The Middle Way

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The Middle Way

• Based on Basics of Buddhism by Pat Allwright
• Presented by Linda Myring Jay Williams

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A Short History of Buddhism
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Shakyamunis Teaching

• Taught for over 40 years, according to the
  circumstances and understanding of the people he
  met.
• Taught that suffering was the result of
  attachments.
• In the last eight years of his life he taught the
  Lotus Sutra.

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Lotus Sutra

• Purpose of the Lotus Sutra was to enable all
  beings to enter into the Buddha way.
• Honestly discard expedient means he discarded
  his previous teachings which had been
  preparatory.
• Did not attain Buddhahood in this lifetime, but
  rather in remote past.
• Explained that all beings are manifestations of
  Buddhahood, but did not leave a method to
  reveal it.

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Nichiren Daishonin

• 1222, born in Japan as the son of a fisherman.
• Studied at local temple since 12
• Entered the priesthood at 16

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Nichiren Daishonin

• 1253 at 32, declared Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the
  correct teaching
• 1279, inscribed the Dai Gohonzon, dedicated to
  the happiness of all mankind.

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Nichirens Teaching

• Declared that the Lotus Sutra is supreme amongst
  Buddhist teachings.
• It teaches that everyone without exception has
  Buddhahood.
• It reveals that life is eternal.
• He was able to read between the lines and
  declare the ultimate teaching.
• He revealed the fundamental law of universe which
  is Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and taught a specific
  practice for all people to attain enlightenment.

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Attachments Desires

• Early Buddhist teachings taught that suffering
  was caused by clinging to attachments, such as
  people, things.
• Too extreme, not possible because you must have
  desires (eat, sleep, sex) to live.
• This ultimately leads to a denial of life.

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The Middle Way

• Life is indeed an elusive reality that
  transcends both the words and concepts of
  existence and non-existence, yet exhibits the
  qualities of both. It is the mystic entity of the
  Middle Way that is the reality of all things

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Unification of the Three Truths (Threefold Truth)

• Kutai, Ku - truth of non-substantiality or
  spiritual aspect of life
• Ketai, Ke - truth of temporary, physical, or
  material existence
• Chutai, Chu - truth of the middle way, that force
  or energy that binds and harmonizes ku and ke.

• Not three separate things.
• It does not mean to steer a middle course between
  extremes
• It means to unify and transcend duality.

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Life Cycle of a Tree

• Ku - truth of non-substantiality. The way the
  tree changes each season, its life span, health.
• Ke - truth of temporary existence. Its outward
  physical appearance at each stage of the cycle.
• Chu - the tree itself.

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Human Beings - a Person

• Ke - The way a person looks.
• Ku - The persons mind or spirit.
• Chu - The middle way or entity of the persons
  life. The true self or universal self.

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Western Dualistic Thinking

• European fairy tales rarely have baddies
  turning into goodies.
• Buddhist literature has many fables in which
  demons turn into gods.

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When Enlightened

• Ke - The physical aspect of our lives is
  transformed into compassion.
• Ku - The mental aspect is transformed into wisdom
  to improve the quality of life for everyone.
• Chu - Becomes the source of life-force itself,
  unified with the life-force of the cosmos.

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The Greater Self

• Buddhist teaching strives to discover the
  greater self and, instead of suppressing or
  eliminating the smaller self, to control and
  direct it so that it can contribute to the growth
  of a better world civilization.