The Middle Way
The Middle Way:'Middle Path', is the Noble Eightfold Path which, by avoiding the two extremes of sensual lust and self-torment, leads to enlightenment and deliverance from suffering.
To give oneself up to indulgence in sensual pleasure (káma-sukha), the base, common, vulgar, unholy, unprofitable; and also to give oneself up to self-torment (atta-kilamatha), the painful, unholy, unprofitable, both these two extremes the Perfect One has avoided and has found the Middle Path (s.magga), which causes one both to see and to know, and which leads to peace, to discernment, to enlightenment, to Nibbána. It is the Noble Eightfold Path, the way that leads to the extinction of suffering, namely: right understanding, right thought, right speech, right bodily action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration" (S. LVI, 11).
Urbandharma.org
The way or path that transcends polar extremes. The Middle Way also indicates the true nature of all things, which cannot be defined by the absolutes of existence or nonexistence. It transcends the extremes of polar and opposing views, in other words, all duality.'
http://www.sgilibrary.org/search_dict.php
My Definition:
Middle Way: The avoidance of extremes in either wholesome or unwholesome behaviors. The Middle Way is achieved by recognizing "what is" through attention to conditions in order to understand dukkha. The Middle Way leads to awakening.
My Journal:
The Middle Way is described in the "Parable of Sona" through the metaphor of the lute string. A lute string needs to be neither too loose nor too tight to play in tune. In this way, humans are to avoid extremes either wholesome or unwholesome. This practice seems similar to that of the Benedictine Monks where total abstinence and denial are considered harmful to the soul in that they engender pride in the individual for their efforts. Rather, like Buddhism, Benedictine Monks look forward to only what they need and examine each moment as it occur.
The Middle Way denies the extreme of "self" vs "nonself" of anatta often misunderstood by practitioners. Individuals must understand the influence that conditions have in formulating their personality and sense of self in order to avoid the dualism of "subject vs object" or "Me vs you."
In the Middle way, the individual recognizes that while they are the result of conditions they are not just a part of the cosmic fluctuation of matter. Rather, the sense of self recognized by individuals can be healthy as long as it does not lead to unwholesome habits of greed or ill-will.
Because of Midterms, I have realized that the Middle Way becomes more difficult in almost all areas of life when I "fall off the wagon" in one aspect or another. For example, when I forgo sleep in order do homework (reaching an excess of my abilities) I go to the extremes in eating and caffeine. My behavior also changes toward extremes of happiness and sadness. The Middle Way is very much a bodily phenomena in addition to a mental phenomena. I need to take care of my body in order to take care of my mind and soul.
Even Buddhism walks a very fine line in order to not move toward excess. The Middle Way, forms a line between traditional Theravadin Buddhism and Vajrayana Buddhism which employs the use of metaphysical concepts in order to produce skillful habits and practices within its practitioners. Practitioners with Buddhism are able to "cherry pick" from these different types of Buddhism in order to find a practice that best fulfills their needs and helps them to attain enlightenment. This practice of allowed "cherry picking" of types of Buddhism and even theory separates Buddhism from other mainstream religions and philosophies which require an entire subservience to a particular discipline.
Although the Middle Path is difficult to follow, it allows the practitioner large amounts of philosophical and practical "room" with which to fit their practice. For example, currently I am taking the Middle Path between my family religion of Roman Catholicism and Buddhism. Although previously I believed that I was fulfilled solely through Roman Catholicism, my study of Buddhism has taught me that there are certain Buddhist concepts that were helpful for me to embrace in my life. Currently I am following the religious aspects of Roman Catholicism but I am supplementing practical rules with helpful Buddhist principles in order that I might be more aware of conditions as they occur and my reasons for choices and decisions.
To give oneself up to indulgence in sensual pleasure (káma-sukha), the base, common, vulgar, unholy, unprofitable; and also to give oneself up to self-torment (atta-kilamatha), the painful, unholy, unprofitable, both these two extremes the Perfect One has avoided and has found the Middle Path (s.magga), which causes one both to see and to know, and which leads to peace, to discernment, to enlightenment, to Nibbána. It is the Noble Eightfold Path, the way that leads to the extinction of suffering, namely: right understanding, right thought, right speech, right bodily action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration" (S. LVI, 11).
Urbandharma.org
The way or path that transcends polar extremes. The Middle Way also indicates the true nature of all things, which cannot be defined by the absolutes of existence or nonexistence. It transcends the extremes of polar and opposing views, in other words, all duality.'
http://www.sgilibrary.org/search_dict.php
My Definition:
- Feb 12, 2013:
Middle Way: The avoidance of extremes in either wholesome or unwholesome behaviors. The Middle Way is achieved by recognizing "what is" through attention to conditions in order to understand dukkha. The Middle Way leads to awakening.
My Journal:
- Feb 12, 2013:
- Feb 19, 2013:
The Middle Way is described in the "Parable of Sona" through the metaphor of the lute string. A lute string needs to be neither too loose nor too tight to play in tune. In this way, humans are to avoid extremes either wholesome or unwholesome. This practice seems similar to that of the Benedictine Monks where total abstinence and denial are considered harmful to the soul in that they engender pride in the individual for their efforts. Rather, like Buddhism, Benedictine Monks look forward to only what they need and examine each moment as it occur.
