THE PANORAMA SENSES 1. The Animal Teachings 2. Psychology Of The Panorama 3. Civilisations Habitual Ruts 4. Buddhism and Wheels 5. The Great Spirit 6.+7. Inner Body Senses CONTACT ME

THE HISTORY AND MYSTERY of THE MIDDLE WAY

Please read the Summary first

Buddha's Early Life and The Middle Way

Buddha started his life as a Prince and enjoyed all the pleasures of this world.

When he was around thirty years old, he left his home to search for truth. He followed the Hindu path, renouncing all attachments and abstaining from any sensory pleasure. He became an
ascetic Similar to hermits, but ascetics often have company, Buddha had 5 companion ascetics. They renounce everything and practice self denial.
for many years.

So, he experienced both sides of life – the two extremes. Unrestrained sensual pleasure as a prince, and sensual withdrawal as an ascetic. Then he realised there was a third way to look for, and find happiness and fulfilment in life. He called this 'The Middle Way'.

It is clearly written and unquestioned by all Buddhists that The Middle Way is a way between the two extremes of sensual indulgence and sensory withdrawal. It is usually understood as moderation in our mental and emotional approach to life.

The Mystery of The Middle Way

The Middle Way is usually understood as either moderation, occasionally as renunciation, and sometimes it is thought to be the same as the Eightfold Path.

Moderation has many advantages. Wise local rulers and teachers would have known about the value of moderation; even everyday craftsmen and householders would have known its value; and there were inevitably many people who practised something between the two extremes of asceticism and hedonism, long before Buddha's time.

Buddha first announced the Middle Way at the same time as the Four Noble Truths directly after his enlightenment, in the
Sermon of Bernares. Undisputed as the first sermon in Buddhism.
These teachings were about something new. So, it's highly unlikely that the Middle Way is anything to do with moderation.

However, it's impossible to be anything but moderate, when action is balanced with panoramic sensing.

Renunciation was already practised in ascetic Hinduism, it is an integral part of the ascetic way, and therefore one of the two extremes which the Middle Way avoids.

However, the panoramic way of receptive sensing without wanting is a practical basis for renunciation.

The Eightfold Path is already an alternative name for The Fourth Noble Truth, it seems doubtful Buddha would use yet a third name and also call it The Middle Way. However panoramic sensing is an ideal example of mindfulness and absorption, the last two steps of the eightfold path of The Fourth Noble Truth.

Please continue with Desire is Dependent on Focusing

Back to Chapter Four : Buddhism and Wheels
Back to THE PANORAMA SENSES Priority Pages