Actually Buddha is the rough translation for "awake"...jnana in a Buddhist context is a pali word for a state of meditative absorption. The 8 paths you speak of are a hindu yogic system, and isnt Buddhism at all.
That being said, I find the steps in general are perfectly suited to a practicing Buddhist, as long as you WORK them and not read about them. That goes for all Buddhist principles as well. In both Buddhism and the steps, you cant tease apart the philosophy from the practice. I tried both separately and crashed and burned...I have to practice Buddhism and the steps as a single unit. This is my experience. Great thread!!