Written by Jen Liu

By now, you've likely come across the phrase "the middle way" in your studies of Buddhism and meditation. The origin of this concept can be traced back to some of the earliest Buddhist sutras. But it is secular in nature: you don’t have to believe in any specific mythology or deity to work with and benefit from it.

In its simple yet elegant essence, the teaching of the middle way describes the process of identifying two extremes and choosing the path between them.

We exercise middle way discernment in something as fundamental as making a tiny adjustment to our posture when we do seated meditation. In Dharma Moon's 100-Hour Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training, we use short and sweet phrases such as "not too tight, not too loose" and "upright but not uptight" to describe the combination of upholding a straight and strong back while maintaining a soft and open heart. But — this is more than just a physical instruction! It's an invitation to cultivate the awareness needed to identify a lack of balance, as well as the ability to take intentional steps toward restoring it.

The middle way also comes in handy when trying to strike a skillful balance of precision and gentleness in our mindfulness practice. Precision can be seen as the sharp clarity we use to notice when our awareness has strayed, and gentleness can be seen as the compassionate, lighthearted tone with which we guide our awareness back to the breath. The balance of the two contributes to a healthy, sustainable practice over time: not enough precision with too much gentleness can prevent us from accessing depth and true growth, while too much precision with not enough gentleness can lead to burnout and discouragement.

How does the middle way appear in your practice or day-to-day life? Have you found yourself exercising it during an argument with a loved one, or when re-evaluating your relationship to a job or certain habits? Are there areas in which you aspire to implement this teaching more intentionally?