The Truth.

If you want the truth to stand clear before you, never be for or against. The struggle between "for" and "against" is the minds worst disease. ~Sent ts'an, c. 700 C. E.

James: It seems that we often bounce back and forth between these two extremes, which kind of feed off each other. Just the emotionally whiplash of flipping between these extremes creates mental and physical exhaustion/suffering. It's reminds me of taking a winding path up hills then down them and how much suffering and exhaustion that creates for the body and mind. Whereas walking straight down the moderate, balanced middle is not only more direct but it requires less strain and thus less suffering is endured on the trek.

The more I meditate/contemplate upon the teaching of the Middle-Way I find it to be one of the most important building blocks to the foundation of Dharma practice. This reminds me of the old adage, which I paraphrase as, "The truth is usually found somewhere in the middle between the two extremes." The Middle-Path in my view is one of compromise, which is in part what attracted me to the Dharma. I am a person who likes to take the best ideas of both sides and come to a common ground.

~Peace to all beings~