In treating illness, in addition to therapy directed immediately against the symptoms, doctors sometimes prescribe regimens related to diet, sleep, and exercise designed to create a generally healthy body capable of resisting illness. Something similar applies to treating spiritual disorders. Of course, it is essential to remove ignorance and cravings that directly bring about the lusts causing suffering. But it is also necessary to eliminate all other conditions that make it easy for suffering to develop and to produce spiritual good health and resistance against the further occurrence of suffering.

To this end, training in eight aspects of human behavior is provided in the Eightfold Noble Path. The system inherent in this path is intended not only to eliminate temporary suffering but also to create a perfectly healthy character in which suffering will not arise under any circumstances. Buddhist training and enlightenment employ present suffering as the occasion to institute a course leading ultimately to the perfection of the character.