with

The Middle Way

s
the two extreme
majjhimā paṭipadā
Not connected

Ven Kusalasami @ Uncle Joe’s

Dana - Mar 26 2011

What are the two extremes?
“You should not pursue sensual pleasure: it is low,
vulgar, coarse, ignoble, not beneficial.! And you should
not pursue self-mortification: it is painful, ignoble, not
beneficial. Without turning to either of these extremes,
there is the middle way awakened to by the Tathagata
[the One Thus Come], that gives rise to vision, to
knowledge, to peace,to direct knowledge, to
awakening, to Nirvana.” - Aranavibhanga Sutta
Middle Way is not the middle or
somewhere between the two extremes.
Often mistaken as half wholesome and half
unwholesome. Middle Way does not mean “a little bit
of this and a little bit of that.” For example if you drink
4 glasses of alcohol per day and now you drink 2
glasses, you cannot say that you are following the
Middle Way since it is a “middle” position between
addiction and abstention. Likewise, there is no such
basis as moderate killing or stealing.
So what is the Middle Way?
It is the Noble Eight Fold Path. Without turning to
either of the two extremes, there is the Middle Way. It
is not connected to the two extremes. The Middle Way
produces spiritual insight and wisdom to see things as
they truly are. The Middle Way leads to the subjugation
of passions and the arising of wisdom. It leads to the
four supramundane paths of the Noble Ones, to the
understanding of the Four Noble Truths and finally to
the realisation of Nibbana. This Middle Way
distinguishes the Buddha’s teachings from other
religions.
Observing the Five Precepts is following
the Middle Way
Buddha taught Sila, Samadhi and Panna. This is the
Middle Way. Sila comprising of Noble Speech, Action
and Livelihood; Samadhi comprising of Noble Effort,
Mindfulness and Concentration and Panna comprising
of Noble View and Thought. Each of these Noble Eight
Fold Paths supports one another and does not
function separately. For example when we practise
Mindfulness meditation, all the eight factors are there.
Similarly when we observe sila (precepts), all the eight
factors are there. When we choose to abstain from
killing, there is Noble thought and wisdom, there is
right effort, mindfulness and concentration, etc. Sila
supports Samadhi and Samdhi supports Panna. They are
like the three legs of a tripod. Without one leg, the
tripod will not stand.
This is an important fact. We need to develop all the
eight factors to completely follow the Buddha’s Middle
Way but when we are practising one factor, it must be
supported by the other seven factors. Example - If we
abstain from drinking alcohol because of health
reasons, while this is a good motivation it is may not
be supported by wisdom (to avoid heedlessness) and
the other factors (to overcome unwholesome act). We
need to cultivate all the eight factors in all our actions.

NOTE: THIS ONE PAGE DHAMMA HAS NOT BEEN READ NOR EDITED BY THE SPEAKER