Middle Way
An important guiding principle of Buddhist practice is the Middle Way (or Middle Path), which is said to have been discovered by Gautama Buddha prior to his enlightenment. The Middle Way has several definitions:
- The practice of non-extremism: a path of moderation away from the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification;
- The middle ground between certain metaphysical views (for example, that things ultimately either do or do not exist);
- An explanation of Nirvana (perfect enlightenment), a state wherein it becomes clear that all dualities apparent in the world are delusory (see Seongcheol);
- Another term for emptiness, the ultimate nature of all phenomena (in the Mahayana branch), a lack of inherent existence, which avoids the extremes of permanence and nihilism or inherent existence and nothingness.
Read more about this topic: Superbuddha, Buddhist Concepts, Suffering's Causes and Solution
Famous quotes containing the words middle way and/or middle:
“In our calling, we have to choose; we must make our fortune either in this world or in the next, there is no middle way.”
—Stendhal [Marie Henri Beyle] (1783–1842)
“The worst and best are both inclined
To snap like vixens at the truth.
But, O, beware the middle mind
That purrs and never shows a tooth!”
—Elinor Wylie (1885–1928)
“There was a little girl, she had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead;
And when she was good, she was very, very good,
And when she was bad, she was horrid.”
—Mother Goose (fl. 17th–18th century. There Was a Little Girl (attributed to Mother Goose)