The Path
Pause to Be Present is a wonderful organization that brings like-minded people together in community — to listen, sit in meditation, and expand and deepen their understanding of mindfulness and The Middle Way.
In the final session of the 2025 Fall Diving Deeper workshop — Cheryl Brause, one of the co-founders, spoke about meditation through the lens of the Noble Eightfold Path. For those of us who find meditation a source of solace and sustenance, she challenged us to carry that sense of centeredness off the cushion — into the world of family, friends, and work, where the inner voice shifts constantly between running through the day’s to-do list and pointing out our character flaws while we multitask.
Cheryl spoke of Eli Sharabi, author of Hostage. In it, he writes that even when life dealt him the absolute worst hand,
“No matter how difficult it is, you can always choose. No matter what cards life deals you, it is in your hands, always, in every moment — the choice to die, and the choice to live.”
That stark realization from someone confronting life and death puts our own practice into perspective. It reminds us to draw on the Buddha’s timeless guidance — the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path — as tools for living with awareness and compassion.
Mindful in Modern Times
There is no question that technology has quickened the pace of modern life. People say they can’t keep up with the thousands of emails they receive. How do we sort through the clutter?
If we step back and begin to observe some of the dilemmas we find ourselves in, we might choose to unsubscribe instead of getting carpal tunnel syndrome from deleting those thousands.
Technology is smart. It knows how to push your buttons better than your best friend, your worst enemy, and Uncle Al after a couple of Scotches. It also has an off switch.
Yes, there are dangers, and we need to be conscious of how to protect ourselves: seek professional help with legitimate identity-theft protection, install good antivirus software, and look twice before you click.
The reality is that tech itself isn’t the problem — we are. We need to take control of what we focus on and how much we consume, whether it’s a whole pint of Häagen-Dazs or a morning lost to scrolling through flamenco dancers, kittens playing with a ball of string, or whatever else the algorithm knows will keep us hooked.
The wisdom of the Buddha’s teachings and practices is as relevant in the age of AI as it was when he sat under the Bodhi tree. The Noble Eightfold Path still holds the key to navigating the noisy distractions and narrow pathways along the chasms of these chaotic times.
Technology is just a set of tools. We need to set clear intentions to use them well — and pay attention while we’re using them.
Awareness and Responsibility
In both Buddhism and modern psychology, the journey begins with awareness. The Buddha taught that suffering arises not from the world itself but from our reactions to it. Psychology expresses the same idea differently: when we blame others — parents, partners, bosses, or “the system” — we hand away our power. Awareness is the first act of reclaiming it.
Taking responsibility is not the same as taking blame. It means recognizing that while we cannot control events, we can choose our response. Psychology calls this developing an internal locus of control; Buddhism calls it mindfulness. Both teach that freedom begins when we stop waiting for the world to change and start observing how we meet it. Each moment offers that small space between what happens and what we do next — the space where responsibility lives.
To live responsibly is to act with clarity instead of habit. When we stop pointing outward, we begin to see where real change can occur — within our own minds, speech, and actions. This shift from reaction to awareness is the path to healing and growth. It is not a single decision but a continuous practice, on and off the cushion, in every email, conversation, and breath.
Applying the Noble Eightfold Path
So how do we do it? What’s the secret? What do Thich Nhat Hanh, the Dalai Lama, and the Buddha know that we don’t?
The answer, of course, is a lot — but the way to reach some of those insights is simply to begin the journey. The starting point, after acknowledging the Four Noble Truths, is clear:
- Suffering exists.
- The origin of suffering is craving and attachment.
- The cessation of suffering is possible and begins through letting go.
- The path to end suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path.
Buddhism differs from religion in that it doesn’t ask you to believe or to suspend disbelief. Instead, it invites you to practice methods that have been tested and refined for thousands of years. It asks for a shift in perspective — in ethics, intention, and daily action — in how we speak, act, and work. And finally, it asks us to bring discipline to that practice: to let go of habits that no longer serve us and to cultivate new ones that serve ourselves, our community, and all beings.
Below I have listed the components of the path broken into three sections; Wisdom, Ethical Conduct and Mental Discipline. After each of them I have added a sentence on how I am framing it for myself. Where I thought it worth emphasizing, I have found a quote that I thought might be helpful. You can find more details about each at this link. https://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/history-of-happiness/buddha/the-eightfold-path/
Wisdom (Paññā)
Right View:
Seeing reality clearly. I’ve often seen the locus of control outside myself. When I pause and choose my reactions, I take that control back.
Right Intention:
By stepping back and seeing clearly, I can set my intentions on things that matter to me. I can become the master of my day — choosing how I move through it rather than letting the day master me.
Ethical Conduct (Sīla)
Right Speech:
Words are powerful. They help us to frame how we think about ourselves and how we converse with those around us. I will be thoughtful and kind in my speech.
“Right Speech is not moral decoration — it’s causal power. Words plant seeds that ripen in the mind of the speaker and the hearer alike. When repeated, believed, and acted upon, speech conditions reality.”
A lie spoken often becomes the scaffolding of delusion; a truth spoken with compassion becomes medicine. Modern psychology echoes this: self-talk becomes self-concept. The story we repeat to ourselves is the life we live.
Right Action:
I will be conscious and mindful of my actions, seeking always to do no harm.
“And what is Right Action? Abstaining from taking life, abstaining from stealing, abstaining from unchastity. This is called Right Action.” — Gautama Buddha (SN 45.8)
Right Livelihood:
I will translate right action into the work I do, earning and creating in ways that reflect integrity and care.
“Right Livelihood means choosing a way of earning a living that does not cause suffering to others. Our work should be an expression of our deepest aspiration: to alleviate suffering and bring happiness.” — Thich Nhat Hanh
Mental Discipline (Samadhi)
Right Effort:
I will strive to maintain a positive state of mind and let go of negative ones, with a steady focus on growth.
“You yourselves must strive; the Buddhas only point the way.” — Dhammapada 276
Right Mindfulness:
I will stay aware of body, feelings, and mind — present in this moment, not lost in the next one.
“Right Mindfulness is not bare attention; it’s memory infused with wisdom — remembering to be awake.” — Bhikkhu Bodhi
Mindfulness, in essence, is remembering what is happening as it happens, without judgment or distraction.
Right Concentration:
I will deepen my practice, developing the stillness and focus that lead to insight and liberation.
“Concentration is the energy that makes mindfulness deep. When mindfulness is deep, insight arises, and understanding is born.” — Thich Nhat Hanh
Closing Thought
The Eightfold Path is not an abstract philosophy; it’s a way of walking through the noise of modern life with attention and grace. The Buddha, Eli Sharabi, and Cheryl Brause each remind us that even when the world feels chaotic, we still have the power to choose how we meet it.
Every time we pause — between breath and reaction, between impulse and word — we return to the center of the path. That’s where awareness lives. That’s where freedom begins.
I am grateful to be able to explore these ideas with members of the Pause to be Present community. It has encouraged me to deepen my understanding and my practice. Thanks to Cheryl and Stephanie and each of the teachers who share their stories and wisdom for the opportunity to sit and be present.
With heartfelt love and admiration,
Dan
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