- Feb 28, 2013:
The Middle Way denies the extreme of "self" vs "nonself" of anatta often misunderstood by practitioners. Individuals must understand the influence that conditions have in formulating their personality and sense of self in order to avoid the dualism of "subject vs object" or "Me vs you."
In the Middle way, the individual recognizes that while they are the result of conditions they are not just a part of the cosmic fluctuation of matter. Rather, the sense of self recognized by individuals can be healthy as long as it does not lead to unwholesome habits of greed or ill-will.
- March 6, 2013:
Because of Midterms, I have realized that the Middle Way becomes more difficult in almost all areas of life when I "fall off the wagon" in one aspect or another. For example, when I forgo sleep in order do homework (reaching an excess of my abilities) I go to the extremes in eating and caffeine. My behavior also changes toward extremes of happiness and sadness. The Middle Way is very much a bodily phenomena in addition to a mental phenomena. I need to take care of my body in order to take care of my mind and soul.
- March 12, 2013:
Even Buddhism walks a very fine line in order to not move toward excess. The Middle Way, forms a line between traditional Theravadin Buddhism and Vajrayana Buddhism which employs the use of metaphysical concepts in order to produce skillful habits and practices within its practitioners. Practitioners with Buddhism are able to "cherry pick" from these different types of Buddhism in order to find a practice that best fulfills their needs and helps them to attain enlightenment. This practice of allowed "cherry picking" of types of Buddhism and even theory separates Buddhism from other mainstream religions and philosophies which require an entire subservience to a particular discipline.
- March 28, 2013:
Although the Middle Path is difficult to follow, it allows the practitioner large amounts of philosophical and practical "room" with which to fit their practice. For example, currently I am taking the Middle Path between my family religion of Roman Catholicism and Buddhism. Although previously I believed that I was fulfilled solely through Roman Catholicism, my study of Buddhism has taught me that there are certain Buddhist concepts that were helpful for me to embrace in my life. Currently I am following the religious aspects of Roman Catholicism but I am supplementing practical rules with helpful Buddhist principles in order that I might be more aware of conditions as they occur and my reasons for choices and decisions.
Mindfully/ Mindfulness
Mindfully/ Mindfulness: 'mindfulness',
is one of the 5 spiritual faculties and powers (s. bala), one
of the 7 factors of enlightenment (bojjhanga, q.v.), and the
7th link of the 8-fold Path(magga, q.v.), and is, in its widest
sense, one of those mental factors inseparably associated with all karmically
wholesome (kusala, q.v.) and karma-produced lofty(sobhana) consciousness
(Cf. Tab. II).
Urbandharma.org
My Definition:
Mindfully/ Mindfulness:
Wholesome mental habit cultivated by an awakened mind through attention to "what is" through conditions and recognition of dukkha.
Mindfully/ Mindfulness in practice is conscious awareness of actions and conditions and the possible karma associated with them.
My Journal:
As individuals awaken to "what is" in reality, through conditions and ICA, they become more mindful and aware. Rather than reaching a peak and then plateauing, human understanding continues to grow until awakening is achieved or the individual chooses to no longer practices attention and mindfulness toward the current moment. Because moments are transient, an individual cannot merely learn to be "mindful" and continue with life; rather, Buddhist practitioners must make an effort every day in order to become awakened.
Over the past two weeks, I have attempted to be mindful of my decisions toward school and my family. My effort to be mindful has partially succeeded in that while I still spend a large amount of time on homework, I am making more time for my family, friends, and boyfriend. I have also found that much of the time that I "needed" to spend on homework was largely unnecessary and merely a result of me avoiding work- with this, I am walking closer to a "middle path" in regards to my life and I am flourishing from the practice.
Urbandharma.org
My Definition:
Mindfully/ Mindfulness:
Wholesome mental habit cultivated by an awakened mind through attention to "what is" through conditions and recognition of dukkha.
Mindfully/ Mindfulness in practice is conscious awareness of actions and conditions and the possible karma associated with them.
My Journal:
- Mar 3, 2013:
- March 20, 2013:
As individuals awaken to "what is" in reality, through conditions and ICA, they become more mindful and aware. Rather than reaching a peak and then plateauing, human understanding continues to grow until awakening is achieved or the individual chooses to no longer practices attention and mindfulness toward the current moment. Because moments are transient, an individual cannot merely learn to be "mindful" and continue with life; rather, Buddhist practitioners must make an effort every day in order to become awakened.
- April 2, 2013:
- April 4, 2013:
- April 20, 2013:
- April 30, 2013:
Over the past two weeks, I have attempted to be mindful of my decisions toward school and my family. My effort to be mindful has partially succeeded in that while I still spend a large amount of time on homework, I am making more time for my family, friends, and boyfriend. I have also found that much of the time that I "needed" to spend on homework was largely unnecessary and merely a result of me avoiding work- with this, I am walking closer to a "middle path" in regards to my life and I am flourishing from the practice.