The Teachings of Ajahn Suchart.
28 February 2026
"The Eightfold Path"
The origin of suffering is not in the body, but in the mind. We must abandon the origin in the mind through meditation, through the development of the Eightfold Path, through the development of morality, concentration and wisdom. When we develop morality, concentration and wisdom, we will have the strength to abandon the origin of suffering, which is sensual desire, craving for existence and craving for non-existence.
This is called the Middle Way, the Majjhima Patipada.
This Eightfold Path is the middle way, the path that lies between two extreme practices, the path that does not extinguish suffering, but rather creates suffering without reason. Do not go to either path, but rather to this path.
This middle path is between nourishing the body and torturing the body. These two paths are not the path to extinguishing suffering.
We must extinguish it with the Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Thought, Right Action, Right Speech, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration. These are right views, right thoughts, right actions, right speech, right livelihood, right effort, right awareness and right determination of the mind.
This is what will give our mind the power to destroy the enemy that will drag the mind to the cycle of birth and death, which is defilement, such as greed, anger, delusion or craving, which is desire for sensual pleasure, craving for existence and craving for non-existence. Destroy defilement and craving, and then existence will end. Birth, aging, illness and death will end. Nirvana will appear in the mind. Then we will stay in that Nirvana forever and ever. The Buddha and his disciples have reached Nirvana and are currently in Nirvana. They are waiting for us.
If we can develop the Eightfold Path, we will be able to go and be with the Buddha and the Arahant disciples. If we want to go to Nirvana, we have to fill up our car with gas.
Once we fill up our car with gas, we can drive to the house where the Buddha and his disciples live. Now we have to fill up the gas tank, fill up the Eightfold Path. If we can fill up the Eightfold Path, then our mind will definitely be able to reach Nirvana without a doubt. The Buddha's Dharma is Akaliko, it does not run out with the Buddha. Those who practice in this era can still reach Nirvana, just like those who practiced in the Buddha's era. There is no difference. It is like oil 50 years ago. Oil is the same as oil today. Put oil in the car and it will make the car run the same. Put the 8-fold path in your heart today and you will reach Nirvana. It is the same as the Buddha and all the disciples who filled the 8-fold path in their hearts and reached Nirvana before us. Now we are filling the 8-fold path.
When we fill the tank with the 8-fold path, we will also reach Nirvana.
Therefore, let us be steadfast in the Buddha's teachings.
Try to listen to sermons and Dharma, study the 8-fold path to gain a thorough and correct understanding so that we can put it into practice correctly. When we practice correctly, the results will certainly appear.
Phra Ajahn Suchart Aphichato
Wat Yanasangwararam, Chonburi Province
By Ajahn Suchart Abhijāto
YouTube: Dhamma in English.
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