Middle Way

This didactic poem serves as a testament to the enduring wisdom of the Buddhist concept of the "Middle Way." The poet, like a skilled guide, illuminates a journey through the heart of existence, revealing a path that is neither bound by desire nor entangled in renunciation. This is not a path to be grasped or pushed away, but a harmonious dance, a delicate balance between extremes. The poem invites us to walk this path, guided by wisdom and led by compassion, to find peace and truth. It reminds us that the Middle Way is not just a destination, but a journey, a dance of life where every step, every sway, is a part of the dance. This poem is a call to tread gently, to live in the present, and to find balance in our lives. It is a beacon of light guiding us towards a life of harmony and peace.


 

In the heart of existence, the Middle Way unfolds,
Unbound by desire, free from renunciation holds.
It's not a path for grasping, nor one to push away,
The Middle Way is a dance, a harmonious ballet.

Neither a whisper nor a roar, neither shadow nor the light,
Not the depths of night, not the day in its full might.
It's not a journey of becoming, nor a tale of the has-been,
The Middle Way is in the present, the space that lies within.

In the silence, in the sound, in the pause that lingers around,
In the thought that ebbs and flows, like a river as it goes.
In our heart's unending beat, in the cold and in the heat,
The Middle Way, a steady vessel, where contrasts can meet.

Guided by wisdom, led by compassion's hand,
Walk the Middle Way, let the extremes disband.
In the gentle ebb and flow, watch the seeds of peace grow,
In the Middle Way, the truth is known.

From the mountain's peak to the valley's deep,
In the space where silence and laughter meet,
In the dance of the sun and moon's gentle sway,
The rhythm of life is the Middle Way.

Not in the clinging, not in the release,
Not in the chaos, not in the peace.
But in the balance, where heart and mind align,
The Middle Way shines, timeless, divine.

In every breath drawn, in every breath set free,
In the love that binds, in the pain that flees,
In the ebb and flow of each passing day,
Is a glimpse of the subtle, profound Middle Way.

So, tread gently, dear traveler, in wisdom's soft light,
On the Middle Way, where day and night unite.
No destination to attain, no starting point to stay,
The journey itself is the Middle Way's display.

In the dance of existence, where contrasts blend,
The Middle Way shows us, it's not the journey's end.
It's in every step, in every sway,
Enlightened life is the Middle Way.


 

Information

Pragmatic Journey is Richard (rich) Wermske's life of recovery; a spiritual journey inspired by Buddhism, a career in technology and management with linux, digital security, bpm, and paralegal stuff; augmented with gaming, literature, philosophy, art and music; and compassionate kinship with all things living -- especially cats; and people with whom I share no common language.