Page 12 - The Buddha‘s Noble Eightfold Path

Very important point — the Noble Eightfold Path falls quite
naturally into two great divisions. The first of these is known as

the Path of Vision (darsana-marga), the second as the Path of
Transformation (bhavanamarga). Thus the Noble Eightfold Path
comprises two lesser 'Paths', in the sense of two successive

stages. While the Path of Vision corresponds to the first anga, or
so called step, i.e. Perfect Vision; the Path of Transformation

corresponds to the seven remaining ‘steps', Perfect Emotion,
Perfect Speech, Perfect Action, Perfect Livelihood, Perfect Effort,
Perfect Mindfulness and Perfect Meditation. The significance of

this distribution is that Perfect Vision represents the phase of
initial spiritual insight and experience, whereas the rest of the

Eightfold Path represents the transformation of one's whole
being, in all its heights and depths, in all its aspects, in
accordance with that initial insight and experience. It represents

a complete and thoroughgoing transformation of one's
emotional life, speech, communication with others, livelihood

and so on, although not necessarily in this order. One may, for
instance, transform one's livelihood, which is the fifth 'step',
before one's speech, which is only the third; but eventually, in

one way or another, the whole being is to be transformed, in its
heights and in its depths, conscious and unconscious.

The Arising of Perfect Vision
Now this initial spiritual experience, as I have called it — this

Perfect Vision or Path of Vision — may arise in different ways for
different people. There is no uniform pattern. Indeed, the great

variety that exists among people shows itself in spiritual life also.
It shows itself in the way in which they enter upon the spiritual
path: the way in which the Path of Vision arises for them.

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