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

18 Comments

  1. Maurine on May 4, 2025 at 6:07 am

    Right is giving of your time and talents ,no matter how small, to someone that has less than you.

    • Roy Bowen on May 4, 2025 at 11:23 am

      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

  2. Marcia Swain on May 4, 2025 at 6:45 am

    Thank you thank you thank you for this inspiring and supportive message. One of my weekly rituals is the reading of your Sunday Letter.

    • Roy Bowen on May 4, 2025 at 11:31 am

      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

  3. Ron Johns Jr on May 4, 2025 at 7:01 am

    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.”

    • Roy Bowen on May 4, 2025 at 12:23 pm

      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

  4. mike davis on May 4, 2025 at 7:17 am

    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.

    • Roy Bowen on May 4, 2025 at 11:20 am

      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

  5. Debbie Gardner on May 4, 2025 at 8:16 am

    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.

    • Roy Bowen on May 4, 2025 at 11:05 am

      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

  6. Linda Milanesi on May 4, 2025 at 8:50 am

    Right to Hope.

    • Roy Bowen on May 4, 2025 at 11:03 am

      always hope…..in people, 4 legged, sma;; acts of kindness…..RB

      • Peter D. Kleven on May 4, 2025 at 11:44 am

        Roy, again, good words to ponder. I believe that ones life’s journey should encompass and radiate truth.

        • Roy Bowen on May 4, 2025 at 12:19 pm

          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

  7. Roger Gullickson on May 5, 2025 at 12:42 pm

    Well said. We have invested quite some time in studying Buddhism and your take is really thoughtful, thanks Roy!

    • Roy Bowen on May 5, 2025 at 4:12 pm

      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

  8. Janice M Nourse on May 6, 2025 at 4:03 pm

    Right heart when grateful, loving, and kind. jan

    • Roy Bowen on May 7, 2025 at 7:13 am

      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

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