The Middle Way

Having listened to people my entire life (most know less about me than I do about them because of this preference), I hear the anxiety that comes from one way or another. This is in thoughts, in actions and in held perspectives. In so many ways, we demonstrate extremes. We feel it, speak it and behave in ways that originate from an attachment to one position or its polar opposite. I have always felt in the middle somehow. Perhaps it's because I was born under the Libra Sun, referred to as "balance." Or it may be because I am just one of those people who often can see merit in both ends of the spectrum when it comes to opinions. I know this: Opinions are not fact. When we are inflexible, unable to even hear another side of an argument, I wonder how ego is in the way. Why, for example, do we get offended when presented with a scenario in which we feel opposed? The Buddha spoke about the "middle way." The inference is that once ego enters, imbalance is created, manifesting in judgment. This discomfort must be adjusted through what is known as karma. It allows us another opportunity to accept what we created and observe deeply to uncover its cause. We get to deal with what the true motivation is for our upset so we can correct it there. "Our minds are divided into different sections and the Gita speaks about a consciousness which arises entirely above all duality and diversity. That is the Middle Way." What is unresolved within ourselves will continue to manifest in ways such as our being offended. We need to ask ourselves why and listen to the answers that come up when we sit quietly with the questions. It's all ego that judges and therefore generates offense. If we can let that go, let go of the need to judge, be offended and suffer the consequent pain of all that, how would your life be changed?