Seongcheol/Sermon, 2. Early Buddhist Thought

The Buddhist middle path already in its first formulation consisted of non-attachment to either of two contrasting extremes, such as existence and non-existence or arising and ceasing. The concept can be traced back to the first sermon of the Buddha after his awakening, known as the Discourse Setting in Motion the Wheel of the Law (Dharma-cakra-pravartana Sμutra). There are many essential teachings in this discourse and the theory of the middle path is one of them. The teaching here is simple and concise. It applies in a practical way to one who has gone forth from home to homelessness. It is important to bear the origins of this theory in mind.