Meet in the Middle

Teaching the Four Noble Truths   (Public Domain)

There’s a game called “Monkey in the Middle,” which somehow implies that the middle is unfit for humans.

Tyler Perry doesn’t think so.  In his Oscar acceptance speech, Perry declared that the middle is where conversation, change and healing all occur.  He then invited folks to meet in the middle and “refuse blanket judgment.”  This goes right along with his emphasis on refusing hatred.

Before becoming the Buddha, Siddhartha swung from one polarity to another.  He then found that clinging to extremes militated against enlightenment.  Gautama finally began walking the Middle Way, a path that reaches beyond one-sided positioning.

Perhaps monkeys know something that humans have yet to learn.  Perhaps their simian flexibility isn’t just limited to swinging from branch to branch.   

Resources

https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2021/04/26/Oscars-Tyler-Perry-acceptance-speech/8511619435151/

Copyright April 27, 2021 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved