The Middle Way

I hope you all are doing well. My daughter is taking an asynchronous class this summer in addition to her summer internship and when I asked her what class she told me Intro to Buddhism. I got very excited because while I have been studying Buddhist concepts for many years, I welcomed the chance to fill in some of the historical gaps. It has been fun getting to watch some of the lectures with her and I have learned so much already. It inspired me to share one of the most fundamental Buddhist principles with my classes last week; The Middle Way. This is something I have taught for years but through this class I have a much deeper historical understanding of how the Buddha came to it. 

The Four Noble Truths leads us to the Middle Way and The Middle Way is essentially the idea that we can minimize suffering when we can find the balance between extremes. It invites us to find peace wherever we are in the here and now. By neither grasping nor resisting life we find freedom in the midst of the joys and the sorrows.

This concept is a powerful one both on and off the mat. On the mat we are also looking for that balance, the middle way between strength and flexibility. The opportunity to challenge ourselves without judgment and find acceptance of where we are at the same time. This is very difficult and hence why we call it a practice. We also practice not avoiding or ignoring the natural pains we experience but rather meeting them with compassion. And at the same time we work not to grasp or hold too tightly onto what our bodies used to do or look like. We can see how both of those can cause suffering. It is acceptance through understanding that helps us find The Middle Way on the mat.

Off the mat, the same is true. The Buddha had experienced a life of complete luxury as he was born into a noble family who wanted to keep him away from all types of suffering. The doctrine tells the story that at the age of 29, he first saw the sufferings of the human condition; old age, sickness and death. He left his family and luxuries behind and spent the next 6 years in a state of extreme deprivation seeking enlightenment. After that time he realized he was no closer to enlightenment then he had been before and he discovered that The Middle Way was the path. 

Our tendency for grasping and resistance can cause us lots of extra suffering. There first needs to be acceptance that some suffering is normal. We all suffer. We have to. It’s part of being human. When we resist this and run and hide from it, we actually cause ourselves extra suffering. The same is true with grasping. When we hold on too tight and live in fear of things ending or changing we cause ourselves extra suffering. Wishing for things to be different or how they used to be or fighting against what is in other ways also brings us down a path of deeper suffering. 

These are incredibly difficult practices which helps give context to the Buddha’s 45 years traveling Asia to share his teachings. Thank you for allowing me to share this with you and for practicing The Middle Way with me this week. Happy practicing!!