The Middle Way in practical life
Upvote:0
The Middle Way is applied in the Buddha's early life story (told especially in Majjhima Nikaya 26 & 36) in a way that is directly demonstrated rather than abstracted from its context as doctrine. The Buddha leaves the Palace because the environment there is one that assumes the ultimate value of its relative social and political values (also associated with hedonism), and the 'Three Considerations' of Old Age, Sickness and Death make him aware of the inadequacy of those values. He then seeks out two teachers in the forest - Alara Kalama and Udaka Ramaputta - both of whom claim to have final answers in the meditative states they have reached - but he is not satisfied by either of these, nor by the asceticism he then engages in. He discovers the Middle Way as a result of recalling the earlier more embodied awareness of a jhana experience under a rose-apple tree in his childhood, showing that the Middle Way is rooted in acceptance of the body. The Palace and the Forest each represent absolute but opposing beliefs, each of which the Buddha learns the limitations of. He learns from both contexts, but also maintains a critical sense of their limitations. The key features of this story are also central to the practice of the Middle Way: expecting to find meaningful information from every new view but also maintaining a critical perspective on it, trying to limit our dualistic oscillations, and gradually developing a more adequate, mature, and integrated response to experience.
Upvote:0
The eightfold path. It is the path that describes the middle way ie not taking extremes. Taking baby steps to enlightenment.
Upvote:5
This web book called Constitution for Living summarises the Buddha's teachings for laypeople.
My selection for the list in the other post is:
AN 3.65: Kalama Sutta — To the Kalamas/The Buddha's Charter of Free Inquiry
https://suttacentral.net/en/an3.65Sn 2.4: Maha-mangala Sutta — Protection
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.2.04.piya.htmlSN 55.7 Veludvareyya Sutta - Discourse to the People of Bamboo Gate
AN 4.55: Samajivina Sutta — Living in Tune
https://suttacentral.net/en/an4.55AN 4.62: Anana Sutta — Debtless
https://suttacentral.net/en/an4.62AN 5.177: Vanijja Sutta — Business (Wrong Livelihood)
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.177AN 4.258: Kula Sutta — On Families
https://suttacentral.net/en/an4.258DN 31: Sigalovada Sutta — To Sigala/The Layperson's Code of Discipline
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/dn/dn.31.0.nara.htmlAN 5.57: Upajjhatthana Sutta — Subjects for Contemplation
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.57AN 8.25: Mahanama Sutta — Being a Lay Buddhist
https://suttacentral.net/en/an8.25
Upvote:9
There is a large body of texts of discourses of the Buddha touching on lay life issues. Below, I paste a (probably not exhaustive) list of suttas compiled by a user from dhammalwheel forum. There's also an upcoming book from Bhikkhu Bodhi presenting a collection of suttas of discourses of the Buddha dealing with lay life themes: The Buddha's Teachings on Social and Communal Harmony: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon.
DN 31: Sigalovada Sutta — To Sigala/The Layperson's Code of Discipline
https://suttacentral.net/en/dn31MN 14: Cula-dukkhakkhandha Sutta — The Lesser Mass of Stress
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.014.than.htmlMN 41: Saleyyaka Sutta — The Brahmans of Sala
https://suttacentral.net/en/mn41MN 52: Atthakanagara Sutta — To the Man from Atthakanagara
https://suttacentral.net/en/mn52MN 53: Sekha-patipada Sutta — The Practice for One in Training
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.053.than.htmlMN 54: Potaliya Sutta — To Potaliya
https://suttacentral.net/en/mn54MN 56. Upāli, the Householder
https://suttacentral.net/en/mn56MN 57: Kukkuravatika Sutta — The Dog-duty Ascetic
https://suttacentral.net/en/mn57MN 58: Abhaya Sutta — To Prince Abhaya (On Right Speech)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.058.than.htmlMN 59: Bahuvedaniya Sutta — Many Things to be Experienced/The Many Kinds of Feeling
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.059.nypo.htmlMN 60: Apannaka Sutta — A Safe Bet
https://suttacentral.net/en/mn60MN 97: Dhanañjani Sutta — To Dhanañjani
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.097.than.htmlMN 99: To the Brahmin Subha
http://awake.kiev.ua/dhamma/tipitaka/2Sutta-Pitaka/2Majjhima-Nikaya/Majjhima2/099-subha-e1.htmlMN 143: Anathapindikovada Sutta — Instructions to Anathapindika
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.143.than.htmlSN 3.19: Aputtaka Sutta — Heirless (1)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn03/sn03.019.than.htmlSN 3.20: Aputtaka Sutta — Heirless (2)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn03/sn03.020.than.htmlSN 22.1: Nakulapita Sutta — To Nakulapita
