Hello,
yes, in some way i think it´s a calming of mind. I don`t belong to any buddhist organization and my buddhist
background are the excerpts of the Pali-Canon. I`m specialized on the Longer Collektion of the Pali-Canon.
By being with the oldest, ancient writings , i think I´m even earlier than the Theravada.
The Eightfold Path has lot´s of benefits in chaniging the consciousness until to point where the perception is being disolved. this tool can bring you so far but there is a lot more to do on you´re own. the example for that is the ferrryman who brings one from the first to the second shore, you don´t need the first one any more.
It´was very difficult to tell other buddhist chatters here that there is a here and a beyond. It was difficult to explain, that there are Lightbeings from the beyond that existed before this body came into existence and that this Lightbeings even do exist after the physical death. I know Maro Dusi, Brahma in his three forms.