The Middle Way

The day that I took Jukai from Genjo Marinello Osho he said, You will have to lean when to pick up and when to drop the Precepts. My thinking at that time was, one more koan to become. Genjo Osho phrases a koan as, "A catalyst for awakening one’s true... deep... pure nature." That's important to remember, since people often think of a koan as a kind of riddle.

There's been a theme lately (actually its always been there) of noticing how much we as people live in the extreme's. People more and more are either incredibly well off or financially struggling to survive. Some are either extremely bellicose or perfectly passive, not taking action despite the moment requiring something more from us that we aren't giving. We can be extremely conservative or extremely liberal. We can be okay with responses that are either Yes or No, but we hate the word "maybe." If your behavior is not 100% perfect, you're worthless. If your behavior is spot on, you want to be better than everyone else and are considered holier than thou.

It's all polarizing extremes and caricatures that are not essentially "real." As people, we know very well how to drop something (or someone) to the ground completely. We also know how to hold something up so high about our heads, there's an appearance... an illusion of superiority. I myself like to say there's a lot of smoke and mirrors in the extremes, not very much that is real and authentic.

When Gotama Buddha expressed "The Middle Way," He didn't intend it for just when convenient or inconvenient moments popped into our lives. As I recall He used the metaphor of a stringed instrument. "If the string is wound too tightly, it will eventually snap. If the string is to slack, the instrument will not play correctly."

I can help others and myself, when I apply the principle of, "Moderation" or "The Middle Way," in the numerous aspects of my life. This includes as a Buddhist, father, spouse, friend, employee, human being, neighbor, American citizen, Earthling or student of life and this very moment. Even on the sitting cushion, my breath calls me to the middle, not straining or being shallow... just even. This is our Way.

Though we may feel our attention and focus lassoed by those who live in the extreme, we can hit the pause button on our reactions. It can be difficult, but it's possible. It's useful to remember that depending on how we react, we can inadvertently choke and lose our balance with ourselves psychologically, emotionally and spiritually. Harmonizing is essential, to fully "Awakening" our Mind.

The expression, "When you are walking, walk. When You are eating, just eat. And when sitting, sit. Above all else don’t wobble." These words are living and not just platitudes. Put another way, it's the firm statement to, "Be the Middle Way."

Yours In Zen,

Jaye Seiho Morris, Curator
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