https://suttacentral.net/en/sn22.1SN 22.3: Haliddakani Sutta — To Haliddakani
https://suttacentral.net/en/sn22.3SN 22.80: Pindolya Sutta — Almsgoers
https://suttacentral.net/en/sn22.80SN 41.3: Isidatta Sutta — About Isidatta
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn41/sn41.003.than.htmlSN 41.4: Mahaka Sutta — About Mahaka
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn41/sn41.004.than.htmlSN 41.6: Kamabhu Sutta — With Kamabhu (On the Cessation of Perception & Feeling)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn41/sn41.006.than.htmlSN 41.7: Godatta Sutta — To Godatta (On Awareness-release)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn41/sn41.007.than.htmlSN 41.10: Gilana Sutta — Sick (Citta the Householder's Last Hours)
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn41/sn41.010.than.htmlSN 47.29: Sirivaddha
https://suttacentral.net/en/sn47.29SN 47.30: Manadinna
https://suttacentral.net/en/sn47.30SN 55.30: Licchavi Sutta — To the Licchavi
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/sn/sn55/sn55.030.than.html
- Discourse to a Householder
https://suttacentral.net/en/sa107AN 3.65: Kalama Sutta — To the Kalamas/The Buddha's Charter of Free Inquiry
https://suttacentral.net/en/an3.65AN 3.66: Salha Sutta — To Salha
https://suttacentral.net/en/an3.66AN 3.70: Muluposatha Sutta — The Roots of the Uposatha
https://suttacentral.net/en/an3.70AN 3.92: Urgent
https://suttacentral.net/en/an3.92AN 4.32: Sangaha Sutta — The Bonds of Fellowship
https://suttacentral.net/en/an4.32AN 4.55: Samajivina Sutta — Living in Tune
https://suttacentral.net/en/an4.55AN 4.60: The Layperson’s Proper Practice
https://suttacentral.net/en/an4.60AN 4.62: Anana Sutta — Debtless
https://suttacentral.net/en/an4.62AN 4.258: Kula Sutta — On Families
https://suttacentral.net/en/an4.258AN 5.38: Saddha Sutta — Conviction
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.38AN 5.41: Adiya Sutta — Benefits to be Obtained (from Wealth)
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.41AN 5.43: Wished for
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.43AN 5.57: Upajjhatthana Sutta — Subjects for Contemplation
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.57AN 5.175: Candala Sutta — The Outcaste
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.175AN 5.176: Piti Sutta — Rapture
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.176AN 5.177: Vanijja Sutta — Business (Wrong Livelihood)
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.177AN 5.179: Gihi Sutta — The Householder
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.179AN 5.180: Gavesin Sutta — About Gavesin
https://suttacentral.net/en/an5.180AN 6.16: Nakula’s Parents
https://suttacentral.net/en/an6.16AN 8.25: Mahanama Sutta — Being a Lay Buddhist
https://suttacentral.net/en/an8.25AN 8.26: Jivaka Sutta — To Jivaka (On Being a Lay Follower)
https://suttacentral.net/en/an8.26AN 8.43: Visakhuposatha Sutta — The Discourse to Visakha on the Uposatha with the Eight Practices
https://suttacentral.net/en/an8.43AN 8.54: Vyagghapajja (Dighajanu) Sutta — Conditions of Welfare/ To Dighajanu
https://suttacentral.net/en/an8.54AN 10.92: Vera Sutta — Animosity
https://suttacentral.net/en/an10.92AN 10.93: Ditthi Sutta — Views
https://suttacentral.net/en/an10.93AN 10.94: Vajjiya Sutta — About Vajjiya
https://suttacentral.net/en/an10.94AN 11.11: Mahanama Sutta — To Mahanama (1)
https://suttacentral.net/en/an11.11AN 11.12: Mahanama Sutta — To Mahanama (2)
https://suttacentral.net/en/an11.12Dhammapada — The Path of Dhamma
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/dhp/index.htmlUd 8.8: Visakha Sutta — To Visakha
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/ud/ud.8.08.than.htmlUd 2.5: Upasaka Sutta — The Lay Follower
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/ud/ud.2.05.than.htmlUd 2.6: Gabbhini Sutta — The Pregnant Woman
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/ud/ud.2.06.than.htmlUd 2.7: Ekaputta Sutta — The Only Son
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/ud/ud.2.07.than.htmlUd 2.9: Visakha Sutta — To Visakha
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/ud/ud.2.09.than.htmlUd 5.6: Sona Sutta — About Sona
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/ud/ud.5.06.than.htmlSn 1.2: Dhaniya Sutta — Dhaniya the Cattleman
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.1.02.than.htmlSn 2.1: Ratana Sutta — Treasures
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.2.01.piya.htmlSn 2.4: Maha-mangala Sutta — Protection
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.2.04.nara.htmlSn 2.14: Dhammika Sutta — Dhammika
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.2.14.irel.html
More post
- 📝 Should you practices the noble eightfold path all at once or master is separately?
