Roy’s Sunday Letter for May 4, 2025
AN ANCIENT BUDDHIST TEACHING, THE NOBLE EIGHTFUL PATH, UPDATED FOR 2025
The Eightfold Path teaches Right Understanding, Right Intent, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, and Right Mindfulness. In full and humble respect for ancient teachers and teachings, I offer this Sunday Letter with words and meaning to bring these truths forward into 2025 conversations.
Right to live happily and peacefully with others
Right to inner being with all peoples, animals, plants, and a supportive climate of health and beauty
Right to practice sitting and walking meditation in circles of trust with others
Right to identify and jointly feel the suffering of others, whether known and near, or unknown and far away
Right to living a life of the sacred, visiting sacred places and to be inspired and restored by spiritual teachers and practices
Right to a life of books, verses, music, humor, and with an appreciation for street art, museums, and galleries
Right to seek balance in all relationships, events, and causes as the true path for today and the tomorrows to come
Right to believe in and act on the goodness of all people, cultures, and practices
So, what Right Paths from your life and spiritual experience would you add to these offerings today? Is there one of the Right Paths you would edit to make it clearer, truer to the ancient teachings? Please use the Comments option to express your own Right Path.
Roy, seeking and stumbling with all beings in seeking the Right Path
Right is giving of your time and talents ,no matter how small, to someone that has less than you.
right path, right person, and over decade of giving, sharing yourself.
Mike Mike’s comment above about lunch with elder neighbor
There is no path for we 2 without your footprints alongside.
Bless you in all ways, as you also bless us.
RB
Thank you thank you thank you for this inspiring and supportive message. One of my weekly rituals is the reading of your Sunday Letter.
Forever friend Marcia….
On Thursday I had no clear image of Sunday Letter.
That is not unusual, or I have 5 ideas and then to allow the best to emerge.
Delighted that you and others do so, encourages me to continue on.
I do so by feel more than fact or head.
We be connected in all ways……RB
Roy and friends, the phrase “Right to…” Worked like a rumble strip on my pathway today. In typical American usage “right to” infers the freedom to do, think, feel or be something that should not be impeded by others. In the Eightfold Path list “right” describes a correct, defect-free version of each human action. We accurately understand, intend good, etc. It helps me to think of both of these.
To “love my neighbor as myself” necessarily includes that I protect their rights to all the things in Roy’s list; even as I seek to live into them myself. And I must live into these [living peacefully, connecting to neighbors and nature, practicing meditation…] in order to live “rightly.”
Thr Right Path wide enough for we 4 plus more
Thank you for the shout out to keep us on track
Connections to all peoples and all parts of life essential
We travel, stumble together…..RB
Good morning and thanks for the letter.. a great list of rights.. for me, the right to care for and aid others, specifically those older and less capable. Cemented a new friendship this past week.. picked up and took Mr. Rudolph to lunch.. 83, lives alone, wife died 8 years ago, no children or family.. born in Germany in 1941, father in German army and fought the Russians.. he and his mom made it to California in ’54.. losing eyesight and can’t drive safely… lives out in the country.. I am blessed to know him…. and blessed to be able to do what I can..
Keep writing Roy. Happy Sunday to all.
Mike, you will appreciate Maurine’s comment on service to others as well.
Health giving care with your Meals elder. Gracious and kind.
If not are connecyions to others beyond ourselves who and what are we???
So, continue on in the best of ways………..RB
Thank you for a moment of thought and contemplation. Trying to stay on “right path” for self and others. Thankful for those that care and give. Appreciate great words for living. Thank you for words of wisdom.
I am glad Right Path is wide enough for my stumbling around.
And I am glad we 2 share the path with you two
We 4 are the better for each other to lean into……RB
Right to Hope.
always hope…..in people, 4 legged, sma;; acts of kindness…..RB
Roy, again, good words to ponder. I believe that ones life’s journey should encompass and radiate truth.
And your path does just that…..truth and also loving kindness
all true to who you are
We share the path of Right Friendship with you……RB
Well said. We have invested quite some time in studying Buddhism and your take is really thoughtful, thanks Roy!
Beth and I have practiced our meditations each Tuesday at 10
1/2 meditation
1/2 reading Buddhist together (on screen)
Me being me I rewrote a new version of our read together closing.
We also attend a Saturday morning meditation group in Arlington.
Includes a 12 minute Yoga stretch and bend.
This Sunday Letter is a spin off of all that.
Beth has told me she is glad/relieved my brain and heart is still active, what I refer to as “leaning forward.”
So, lie you lots of study and also praxtice.
Roy
Right heart when grateful, loving, and kind. jan
Yes, loving, kindness, and being grateful comes from a big, open heart.
One hard part is keeping an open heart with all the yelling and blaming of current day.
And yet, we must….and we will, together.
rb