LIFE LESSONS

The Noble Eightfold Path of Busking: A Vegan Drummer’s Story

Busking, Buddhism and Being Vegan

Image of a djembe player created by the author using Freepik

Even before I left school (and long before I ever considered busking) I knew my career choices were going to be determined more by ethics than by salary.

My Journey to Veganism and Buddhism

I had already gone vegan when I was sixteen, having long been a supporter of various animal rights causes. A combination of animal rights film, literature from my local activist group and reading ‘Animal Liberation’ by Peter Singer finally gave me the push I needed. Then, during my A Levels, I discovered Buddhism.

The Noble Eightfold Path Of Buddhism

The path of Buddhism can be summed up in eight parts, known as The Noble Eightfold Path:

1. Right Understanding
2. Right Motivation
3. Right Action
4. Right Speech
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Concentration
8. Right Meditation

This is not necessarily a progressive path where the steps are followed one after the other but rather eight…