Often at work in between Ill read the news and flip back and forth various news sites. CNN, Yahoo News, Fox news (though not as much, very biased). And one of the things in reading various happenings in the world, is I find that the world has a lot of trouble finding its own balance in it. In addition, when I read various things, this battle broke out, this crime occured, I begin to feel unbalanced. I feel the uncertainty of human life. I am human as well, of course. However, I see its a cold world which is in a lot of pain, and causes a lot of pain and suffering for others. In my own life, I experience this as well. I have to deal with being 'different,' somehow, and dealing with indifference to my own condition. It makes it more difficult to balance throughout the day - a challenge - but one I continually strive to work on, balancing the way.
The method taught by taoists and buddhists alike was the middle path. The 'way' between extremes, and while this may sound like im eliminating other paths, it is the 'only' method which works. Extremes to any direction only cause more suffering, and make things more hopeless, because an ordinary human can only maintain an extreme for so long. Like most folks can only fast for so long. Not all are the buddha boy in the forest, not all can commit themselves to such a path. We have to seek a path which is not one of indulgence either. To indulge is to die. There is too much to indulge on, too much to be distracted with as well. It is a world of distraction from the world of pain. It does not help in the grand scheme of things to avoid that world. We are a part of it. However, one can find a way of living comfortably, in balance, in that world, and if anything, it is a necessity on the path to be able to do so. To avoid the middle way, the balance, to give up is to give into death. It sounds extreme, 'what do you mean give into death?' It means that you lose your true self to the world of pain. You slip into an extreme of either suffering and the world breaks you, or, you indulge to avoid what you see is going on in the world, when you need to confront it. There is still a collective unconscious which is unavoidable with humanity. One which exists, and affects. A concensus which tries to determine who we 'should' be during this ride. Pressure with family, friends, society will do it. So then, we need to balance with that pressure, because it is a pressure cooker, and at the same time, find our own balance and center when locked in the fray, of being pulled between extremes, when people try to tell you who you are, who you should or should not be. Cause more suffering for you which is unnecessary. Then, balancing how to stand up for yourself during such occasions.
I find that balance is the core of the path, and the most difficult maneuver to pull off. It is not easy, but it is necessary to do. It is like being thrown to the lions for a bit, then pulling back to rest up for the next grand slammer with them. It takes time each time, makes me more resilient each time, to be able to fend off the lions. To then, learn to attempt to coexist with them peacefully, in a not so peaceful world, which of course, has a handle in influencing my mind, but in turn, I can ever so slightly influence it with my mind as well, as I know my mind is still my own interpersonal universe and im responsible for it. I can change not what I see, but I can change how I see things and my perspective, and from that, gain balance.
