Catechism of the Middle Way (I).VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH. The Middle Way is not only the Buddhist view of life, signifying an open, unobtrusive neutrality, it is also a profound philosophical system of Mahayana Buddhism, namely the Middle School (Mādhyamaka, Mādhyamika). If Theravada Buddhism mentions the Middle Way teaching is to mention the departure from the two indulgent lifestyles of lustful enjoyment, and the practice of forced asceticism, or avoid the two extremes that the world is often still or cessation, Mahayana Buddhism refers to the persistent perspective in terms of perception, psychological views. The middle path (madhyamā-pratipad) is the path away from the two extremes: enjoying sensual pleasure and practicing asceticism, it is his personal experience, after enjoying in the palace, and experiencing 6 years of ascetic practice, thanks to this path, he achieved enlightenment and liberation under the Bodhi tree. As a Buddhist, perhaps no one is unaware of the status of their guru, Shakyamuni Buddha. Since then, the middle way is not only a Buddhist point of view, signifying an open and non-persistent spirit of loyalty, it is also a profound philosophical system of Mahayana Buddhism, namely the Chinese school. shop (Mādhyamaka, Mādhyamika). From the meaning of the Middle Way is defined as avoiding the two extremes: Enjoying desire and practicing asceticism, gradually evolving into avoiding two extremes: attachment and attachment, attachment to ordinary attachment, non-duality. , generally denying a conservative stubborn attitude, either side or the other. From this sense of ignorance leads to the definition of the Middle Way as the Eightfold Path, the middle way is the theory of Dependent Origination, the middle way is the first meaning. Of course, each Middle Way concept of each historical period is different, although more or less of course they also have different meanings, the analytical explanation is also different, especially up to the period of Great Buddhism. redundant (Mahˆ-yˆna), this concept is analyzed very philosophically. In this article, the author tries to clarify each of its meanings through the treatises of each sect. 1. Do not fall into the two extremes: sensual pleasure and austerity are the middle way As a Buddhist, perhaps no one is unaware of the status of their guru, Shakyamuni Buddha. He was originally the Prince of the Shakyamuni country (Kapila-vastu), the only son of King Tinh Sanskrit (Śuddhodana). Therefore, it is said that when he was not ordained he lived to be pampered in the palace. In winter, there are warm palaces for the winter, in the summer there are also cool palaces for the summer, the beautiful ladies, countless dancing, partying. After a period of enjoyment, he himself felt that there was still hidden seeds of suffering not only for people but also for himself, for the palace and the nation. Asserting that enjoyment is not a true kind of happiness, so at the age of 29 (the North Koreans believe it is 19 years old), he decided to give up that kind of enjoyment life in search of enlightenment and liberation. Do not practice sensual education, critically, despicable, sublime, unworthy of the Holy, unrelated purpose. And also should not practice autism austerities, suffering, unworthy of the saint, regardless of purpose. Abandoning these two extremes, there is the Middle Way path that has been enlightened by the Tathagata, transformed into eyes, made wisdom, leads to tranquility, victory, enlightenment, Nirvana. " Do not practice sensual education, critically, despicable, sublime, unworthy of the Holy, unrelated purpose. And also should not practice autism austerities, suffering, unworthy of the saint, regardless of purpose. Abandoning these two extremes, there is the Middle Way path that has been enlightened by the Tathagata, transformed into eyes, made wisdom, leads to tranquility, victory, enlightenment, Nirvana. " He felt that his body was getting better and his mind was clear, it was this fact that helped him declare his practice method as the Middle Way, avoiding the two extremes of enjoying desire and practicing austerities. As he mentioned in many sutras in A function as well as Nikya, namely 'The Sutra of Invisible Discrimination' in the "Central Sutra" volume 3, is recorded as follows: “Do not practice pleasurable, crippling, despicable, sublime, unworthy of the Saint, unrelated purpose. And also should not practice autism austerities, suffering, unworthy of the saint, regardless of purpose. Abandoning these two extremes, there is the Middle Way path that has been enlightened by the Tathagata, transformed into eyes, made wisdom, leads to tranquility, victory, enlightenment, Nirvana. ”1 According to the Buddha, such a view of life and enjoyment, in fact there is no happiness, moreover, it is not only dangerous to oneself but also endangers the society, participates in afflictions, does not bring happiness. enlightenment and liberation. The content of the passage has just led, the Buddha advised the monks, or rather, for everyone not to fall into the two extremes of living a life of indulgence or living a life of asceticism. According to him these two lifestyles do not bring us benefits for people. What is life indulging in lust? In order for the problem to be understood clearly, they try to learn the materialism of Mr. Ajita Kesa Kambala, one of the six philosophical sects. The policy of this sect is inscribed in "Kinh Tap A Function" No. 154 