Throughout literature, Gotama Buddha teaches and encourages us to “Walk The Middle Way”. But what does this mean and where do we find it?

During Gotama Buddha’s lifetime, he noticed that there was a stringed instrument similar to a “sitar” that only played beautiful music when the strings were tuned perfectly to “the middle”.

If the string was too tight, the instrument did not play as it was intended to play. The music did not sound beautiful.

If the string was too loose, the instrument did not play as it was intended to play. The music did not sound beautiful.

It was only when the musician had tuned the string perfectly that it would play beautiful music as the instrument was intended to play. He observed that the string needed to be tuned perfectly to “the middle”. And, when the string was tuned in this way, the instrument played beautiful music as it was intended to play and those around enjoyed the music.

He then compared this to the human mind. That the human mind is exactly the same. When the mind holds onto things too tightly, the mind is muddled and unconcentrated. The mind does not perform optimally. When the mind is too loose, the mind is muddled and unconcentrated as complacency and laziness will arise. The mind is muddled and unconcentrated.

It is only when the mind is tuned perfectly to the middle by the Practitioner, that it plays beautiful music as it was intended to play. It is only when the mind is tuned perfectly to the middle, that it will experience focus, concentration, and memory with clarity of mind. And, it is The Buddha’s Teachings to understand The Natural Laws of Existence that the mind can learn, reflect, and practice to tune the mind perfectly in “the middle”.

This is one of the most simple, yet profound, Teachings that you will learn from Gotama Buddha. Tuning the mind perfectly to the middle is exactly what is happening as one progresses on their journey to Enlightenment.

There are countless Teachings to learn and understand so that you can practice. But there is no Teaching that is more simple to understand and that can be readily applied to your life, right now today, that will have more impact.