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In the Buddha’s first discourse, the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (SN 56.11), he lays the foundation for the path of awakening by pointing out two extremes to be avoided: the pursuit of sense pleasures and the torment of self-mortification. In their place, he offers the Middle Way—a path of wise balance, grounded in ethical conduct, meditation, and insight.
This teaching is not only philosophical; it’s deeply practical. In our daily lives and practice, we often swing between striving and giving up, between rigid control and collapsing into apathy. Especially in our modern culture of urgency and over-effort, it can feel radical to pause, breathe, and attune to what’s actually needed.
The Middle Path is not a tightrope to be walked with tension nor is it an excuse for non-engagement—it’s more like a flowing stream. Too much effort, and we burn out. Too little, and we drift into inertia. But with mindful awareness, we begin to sense the natural rhythm of the heart and body. We learn to listen:
What is needed now?
Ajahn Chah, a master of balance himself, said:
“If you try to calm your mind, you will be unable to. If you let it settle naturally, without trying to force it, it will find its own stillness.”
To walk this path is to trust a deeper intelligence—one that knows how to move between activity and rest, discipline and letting go, energy and relaxation. It’s not about perfection, but about deepening sensitivity. A constant companion on the path for me is Dogen's profound teaching, "Enlightenment is intimacy with all things". Not a curated enlightenment where all of my preferences are met, but rather an enlightenment that knows no boundaries—where intimacy doesn't carry requirements. It welcomes joy and sorrow, clarity and confusion, form and formlessness. In this intimacy, we are not separate from the path, the moment, or each other. We come to know that balance is not something to achieve, but something to remember—a homecoming to what has always been here.
Practice Suggestions
1) Effort & Ease Reflection
At the end of each day, ask yourself:
– Where did I lean into effort today and was it appropriate?
– Where might I have forced or resisted too much?
– Where did I allow space, ease, or softness?
– What does “wise effort” mean to me right now?
2) Alternating Practice
During meditation, alternate 5–10 minutes of focused breath awareness with 5–10 minutes of open awareness or rest (lying down, gazing at nature, or just listening). Notice the differences. What do you notice in each?
3) Walking Meditation with the Middle Path in Mind
As you walk slowly and mindfully, repeat the phrase silently: "Not too tight, not too loose."
Let it guide the rhythm of your body and heart.
Readings
Sutta:
This sutta illustrates how the Buddha teaches a gradual deepening of perception and release, showing how the Middle Way can be practiced experientially—moving from complexity to simplicity, from conceptual proliferation to direct emptiness.
Modern Writings:
Mantra for May
“Not too tight, not too loose—this path of balance is the way.”
Closing Reflection
As we move through June, may we return again and again to this path of balance—not as a rigid formula, but as a living inquiry. The Middle Way invites us to listen deeply to the body, the breath, and the moment itself. It asks us to bring both discipline and kindness to our practice, trusting that true freedom arises not through extremes, but through steady, compassionate presence. In walking this middle path, we walk with the Buddha—with each step, returning home.
With Metta,
Adam Stonebraker
Resident Guiding Teacher
Nevada City Insight
Mountain Stream Meditation
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