# THE HISTORY and MYSTERY of THE MIDDLE WAY

## 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 then 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.

## The Mystery of The Middle Way

The Middle Way is normally understood as moderation in our mental and emotional approach to life. Sometimes it is thought to be the Eightfold Path, and occasionally, renunciation.

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 by panoramic sensing.

Renunciation 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 a precise path, there is nothing middle about it, a monk is not allowed even a small amount of lying, or harming other beings. In addition, The Eightfold Path is 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 practical step towards watchfulness and absorption, the last two steps of the Eightfold Path and The Fourth Noble Truth.

Please continue with Desire is Dependent on Focusing

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