Mastering the Buddhist Middle Way

Balanced natural elements in a Buddhist temple garden

The Buddha taught a middle way between the extremes of asceticism and self-indulgence. Hundreds of years after the Buddha's time, the Indian scholar Nāgārjuna founded the Madhyamaka, or Middle Way, school of Buddhist philosophy. His middle way was between considering the world we live in as entirely real or entirely unreal.

The Buddha lived 2,600 years before us and Nāgārjuna 2,000. I am among those who see a new middle way emerging in Buddhism—between the extremes of secularism and rigid dogma. Think of it as a middle way between "anything goes" and exclusivism (only one way to enlightenment). Here's one definition:

The New Middle Way in Buddhist thought is a modern take on Buddha's teaching about avoiding extremes. It's about finding practical ways to incorporate Buddhist principles into regular life. You can have a job, family, and Netflix subscription while still pursuing spiritual development. It's about awakening to a life of joy here and now.

It's not about dismissing the past. It's about studying the traditional teachings and applying them to modern life. It needs to be learned through experience as well as cognitively. Consider subscribing to my Substack blog, From the Pure Land, or reading my book, A Buddhist Path to Joy.

May you be well and happy.