Savaka Sangha ::: A Buddhist Community

Buddhists often talk about The Middle Way but what exactly does this really mean?

One could say everything in moderation, but that doesn’t quite cover it. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you…well, not exactly right either. Too much of a good thing isn’t good for you, well kind of.

When Buddists talk about The Middle Way,   they are talking about moderation in all actions. The Buddha specifically referred to The Middle Way when discussing sensual indulgence and self motification.

That was all well and good some 2500 years ago, but in the 21st century the temptations and opportunities to overindulge abound.

Whether it be buying things, spending excessive time on one activity, or even placing unreasonable demands on other people, we tend to go to extremes and some of the evidence of this is becoming painfully public over the last few months.

When we approach life with the middle way in mind, we do in full thought and awareness of what we are doing. Now what does that mean you say?

Basically ir means we think before we act. Buddhism promotes wisdom and compassion, and that is how we need to learn to think. Everything we do has an impact on us and others, nothing is independent from everything else. So when you make the decision to put a mortgage on your house to buy a car, it impacts the mortgage broker and car dealer, but it also impacts you and your family.

But we are happy now you say, we love our new car, everything is right in the world. Well, maybe, in this moment and possibly a couple more. But now you have a mortgage to pay so you have to work longer. What happens if you lose your job? Now the money you could have used  to retire earlier, donate to charities, or do things with your family goes to the bank.

Before we made this decision we needed to ask ourselves if we needed this new car so badly we would mortgage our house to get it. If we had spent time really thinking with wisdom, we would have seen that it was only our thought that made us believe we needed this new car for reasons other than those a car can provide. Where we playing keep up with the Jones’? Did a well executed marketing campaign sell us because those people were so happy with their new car?

If we really applied clear thinking to the question the answer would likely be no.