What do people mean when they say Buddhism is "the middle way"? Middle way between wh
Is that what it is? Because Buddha was born Hindu. He practiced Jainism and found it too strict and thus went his own way. So is that what is meant by "middle way"?
Jainism is pretty severe. I am Jain. But I do not fast because people seem to go for days on end without food. I know a few people, even kids, who have starved themselves for over 16 days and during this time they only drink water.
sponge2676: Don't worry too much about the thumbs down .. I don't think it was an answer which deserved it so thanks
That he did not live the life of luxury as a prince, nor did he continue to starve himself in an effort to reach enlightenment.
He took a middle path between luxury and extreme asceticism.
It mainly refers to the balance between any two diametrically opposed ideas. Buddhism often follows the "gray" area between any two dualistic concepts. Hence, the middle way.
In a sense, you are correct in your stated question. However, the middle way views all of life and life's phenomenon this way, not just that which is espoused by either Hinduism and Jainism.
Edit: Two thumbs down, huh? Don't understand that, not really too concerned about it other than it makes me wonder if they might be from Buddhists that don't really understand the teachings of Buddha.
The "middle way" refers to helping the world by actually living. Buddha realized that attachment to physical things can cause suffering, so lived a humble life, but also knew that if he forced himself to suffer and sacrifice everything for worship he could not help others who suffered.
Buddhism can be interpreted many ways, and some may also consider the middle way to be nirvana. Not heaven or hell, simply a place or state of being that is completely free of suffering.
if you are a catholic, st. john of the cross has an explanation to this. he talks also of a middle path in the ascent to mt. Carmel. it is actually all about journeying to God through the narrow path, detached from all desires, habits, concepts, emotions and forms, except only through the pure love of God - the NADA..... nothing....
When the Buddha renounced his princely world he became an Ascetic.
He lived on very little food and his body became skeletal. He was very severe in his methods. He tried various forms of asceticism but still he failed to accomplish his goal.
Eventually he realized that his approach was wrong he determined that the best path was one of moderation... A middle-way between indulgence and abstinence. He is said to have drawn a metaphor between the way we think and act and a bow string on a musical instrument. If a bow string is too taught it will snap when played; if it is too loose it will produce an inferior tone. Likewise, said the Buddha, we should walk the middle path to achieve optimum results.
It was at this stage when he followed "The Middle Way" he reached Enlightenment whilst Meditating under a Bodi tree.
What do people mean when they say Buddhism is "the middle way"?
A middle-way (Majjhima Patipada) between indulgence and abstinence. He is said to have drawn a metaphor between the way we think and act and a bow string on a musical instrument. If a bow string is too taught it will snap when played; if it is too loose it will produce an inferior tone. Likewise, said the Buddha, we should walk the middle path to achieve optimum results.
Well, according to The Vedas, Buddhism is only realizing one aspect of God. Though they don't believe in God. The Vedas explain that God has three aspects. 1. Impersonal Brahman (which Buddhism calls nirvana) 2. is parameter (the Christians Calley Holy spirit, and Hindus call Super Soul.- Meanning God within the heart of every living being. and 3 is Bhagavad (or the Supreme Person-God) When one comes to Bhagavan realization they have understood all three aspects of God. Because God the Supreme Person has a Brahman effulgent energy (Nirvana or Brahman) That is what they impersonality's or Buddhists are aspiring to merge with. (The so called void) That is Krishnas' (Gods) light energy. Krishna then expands into His form of Lord Vishnu and into innumerable expansions, into each and every living beings heart (Supre Soul or holy spirit). So Buddhism is kinda blaze for one who understands The Personal aspect of God who can actually talk with us and we can serve and love Him. We spit at the idea of merging with Gods energy, because there is no loving service there.
Let me ask you this. What would you prefer? Someone who hangs around you with no relationship with you, like a fly, because they like your energy or someone who makes you cakes and brings you flowers and makes loving exchanges with you? I prefer the second. God prefers the second person. The first are just nothing to Him. Well He does love them, but He recriprocats according to ones devotion to Him. The Voidists have no realtionship with Him, so they don't get the Love. I choose Love. http://www.asitis.com/7/3.html Thanks
The term "Middle Way" (Madhyamika) pertains to the philosophical tenet systems propounded by the Conqueror Shakyamuni Buddha, e.g. Madhyamika-Svatantrika (Middle Way Autonomy) and (that revived by Arya Nagarjuna) the Madhyamika-Prasangika (Middle Way Consequence) School. It refers to the "middle beyond the extremes" of eternal ism and nihilism and has to do with the philosophical assertion of the Sage Buddha more than it has to do with the practice or non-practice of asceticism. The Prasangika School, in the lineage of the refuge and protector Manjushri, the Superior Nagarjuna and the famed author Shantideva, details the lack of intrinsic existence of persons and phenomena by citing their lack of production. They refute the lower schools assertions in a methodical way through reasoning and basically say that a thing can not be said to be truly established because it is not produced by self, other, both self and other or without cause. See Chapter 9 of "A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life" by the great master Shantideva - or "Practicing Wisdom" for a more explicit commentary by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Best wishes to you in your studies of the Lam Rim, that most profound and systematic method of study implicit within the Prajanparamita Sutras.
The "Middle Way" of Buddhism has many different levels of meaning. Originally it meant the middle way between the extremes of asceticism and indulgence. As it evolved, Buddhist philosophers began to extend the idea to metaphysical and philosophical extremes as well. For example, Buddhism can be seen as the middle way between the views of absolutism and nihilism. It can also be seen as the middle way between idealism and physical ism. What it doesn't necessarily mean is strict moderation in all things. Moderation is seen as generally good by Buddhists, but it wouldn't go so far as to say one should indulge in a moderate amount of crack coca in. Catch my drift?
What do people mean when they say Buddhism is "the middle way"? Middle way between wh
Don't worry too much about the thumbs down .. I don't think it was an answer which deserved it so thanks 
