knows what is good and what is bad?" See how this changes your experience.
Check Your Compass (Wise Intention)
Before important conversations, decisions, or actions, pause and ask:
- What am I hoping to accomplish here?
- What's driving this—love or fear? Wisdom or ego? Connection or separation?
- If my deepest, wisest self were handling this situation, what would that look like?
Set aside time once a day to reflect: "What were my intentions behind my major interactions and decisions today? Were they aligned with the kind of person I want to be?"
Journaling Prompts
- What are some "tinted glasses" (beliefs, assumptions, cultural conditioning) that might be coloring how you see reality? How might your life be different if you held these more lightly?
- Think of a recent conflict or disagreement. What type of truth were you dealing with—objective, subjective, or intersubjective? How might recognizing this have changed how you engaged?
- What would change if you approached challenges with "who knows what is good or bad?" instead of immediately categorizing them as fortunate or unfortunate?
- What are your deepest intentions for how you want to show up in your relationships, your work, your community? How aligned are your daily actions with these intentions?
- Think of someone who frustrates or annoys you. Can you imagine what experiences might have led them to see the world the way they do? What would it mean to disagree with their behavior while still wishing them well?
Going Deeper
To explore these themes further, listen to the Wise View and Wise Intention episodes of the Secular Buddhism podcast.
In the next module, we'll build your vehicle for the journey by exploring Ethical Conduct: how to communicate skillfully (Wise Speech), act with integrity (Wise Action), and earn a living in alignment with your values (Wise Livelihood).
Remember: this isn't about becoming perfect. It's about becoming more intentional, more aware, more skillful at the art of being human. The journey continues.