- 📝 What is kriyacitta according to various Buddhist schools?
- 📝 Does it matter if the mind is neurologically originated or not?
- 📝 Sutta References on Future Monks
- 📝 Are there no Buddhas from other universes that are equal to our Buddha?
- 📝 Decline and the ending of Buddhism
- 📝 Metta Meditation
- 📝 Wholesome is absence of passion?
- 📝 Mindfulness of breathing - What is meant by "arising and passing away of the body"?
- 📝 'Sankhara' Dependent Origination: Bhikkhu Analayo vs Bhikkhu Thanissaro. Which is right?
- 📝 Is there concept of recollection in Buddhism?
- 📝 "The not finding (the mind) is the finding"
- 📝 Buddhism and Astral Projection
- 📝 Is the emptiness of final nirvana an illusion?
- 📝 How to scan your body in 3d?
- 📝 Breath getting shorter and shorter
- 📝 Does anyone know where it is possible to identify a lama incarnation?
- 📝 Unknowingly Drinking Alcohol
- 📝 What sutta refers to 'emptiness in small space'?
- 📝 What would Buddhists do to get rid of the feeling of insecurity in relationships?
- 📝 Qi gong and shamata
- 📝 Questions about Chogyam Trungpa's unique presentation of the five skandhas?
- 📝 What should I be mindful of in everyday mindfulness?
- 📝 Reason of pandemics
- 📝 Are bhanga and sotapatti synonyms?
- 📝 prajna vs jnana across schools
- 📝 New Year Resolutions
- 📝 Stories and teachings that glorify adult children and speak against toxic parenting
- 📝 Contemplating during meditation
- 📝 What is the text in which the Buddha gets a migraine?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 The Middle Way in practical life
- 📝 Does the middle way apply to objects as well as the skandhas?
- 📝 The middle is way between extremes
- 📝 Negation and the middle way
- 📝 What is the life of a monk really like?
- 📝 Can Buddhism be viewed as a threat to the capitalist way of life?
- 📝 How much is the minimal time for practicing Vipassana in daily life for achieving better mindfulness?
- 📝 What is the buddhist way of responding to compliments?
- 📝 Is the age of monastic life over? Is it societal conditioning or keeping up with the times?
- 📝 What is the best way to practice humility
- 📝 Buddhism in the Middle East
- 📝 If a Buddhist believes lay life is not ideal for the practice, why does he or she continue?
- 📝 What is the difference between learning the Buddhist way and simply learning from life?
- 📝 How much does the Bodhisattva way influence Theravadan practices?
- 📝 Through the Processes of Jhana does it have a Permanent effect or temporary effect on your life
- 📝 Is the only way to deal with the effects of your bad karma endurance?
- 📝 Looking for a book that covers the biography of the Buddha's life
- 📝 What is a skillful way to meditate in the midst of a migraine headache?
- 📝 Why is there even a way to the end of suffering?
- 📝 What is observing the precepts in a Hinayana way or a Mahayana way?
- 📝 What is the Buddhist Way to Reform and Correct People?
- 📝 Buddhism and the middle path
- 📝 Is there a middle way between working towards personal liberation and liberation for all sentient beings?
- 📝 What is the best way to forget bad choices in the past?
- 📝 Did Buddha say "this is the Middle Way"?
- 📝 What is the best way to develop a mind observation habit?
- 📝 What is passed from life to life in the process of rebirth?
- 📝 Past life memories: what is the purpose of those memories?
- 📝 Can a buddhist enjoy life - what are the limitations and restrictions
- 📝 Does the Buddhas resolve on the night of His Nirvana go against the middle path?