The Eightfold Noble Path Wheel Model of Communication

Sugath Senarath

Authors

Sugath Mahinda Senarath Sri Palee Campus ,University of Colombo

Keywords:

Noble Eightfold Path, Mindful Communication Model, Asian communication, Kalyanamitta

Abstract

Middle Path (Majjima Patipada), based on the Eightfold Noble Path (Ariya Atthangika Magga) Mindful Communication model is an effort to address contemporary world issues from an Asian perspective. Asian knowledge is based on Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Islamic philosophical and traditional knowledge. In the fields of social sciences and humanities, theories are still mostly Western centric. It is doubtful whether Asian scholars are well versed in Asian philosophical and traditional knowledge in social sciences and humanities. It is better to introduce Asian theories and concepts in order to address Asian issues and problems rather than blindly apply Western centric theories and concepts. This does not mean rejecting or de-westernizing western theories and concepts. It is a balancing of the Eastern and the Western theories and concepts on Mass Communication. The Eight-Fold Noble Path of Buddhism can be a remedy for contemporary issues and problems. The Buddhist Middle Path based on Eight-Fold Path is transcending of two extremes. The Four-Fold Noble Truths in Buddhism consist of: the noble truths of suffering (dukkha), the origin of suffering (dukkha-samudaya), the cessation of suffering (dukkha-nirodha), and the path that leads to the end of suffering (magga or dukkhanirodhagamini-patipada-magga). The Eightfold Noble Path represents the means to achieve the cessation of suffering, fulfilling the fourth truth. Even though the Eight-fold Noble-Path-based mindful communication model is based on Buddhism, it is not limited to Buddhists but can be practiced by the people of other religious backgrounds as well. This mindful communication model, grounded in the Eight-Fold Noble Path, is represented as a wheel with spokes. Each spoke symbolizes one of the eight principles: Right View (Samma Ditthi), Right Intention (Samma Sankappa), Right Speech (Samma Vaca), Right Action (Samma Kammanta), Right Livelihood (Samma Ajiva), Right Effort (Samma Vayama), Right Mindfulness (Samma Sati), and Right Concentration (Samma Samadhi). Each of these is connected to the other and can be started at any point but preferably from Right Understanding (Samma Ditthi). This paper examines a mindful communication model based on the Buddhist Eight-fold Noble Path.

References

Bodhi, Bhikkhu. The Noble Eightfold Path: The Way to the End of Suffering. Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1994. Accessed May 29, 2026. http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/noble8path6.pdf.

Buddharakkhita, Acharya. Metta: The Philosophy and Practice of Universal Love. 1995. Accessed May 29, 2026. https://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/buddharakkhita/wheel365.html.

Dissanayake, Wimal. “The Need for Asian Approaches to Communication.” In Communication Theory: The Asian Perspective, edited by Wimal Dissanayake, 1–19. Singapore: AMIC, 1988.

Global Times. “GT Investigates: Why Can Real China Be Seen in Some Western Media Reports Recently? Broken ‘Distorting Filters’.” February 28, 2025. Accessed May 29, 2026. https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202502/1329281.shtml.

Gunaratne, Shelton A. “Journalism and Happiness.” In Mindful Journalism and News Ethics in the Digital Era: A Buddhist Approach, edited by Shelton A. Gunaratne, Mark Pearson, and Sugath Senarath. New York and London: Routledge, 2015.

Herath, M. “Criteria for Evaluating Concepts of Good and Bad.” International Journal of Arts and Commerce (2013): 140–144.

MacBride, Sean, ed. Many Voices, One World. New York: UNESCO, 1980.

Menon, V. “Preface.” In Communication Theory: The Asian Perspective, edited by Wimal Dissanayake. Singapore: AMIC, 1988.

Miike, Yoshitaka. “An Anatomy of Eurocentrism in Communication Scholarship: The Role of Asiacentrality in De-Westernizing Theory and Research.” China Media Research 6, no. 1 (2010): 1–11.

Rahula, Walpola. What the Buddha Taught. London: Gordon Fraser, 1996.

Soma Thera. Kalama Sutta: The Instruction to the Kalamas. 1994. Accessed May 29, 2026. https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.065.soma.html.

Sarada Maha Thero. “Hatred Is Overcome Only by Non-Hatred.” Budusarana, March 16, 2020. Accessed May 29, 2026. https://www.budusarana.lk/budusarana/2020/03/16/tmp.asp?ID=vision12.

Seneviratne, Kalinga. Global News Media: Countering Western Hegemony in International News. India: Atlantic, 2025.

Seneviratne, Kalinga. “Introduction.” In Mindful Communication for Sustainable Development: Perspectives from Asia, edited by Kalinga Seneviratne. New Delhi: SAGE, 2018.

Sri Dhammananda, K. What Buddhists Believe. Expanded and revised ed. Malaysia: Buddhist Missionary Society, 1998.

Tilakaratne, Asanga. Collected Papers of Asanga Tilakaratne. Vol. 2, Buddhist Ethics. Nugegoda: Sarasavi, 2020.

Tilakaratne, Asanga. Collected Papers of Asanga Tilakaratne. Vol. 5, Inter-Religious Understanding. Nugegoda: Sarasavi Publishers, 2020.