Comments for The Middle Way

Comment on What Is The Middle Way? by rahul

rahul — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 15:54:19 +0000

Life is about a lot of decisions. It doesn’t matter where you goto school but what you do with the knowledge. My wife went to state schools and I went to what’s considered top tier school. We both work together and she is just as good if not better. So keep head up, believe in the right and hardwork, do good for the world and stop worrying about past or future.

Comment on Free And Custom Mp3 Meditation Chimes/Timer by Renee

Renee — Wed, 09 May 2012 21:38:43 +0000

Wade,

A thousand thanks for these timers. Believe I’ve found your current site.

Peace and grace,

Renee

Comment on Free Vipassana Meditation Mp3 Timers by Amol

Amol — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 09:50:57 +0000

Thanks Friend for providing these useful timers (especially one hours)...now practicing will be easy at home.

Thank you once again…

MANGAL HO…

BE HAPPY…

Comment on Watch Your Thoughts by Beth Ciborowski

Beth Ciborowski — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 17:32:50 +0000

The words are a wonderful message. Now in my version which I painstakingly tried to make anonymous because I felt it was from another source had the word “for” in it. “Watch your thoughts,for they become words”. As I said previously it was inspired. Think though- and this is why I attribute it to my reading Buddha that day- For they become words. It is in reference to forethought. It was a play with the spelling to see how many would think it through. A young girl was raped and beaten and every body was angry. They were planning all sorts of terrible things and saying it was highly racially motivated. I wanted the group I was in to stop being angry and think before they plunged on in. So yes, the fact that all who question the poem point to another religious book makes my heart soar.Be safe and inspired all

Comment on What Is The Middle Way? by Jae

Jae — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 16:06:44 +0000

This is interesting. I feel that I made possibly poor decisions in the past out of choosing the ‘Middle Way’ ... one of them was choosing to go to an average, middle-of-the-road university instead of a more prestigious one. My fiancee – whom I met at that university – actually stated that she is upset I didnt attend the more prestigious university. When I told her that I wouldnt have met her, she stated that she would have been happy for me even if she didnt know me/no matter what. She’s not a religious/spiritual person, and I feel a bit foolish for choosing an average university …

Comment on More to Vipassana than S.N. Goenka? by Anurag

Anurag — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:01:23 +0000

Shraddha or faith is a necessary precondition for any kind of meditation and the same has been emphasized by Goenkaji in his talks. But by branding Buddha’s teachings as buddhism(like organised religion or sect where the only criteria required is faith) is to do a great disservice to not only Buddha Himself but also to the vast multitude of people who can take advantage of His teachings while still remaining faithful to their traditional religion.

DY mentions that Goenkaji’s technique is not mentioned in the sutta. Could not have been further from the truth. In Maha Satipathanna sutta, it is clearly mentioned the importance of vedana and its observation which is the technique taught by Goenkaji.

It seems the teachings of Buddha have not penetrated DY’s psyche or else he would not have launched such a tirade against Goenkaji. It is truly said that only practice will liberate a person.

Comment on What Is The Middle Way? by Ronald K. Olson

Ronald K. Olson — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 23:19:15 +0000

I am non-religious, but I do adore Siddhartha. “Trust nothing. Examine everything.” These words of his are always with me. After sixty years of “trusting nothing” and aggressively “examining everything,” I have concluded that mankind is so obsessed with “symptoms,” it is unable to recognize the “disease.” “Paradigm shift” is a developing buzz phrase that simply covers “symptoms” that have been with us from the “get go” with the latest technologically improved “whitewash.”

Finish this paragraph before you write me off. Mankind has been “shifting” within the same “paradigm” for all of its history and all “this shifting” has to show for all of its effort is “what we have today.” “What we have today” is no worse than “what they had yesterday” except now, there is no place left to run. Mankind’s societies’ have vigorously defied Nature throughout its history and finally the principle of diminishing returns is about to turn mankind on its ear. Throughout mankind’s history there have been those who were somehow caused to have a sensitivity to Nature, Natural Law, Knowledge, Truth. These have valiantly attempted to respond to mankind’s “dysfunctional ‘symptomatic’ behaviors.” Having “trusted nothing” and aggressively “examined everything, I have come to the conclusion that mankind’s “symptoms” point to mankind’s “intuitive free-will social mindset” as the “disease.” This “free-will cancer” has been at the heart of mankind’s activities ever since mankind had activities. “Free-will” has been “assumed.” Mankind has shifted within “free-will” parameters throughout its history and consequently, mankind is now at the brink of extinction. What is demanded for mankind’s survival is a complete “paradigm change;” a change from free-will principles to universal deterministic principles. Free-will defies Nature while universal determinism is Nature. “Paradigm change” will demand much from mankind. Eastern religions are significantly more compatible with universal determinism than western religions are, but all religions will need to adjust.

I just noticed the saying below: “Happiness is for All Time, Not Just the Future.” My bent on this is, “happiness” is free-will’s substitution for universal determinism’s concept of “joy.” Strictly speaking, “happiness” is vaporous emotion and very little, if any, Knowledge, while “joy” is founded in Knowledge and then enhanced with emotion. “Happiness” is a thin superficial veneer that does not last. “Joy” is an impenetrable mass garnished with life. “Happiness” is a rusted bumper left in a junk yard. “Joy” is a mountain resplendent with plants, animals and elegant rock formations. “Happiness” isn’t worth the breath it takes to say it. “Joy” makes one breathless. I am not Buddhist, but I sense within my Self an affinity to most of what Buddhism represents. I guess I am “Ron,” and Buddhism is a lot like me! That sounds kind of funny, sort of, like, you know? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm….......

Comment on Happiness is for All Time, Not Just the Future by David Andrew

David Andrew — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 00:07:04 +0000

Realizing this, or attaining the realization, one can still continue working in complete happiness. Before enlightenment, washing dishes… After enlightenment, washing dishes.. The work did not cause the suffering, one is simply suffering and working, as another might be suffering and surfing..

Comment on What Is The Middle Way? by Susmita

Susmita — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 17:25:23 +0000

I like to see the correct translation of the word ‘samma’ which is hard to translate. I have seen it translated as ‘wise’ view, intention, speech etc. I like to use the word ‘wholesome’. Since our mind like to cling to, run away from or stay indifferent on some views, beliefs and attitudes. Buddha advocates views that are wholesome and benevolent and life affirming. peace

Comment on Your Thoughts: A Buddhist Response to the Economic Crisis by Martin

Martin — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:08:07 +0000

Capitalism is a zero sum game. Its founders acknowledged this. A pool of willing workers would be kept aside to draw upon when needed, and to be dispensed with when not needed.

During the mid twentieth century events came together that fostered, most coincidently, a middle way. From the mid forties through the early seventies, many of us alive then assumed we were on the right path. But then more events occurred that lured us off that path. We’ve been lost in the jungle ever since. Most economists today admit that proponents of trickle down economics are mountebanks.

A good Buddhist could do no harm by continuing to present, like the occupiers, a picture of the way things really are to the powers that be. The powers that be, of course, are trapped by their ideologies and might be, deep down inside, desperate for a way out.