as follows: “Due to something, due to something, what the consequences, by drowning, by seeing a self in something, making beings see like this, saying like this: reality, no mantra, no good karma, bad way, no this life, no other life, no parents, no beings, no world, no alas in the world -Dan, there is no administrative level, right direction for this life or the next ... ”2 Ajita Kesa Kambala is the patriarch of the Duyen sect, also known as Thuan The, that the four elements: geography, water, fire, and wind are factors that exist independently, people and the world are shaped by these four elements. Fort. Negating the existence of the soul or self, death is all, the four elements return the four elements, apart from these 4 elements, there is nothing. Therefore, the human purpose of life is to seek out the pleasures, and by all means enjoy those pleasures, while we are still alive, so that we will not regret later. With such an ideological viewpoint, so he advocated denying all moral values, saying: There is no giving, no good karma, no evil way, no this life, no other life. , no, even without moral parents, spouses and children, there is no cause, no effect .... everything will end after death, so this life can be enjoyed freely, After usurping him, he will spend and enjoy joy, serving himself and his family, but not making offerings to the monk, Brahmin, to pray for future blessings. According to the Buddha, such a view of life and enjoyment, in fact there is no happiness, moreover it is not only dangerous to oneself but also endanger society, partaking of afflictions, not bringing enlightenment and liberation, so the Buddha advised monks should give up this way of life. However, He does not deny the value of matter. As presented in the "Sutra of A Function" Sutta No.912 is as follows: “Hey, village head, there are three categories of people who like to enjoy pleasures, sublime, customs, low country ... “Hey, village head, what are the three categories of people who like to enjoy pleasures, and belong to the ranks of the lowly and inferior country customs? Someone who enjoys pleasures by illegally misappropriating, does not bring happiness to himself, nor does he or she cares for his parents, adequately provides for his brothers, his wife, children, residents, relatives. familiar, acquainted with friends; It also does not depend on the time to make offerings to Sa-subjects, Ba-la-subjects, to pray for peace in a nice place, looking forward to the next birth to heaven. That is called the first class of people who enjoy pleasures in the world. “Again, this village chief, someone who enjoys pleasures by illegally misusing property, to provide all the pleasure for himself, to take care of his parents, to provide adequate. acquaintance of brothers, wives and children, employees, relatives and friends; but not depending on the time to make offerings to Sa-subjects, Ba-la-subjects, to request a peaceful result in a nice place, looking forward to the next birth to heaven. That is called the second class of people enjoying pleasures. “Again, this village head, there is someone who enjoys pleasures by using the dharma to seek wealth, not by misappropriating, to provide all the joy for himself, to serve his parents, to provide sufficient. Brothers, wives and children, residents, relatives, acquaintances, also depending on the time to make offerings to Satan, Brahmin, to pray for peace in a good place, hope the next life is up. heaven. That is called the third class of people enjoying sensual pleasures ”. 3 Because from the Buddha's point of view, material enjoyment has two effects, both good and bad. Through the content of the passage just led, the Buddha mentioned three classes of people who enjoy lust: First, the class of people by all means appropriating the property of others and then wasting freely in consumption, serving for the their desires, do not help to share with their wives and children, parents, brothers, relatives, and even do not give alms to the Brahmin monks to pray for future blessings. , is also the kind of person who is also unjustly misused to appropriate the property of others. After usurping him, he will spend and enjoy joy, serving himself and his family, but not making offerings to the monk, Brahmin, to pray for future blessings. Third, is the type of person who earns wealth, not unrighteous appropriation, by his or her own strength. After earning money, he or she enjoys the property he has earned, knows how to divide and help his wife and children, parents, siblings and relatives, and at the same time know how to give alms to the Brahmin. to look forward to the ball in the future. Among the three categories of beneficiaries who use this material, the Buddha criticized the first class and praised the third class. It shows that the Buddha does not advocate extreme enjoyment, but does not mean absolute. refute to enjoy material consumption and consumption, make reasonable money and spend properly, the Buddha's approval is still accepted. The Buddhist method of practice is not an ascetic practice, with a sufficient material life, knowing minimal education, and by all means reviving Buddha nature Because according to the Buddha's point of view, material enjoyment has two effects, good and bad: It is called good and beneficial only when used properly, making the body healthy, free from sickness; on the contrary, they are called bad, because they will make the body sick, unhealthy, overeating, with too high nutrients that