More Practical Attainment

If the three ways of practice are analysed, they will reveal the eightfold noble path, the four viewpoints to be considered, the four right procedures, the five faculties of power to be employed, and the perfection of six practices.

The Noble Eightfold Path refers to right view, right thought, right speech, right behavior, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

.Right View means to thoroughly understand the Fourfold Truth, to believe in the law of cause and effect and not to be deceived by appearances and desires.
.Right Thought means the resolution not to cherish desires, not to be greedy, not to be angry, and not to do any harmful deed.
.Right Speech means the avoidance of lying words, idle words, abusive words, and double-tongues.
.Right Behavior means not to destroy any life, not to steal, or not to commit adultery.
.Right Livelihood means to avoid any life that would bring shame.
.Right Effort means to try to do one's best diligently toward the right direction.
.Right Mindfulness means to maintain a pure and thoughtful mind.
.Right Concentration means to keep the mind right and tranquil for its concentration, seeking to realize the mind's pure essence.

The four view-points to be considered are:

.First, to consider the body impure, seeking to remove all attachments to it.
.Second, to consider the senses as a source of suffering, whatever their feelings of pain or pleasure may be.
.Third, to consider the mind to be in a constant state of flux.
.Fourth, to consider everything in the world as being a consequence of causes and conditions and that nothing remains unchanged forever.

The four right procedures* are:

.First, to prevent any evil from starting.
.Second, to remove any evil as soon as it starts.
.Third, to induce the doing of good deeds.
.Fourth, to encourage the growth and continuance of good deeds that have already started.

One must endeavor to keep these four procedures.

The five faculties of power are:

.First, the faith to believe.
.Second, the will to make the endeavor.
.Third, the faculty of alertness.
.Fourth, the ability to concentrate one's mind.
.Fifth, the ability to maintain clear wisdom.

These five faculties are necessary powers to attain Enlightenment.

The perfection of six practices for reaching the other shore of Enlightenment are:

.The path of offering
.The path of keeping precepts
.The path of endurance
.The path of endeavor
.The path of concentration of mind
.The path of wisdom.

*it was interesting to notice, as I was copying this, how these four items resembled the four intentions I set at the beginning of 2012:
.Strength (remember your convictions)
.Discipline (be mindful of wavering from your intentions)
.Compassion (seek to provide compassion; don't just wait for people to seek it from you)
.Generosity (what do you have but what you've learned? continue in earnest to learn how to convey or share all that you have; it is worthless to have, if kept to yourself)

Things like that are what make me think I may have studied Buddhism in a past life. So much of what I learn seems like something I already knew or thought.
That is the only argument I have found in my life for believing in reincarnation.