In Theravāda Buddhism, the Noble Eightfold Path (ariya aṭṭhaṅgika magga) is the practical framework for bringing dukkha to an end and realizing Nibbāna. It is traditionally gathered into three interrelated trainings: wisdom (paññā), ethical conduct (sīla), and concentration or mental discipline (samādhi). As wisdom, Right View (sammā-diṭṭhi) is the understanding of the Four Noble Truths, karma and rebirth, and the impermanent, unsatisfactory, and non-self nature of phenomena; Right Intention (sammā-saṅkappa) is the cultivation of intentions of renunciation, non-ill will, and harmlessness. Ethical conduct is expressed through Right Speech (sammā-vācā), abstaining from lying, divisive and harsh speech, and idle chatter; Right Action (sammā-kammanta), refraining from killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct; and Right Livelihood (sammā-ājīva), earning a living in ways that do not harm others or break the precepts. Mental discipline unfolds as Right Effort (sammā-vāyāma), the fourfold endeavor to prevent and abandon unwholesome states and to arouse and maintain wholesome ones; Right Mindfulness (sammā-sati), clear awareness of body, feelings, mind, and mental objects; and Right Concentration (sammā-samādhi), the development of a stable, unified mind, especially in the jhānas.

In Theravāda life, these eight factors are not treated as a rigid sequence but as mutually supporting aspects of a single path that permeates the whole of existence. For monastics, the path is systematized through the Vinaya discipline, daily meditation, and study of the Dhamma; the rules governing speech, livelihood, and conduct give concrete form to Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood, while structured meditation cultivates mindfulness, effort, and concentration as a basis for insight. Lay followers apply the same path within the conditions of household and social life, emphasizing the five precepts, honest and harmless livelihood, generosity (dāna), listening to Dhamma teachings, and regular meditation practice. In both spheres, the Eightfold Path functions as a continuous training: motives are examined in the light of Right Intention, actions and words are measured against ethical standards, and the mind is steadily shaped through effort, mindfulness, and concentration so that wisdom can deepen and the possibility of liberation becomes a lived reality rather than a mere ideal.