The next main meeting of the Middle Way Network will be on Sun 14th June at 7pm UK time on Zoom. There there’ll be a short talk on the focus on judgement as our third criterion for the Middle Way, followed by questions and discussion in regionalised breakout groups. Some other regionalised groups will meet at other times. If you’re interested in joining us but are not already part of the Network, please see the general Network page to sign up. To catch up on the previous session, on the aspiration to universality, please see this post.

Here are some brief details, stimulus questions and suggested reading for this session. The video of the talk and initial questions will also be posted here after the meeting.

Focus on judgement

‘Judgement’ refers to all the different responses we have to the world at successive moments. These can be very large (your career) or small (which thing to eat first on your plate). They involve choices, but also interpretations. They are just as much ’emotional’ responses as ‘cognitive’ ones, and they are not necessarily ‘judgemental’.

Being aware of these judgements and changing them is the basis of Middle Way practice. The focus on judgement is a central part of its practicality, and contrasts with making claims about the universe – ones that we do not need to make to improve our judgement. The focus on judgement distinguishes a Middle Way approach from many other approaches, which rely on shortcuts or absolutisations that distract us and don’t actually improve our judgement. These shortcuts in belief should not be confused with sources of inspiration.

Stimulus questions. These can be used in the group discussions if you wish.

1. Think of some recent judgements in your own experience – large or small. How did you make them? Are you satisfied with them?
2. What role, if any, did either practical or absolute beliefs play in your recent judgements?
3. How much do you generally focus on what is practically required to change your judgement on things, rather than distracting beliefs?

Suggested further reading

‘Judgement’ (webpage)

‘The Buddha’s Middle Way’: 1.h (Awakening: Meaning versus belief) and 4.b (The ontological obsession)