The Middle Way or Middle Path (Pali: Majjhimāpaṭipadā; Sanskrit: Madhyamāpratipad)[1] is the term that Gautama Buddha used to describe the character of the Noble Eightfold Path he discovered that leads to liberation.[2],[3] The Three-Pitaka was compiled and arranged in its present form by those Arahants who had immediate contact with the Master Himself[4]. The Buddha has passed away, but the sublime Dharma which He unreservedly bequeathed to humanity still exists in its pristine purity. Although the Master left no written records of His Teachings, His distinguished disciples preserved them faithfully by committing to memory and transmitting them orally from generation to generation. Immediately after the passing away of the Buddha, 500 distinguished Arahants held a convention known as the First Buddhist Council to rehearse the Doctrine taught by the Buddha. Venerable Ananda, the faithful attendant of the Buddha who had the special privilege of hearing all the discourses the Buddha uttered recited the Dharma, whilst the Venerable Upali recited the Vinaya, the rules of conduct for the Sangha.
The simple answer is that Buddhism is too vast and too profound to be neatly placed in any single mundane category. Of course, Buddhism includes philosophy and religion and a way of life. But Buddhism goes beyond these categories[5]. The categories or labels given to Buddhism are like signboards that indicate the contents of what is available. If we compare Buddhism to a medicine shop, it will be clear that the signboard on the medicine shop does not cure a person of sickness. You take the medicine to heal yourself without being attached to the label for the medicine. Likewise, if the Teaching of the Buddha is effective, then use it and do not be attached to the label or signboard. Buddhism cannot be forced into any single category or limited under any signboard. As human beings we must have an aim in our life. A person not observing a righteous way of life will never find the aim of life and if he does not uphold some noble principles he can even become a danger to society. Religion also originally developed as humanism to uphold humane qualities. Later, it was introduced as a divine law.
However, a noble way of life is needed to maintain our human values and dignity. The noble way of life to be discussed here is a proven method wherein by cultivating the mind one could gain supreme wisdom.[6] Countries in which attempts were made to supplant the noble principles of religion with socialism or materialism have been proved to be modern day failures. It is apparent that human beings must have some noble principles to gain confidence in life. Human beings must choose a rational and meaningful way of life based on their firm conviction and not one founded on mere mythological beliefs, traditional practices and theories. One should not force anyone to accept any particular religious laws nor exploit his or her state of poverty, illiteracy or emotions to induce that person to accept their beliefs. A person should be free to choose a reasonable way of life according to his or her understanding capacity. They should therefore choose a respectable way of life that is suitable and one that measures up to their expectations. They must be properly guided in this respect and then given a chance to decide for themselves without recourse to any fore of coercion. An outstanding aspect of the Buddha's Teaching is the adoption of the Eightfold Path is the Middle Path. The Buddha advised His followers to follow this Path so as to avoid the extremes of sensual pleasures and self-mortification. The Middle Path is a righteous way of life which does not advocate the acceptance of decrees given by someone outside oneself. A person practices the Middle Path, the guide for moral conduct, not out of fear of any supernatural agency, but out of the intrinsic value in following such an action. He chooses this self-imposed discipline for a definite end in view: self-purification.[7] The Middle Path is a planned course of inward culture and progress. A person can make real progress in righteousness and insight by following this Path, and not by engaging in external worship and prayers.
According to the Buddha, anyone who lives in accordance with the Dharma will be guided and protected by that very Law. When a person lives according to Dharma, he will also be living in harmony with the universal law. Every Buddhist is encouraged to mound his life according to the Noble Eightfold Path as taught by the Buddha. He who adjusts his life according to this noble way of living will is free from miseries and calamities both in this life-time and hereafter. He will also be able to develop his mind by restraining from evil and observing morality.[8] The Eightfold Path can be compared to a road map. Just as a traveler will need a map to lead him to his destination, we all need the Eightfold Path which shows us how to attainNibbāna, the final goal of human life. To attain the final goal, there are three aspects of the Eightfold path to be developed by the devotee. He has to develop Sīla (Morality), Samadhi (Mental Culture) and Panna (Wisdom). While the three must be developed simultaneously, the intensity with which any one area is to be practiced varies according to a person's own spiritual development.
References
[1] S.S. (MCU). [2] Pali (tr). Bhikkhu Bodhi, Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta: Setting the Wheel of the Dhamma in Motio, (BuddhaSasana Home Page English Section, 2546),p. 3
[3] Pali,(tr). Piyadassi Thera, The Book of Protection Partita, (Kandy Srilanka, 1999),P. 74
[4] Dr. K. Sri Dhammanada, What Buddhists Believe,( Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2002),P.99
[5] Dr. K. Sri Dhammanada, What Buddhists Believe,( Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2002),P.83
[6] Ven. Dr K Sri Dhammananda, the aim and way of life , P. 2
[7]Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda Maha Thera, the Noble Eightfold Path - The Middle Way, P.5.
[8] S. Dhammika, The Broken Buddha , Critical Reflections on Theravada and a Plea for a New Buddhism, P.2
Source: http://siadhamma.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-middle-way-of-buddhism.html
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