The New Middle Way

Written By Mel Pine

The Buddha taught a middle way between the extremes of asceticism and self-indulgence. Hundreds of years after the Buddha's time, the Indian scholar Nāgārjuna founded the Madhyamaka, or Middle Way, school of Buddhist philosophy. His middle way was between considering the world we live in as entirely real or entirely unreal.

The Buddha lived 2,600 years before us and Nāgārjuna 2,000. I am among those who see a new middle way emerging in Buddhism—between the extremes of secularism and rigid dogma. Think of it as a middle way between "anything goes" and exclusivism (only one way to enlightenment). Here's one definition:

The New Middle Way in Buddhist thought is a modern take on Buddha's teaching about avoiding extremes. It's about finding practical ways to incorporate Buddhist principles into regular life. You can have a job, family, and Netflix subscription while still pursuing spiritual development. It's about awakening to a life of joy here and now.

It's not about dismissing the past. It's about studying the traditional teachings and applying them to modern life. It needs to be learned through experience as well as cognitively. Consider subscribing to my Substack blog, From the Pure Land, or reading my book, A Buddhist Path to Joy: The New Middle Way Expanded Edition.

May you be well and happy.

Mel Pine

Mel Pine's end-of-life mission is to share the wisdom he has gained over almost eight decades of life and four decades of Buddhist practice to relieve the suffering of others.

He is a seasoned writer, Buddhist practitioner, and spiritual communicator with six decades of experience in clear nonfiction writing. Through his blogs and teachings, he has cultivated a substantial following across the United States and internationally, offering accessible teachings and practices drawn from his extensive spiritual journey and Buddhist practice.

Describing himself as a "Jewish Buddhist contrarian"—Jewish by birth and early culture, Buddhist by calling, and contrarian by temperament—Mel's writing style is characterized by honesty, heart-centered communication, and a focus on practical wisdom that can reduce suffering across spiritual traditions.

His professional career has included 10 years in multi-edition daily newspapers, 20 years in corporate public relations, and two years in trade association communications. He spent decades in consulting and freelancing, including as a writer, editor, and project manager for a company packaging and ghostwriting books for leaders in business, management, and finance.

His next book, due out in mid-year 2026, is a spiritual memoir on trauma as a spiritual gift. It will be published by the Prospecta Press, an imprint of Easton Studio Press.

Mel and his wife, Carol, live in Loudoun County, Virginia, close enough to their son, Carl, that a highlight of their week is Family Dinner Night.

https://melpineauthor.me
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