the body cannot digest into sickness. Through developed countries with excess material resources, diseases of eating and drinking are very much enjoyed, such as obesity, blood fats ... all originated from longevity eating. This is the meaning of why the Buddha's first extreme rebuttal is the life of enjoyment. However, the Buddha did not agree with the ascetic life, which was a life of depravity, without any benefits, as the Jainism advocated. Refers to this sect's ascetic practice, like ‚'' “Hey Mahànàma, I was at Rajagaha (King Xa), on Mount Gijjhakuta (Spirit of Thuu). At that time, many Nigantha (Nigantha) on the slopes of Isigili mountain, on Kalasila (Black Nham), stood upright, refused to sit and felt the pressing, painful, fierce, sensitive feelings .. . "4 This is a story where the Buddha saw the Nuns on the slopes of Isigili practicing asceticism, all day and night standing up straight, not sitting or lying down, or lying on thorns, lying beside the stinking dead person, not eating or drinking ... enduring severe painful feelings. For the purpose of seeking enlightenment and liberation. As they explain: "Nigantha Nataputta - is omniscient, omniscient ... He says the following: Hey, Nigantha, if in the past you have done bad karma, let it be destroyed by this fierce austerity." The not doing negative karma in the future is due to the support of the body, the support of words, the protection of mind in the present, here. So it is through the burning, the cessation of past karma, the non-making of new karma, without the continuation in the future. Due to the discontinuity in the future, the karma is eliminated; because karma is eliminated, suffering is eliminated; because suffering is eliminated, feeling is eliminated; because feelings are eliminated, all suffering will be eradicated ... "5 The extreme enjoyment of lust is an extreme; in contrast to the ascetic way of life, physical torture is also an extreme, both of these lifestyles do not benefit others, share in afflictions, bring suffering ..., so the Buddha advise us to stay away from those two extremes, and to live the Middle Way, The extreme enjoyment of lust is an extreme; in contrast to the ascetic way of life, physical torture is also an extreme, both of these lifestyles do not benefit others, share in afflictions, bring suffering ..., so the Buddha advise us to stay away from those two extremes, and to live the Middle Way, Through the content of the passage just led, the Patriarch of the Nuns' sect explained, wanting to destroy past negative karma, by practicing austerities, the more severe the suffering of the body, the more severe the suffering. The sooner the evil karma is destroyed. Destroying negative karma makes the body purified, enlightened and liberated to appear. This point of karma cessation is completely different from the Buddhist concept of karma. Buddhism believes that in the 3 karma, the karma is the most important, the body does evil, the mouth speaks evil, all is directed by the will. Therefore, the source of human suffering and afflictions is due to ignorance, to get rid of this ignorance, to use wisdom and wisdom, to direct the body and mouth to do good and reasonable speech, not is the torture of the body, if austerity brings liberating enlightenment, Therefore, the practice method in Buddhism is not an ascetic practice, with a sufficient material life, knowing minimal education, and by all means arousing Buddhahood, which is the intellectual function of human beings. , when this function appears, it is a torch that breaks the darkness of ignorance, cutting the thread of afflictions. What is the life of lethargy? Being a person who is ashamed, knows his position and abilities, the essential needs that are indispensable for the monk who are just enough and not needy are able to live without demanding, not one who wants all of this and then again. want another one. How enough depends on each person, depending on the social situation, so there is not a single principle as the standard for knowing enough. In short, the excessive enjoyment of lust is an extreme; in contrast to the ascetic way of life, physical torture is also an extreme, both of these lifestyles do not benefit others, share in afflictions, bring suffering ..., so the Buddha We recommend that we stay away from those two extremes, and should live the Middle Way, which is not too extreme in favor of enjoying or inclined to asceticism. This is the meaning of the concept of the Middle Way was discovered and declared by the Buddha after he experienced two lifestyles of physical enjoyment and ascetic practice. This is also the reason why He defined the Middle Way as the Path of the Eightfold Path (S. îryŒ • Edgika-mŒrga, P. Ariya aÊhaºgika magga), as he stated in 'The Sutras of the Immeasurable' "Kinh Trung A function" is as follows: “Apart from these two extremes, there is the middle path, forming the eye, creating a free mind, forming concentration, leading to enlightenment, leading to Nirvana. ' For what reasons is this problem raised? Here, the Holy Path eight chi, from right view to right concentration, called eight. Because of this fact that says: Apart from these two extremes, there is the middle path, forming the eye, creating a free mind, forming concentration, bringing to mind, leading to enlightenment, leading to Nirvana. " 6 What is the Middle Way? Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Action, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration ”7 Even in 'The Discourse of Zhuan Falun' in "The Great Noble Truth of the Noble Truth of China" explains that the Middle Way is the 'Eightfold Path' path as follows: "The Buddha taught monks ... you need to know, there are two kinds of obstacles for the monk. What are two? One is the pre-immersion in the realm of sex, it is difficult to escape this scene, this is the kind of inanimate ordinary people, not a scene for the Saint to keep an eye on, because it is not the cause of liberation, it is not. is the cause of the divorce, not the cause leading to divine powers, not the cause of becoming a Buddha, nor the cause leading to Nirvana. The second is that people who do not think rightly will bring suffering in themselves, not only in the past but also suffering in the present and in the future. Therefore, the monks need to abandon these two categories. Now, because you say the Dharma of the Middle Way, the monks need to listen. What is the Middle Way? Right Understanding, Right Thought, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Action, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Concentration ”7 Let us try to ask the question: Why do people fall into two extreme lifestyles: indulgence in the enjoyment of pleasures and the torture of one's body through ascetic practices? Seriously looking for the cause, they arise from ignorance (avidyŒ), because ignorance does not recognize right and wrong, right and wrong, so right to wrong, right to wrong, Dharma practice should not practice, not practice worthy of practice, leading to suffering suffering. To end this ignorance, it is necessary to light up wisdom, which is manifested by the Noble Path, that is: 1. Right Understanding (P. samma - ditthati), 2. Right thought (P. samma - sankappa) 3. Right speech (P. samma - vaca), 4. Right career (P. samma - kammanta), 5. Right network (P. samma - ajiva), 6. Chief diligence (P. samma - Loanama), 7 Mindfulness (P. samma - sati), 8. Right concentration (P. sammˆdhiti). That means when a person lives on right view, he has righteous thoughts; because of righteous thoughts, so speaking is righteous and deeds are also true, life is also true; also thanks to the right view of this right thought, so the effort and effort of the person is also righteous, the mindfulness is also righteous, due to the righteous thoughts, so he lives and works in concentration; whoever lives in concentration, he has wisdom; A person with wisdom is someone who knows what is right or wrong, good or bad deeds, good and bad deeds, harms oneself and harms people, thanks to knowing so, he does not fall into these two extremes. This is the meaning that the Buddha defines the Middle Way as the 'Eightfold Path'. because of righteous thoughts, so speaking is righteous and deeds are also true, life is also true; also thanks to the right view of this right thought, so the effort and effort of the person is also righteous, the mindfulness is also righteous, due to the righteous thoughts, so he lives and works in concentration; whoever lives in concentration, he has wisdom; A person with wisdom is someone who knows what is right or wrong, good or bad deeds, good and bad deeds, harms oneself and harms people, thanks to knowing so, he does not fall into these two extremes. This is the meaning that the Buddha defines the Middle Way as the 'Eightfold Path'. because of righteous thoughts, so speaking is righteous and deeds are also true, life is also true; also thanks to the right view of this right thought, so the effort and effort of the person is also righteous, the mindfulness is also righteous, due to the righteous thoughts, so he lives and works in concentration; whoever lives in concentration, he has wisdom; A person with wisdom is someone who knows what is right or wrong, good or bad deeds, good and bad deeds, harms oneself and harms people, thanks to knowing so, he does not fall into these two extremes. This is the meaning that the Buddha defines the Middle Way as the 'Eightfold Path'. whoever lives in concentration, he has wisdom; A person with wisdom is someone who knows what is right or wrong, good or bad deeds, good and bad deeds, harms oneself and harms people, thanks to knowing so, he does not fall into these two extremes. This is the meaning that the Buddha defines the Middle Way as the 'Eightfold Path'. whoever lives in concentration, he has wisdom; A person with wisdom is someone who knows what is right or wrong, good or bad deeds, good and bad deeds, harms oneself and harms people, thanks to knowing so, he does not fall into these two extremes. This is the meaning that the Buddha defines the Middle Way as the 'Eightfold Path'. Why do people fall into two extreme lifestyles: indulgence in the enjoyment of sex and the torture of the body by asceticism? Taking the cause seriously, they arise out of ignorance. Seriously, the meaning of this Middle Way concept, it is related to matter, referring to the middle way is to mention enjoyment and asceticism are the two extremes. But this is not the only meaning of the Middle Way theory, from this concept on later development into the argument of yes or no, usually the two extremes of knowledge. This is the point we need to pay attention to. In the two part below, we will learn about the concept as just mentioned.END=NAM MO SHAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).GOLDEN AMITABHA MONASTERY=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=THICH CHAN TANH.AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.16/4/2021.