middle way

It is written-Buddha accomplished enlightment by practicing the path of the middle way

How could this mention effect and/or help us in a way that we too could achieve our goals. So, we need only understand how we also could practice the middle way, of balanced harmony and universal insight.

Family or clan mottos, something we read about in the past but, do not see much anymore, were a way of keeping the family together and strong, in times of need. Without a strong foundation the family would easily come apart where there is no bond or foundation. Much info, I'm sure, can be found if one cares to check further into the family motto, in the library or other locations.

We are interested in the personal motto at this time and how it can help us achieve the path of the middle way. This may take a little investigating on our part but, a few examples below may give us insight into what we want to use as our personal motto.

- Lets say, for example, we wake up every day and go out and just fool around- kind of like a piece of driftwood on the ocean. Not knowing which way the water wave is going to take us. Then our motto could be something like: "I know not where I am going."

- How about this one, we leave the house everyday looking for something to interest us or hoping to see a friend, then our motto could be: "I am looking for, not sure."

- Lets try one more- we make appointments with friends or someone else, show up late or not at all. Then our motto could be something like: "Don't believe anything I say."

As we observe from the above "comical" mottos, how others may view us if we are not careful and have no daily focus for our thoughts.

Hopefully, now, we have an idea of what we want to use for our personal motto and how it can help us achieve focus and the "middle way". Mention is made here, of just a few funny mottos but, further investigation on our own, will show that many great men (people), had personal mottos. One such man, famous and infamous at the same time, had for his mottos- "I will endure until the end" and later, " I conquered the world by truth alone". I have personally read many books by the individual that used these mottos and can only say- he probably deserves the title of famous and infamous at the same time but, that he was true to his motto.

My personal motto at this time is:

....... Audaces fortunat juvat timidos que repellit .......
" Fortune favors the bold and scorns the timid "

and I also have a spiritual motto which I use.

SO, we now have an idea of what to look for (and some insight on matching up our motto) in a personal motto - in times of need and strength, we know our path and focus and can also walk the middle path

JEA

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