Azzara: Middle path better left for later years

A few years ago, I went through a Buddhism phase. I read some books on the topic, did a school… A few years ago, I went through a Buddhism phase. I read some books on the topic, did a school project on it and generally tried to incorporate the peaceful, calming, Buddhist principles into my everyday life. It seemed like fate when, right at the peak of my Buddhism mania, I discovered a quote in a magazine that read, “I will walk the middle path.”

This idea of the middle path, or middle way, is an important Buddhist principle, focusing on moderation — which includes avoiding extremes, in order to live a more balanced and peaceful life.

I cut out the quote and hung it up on my bedroom wall, not realizing how difficult it would be to actually follow this resolution. It didn’t take me long to figure out that I was, by nature, unable to walk any sort of middle path.

As it turns out, I cannot live without extremes, and moderation is not exactly my forte. For example, rarely do I find myself at a normal body temperature, as I am either extremely cold or extremely hot. And the majority of the time, I’m either wide-awake or on the verge of falling asleep.

But this extreme imbalance is more than just biological. I find that I can never quite bring myself to do things halfway. By this I don’t mean that I excel at everything I do, but rather that if I’m not good at something, I just don’t do it. It’s all or nothing, which makes it difficult — to say the least — to walk the middle path.

My need for extremes occurs in every aspect of my life, from the weather — I prefer either no snow whatsoever or a giant blizzard to any amount of moderate snow showers — to what I wear on my body. In another quote that I found in a magazine, fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld said, “Go either very cheap or very expensive. It’s the middle ground that is fashion nowhere.”

Of course, as hesitant as we might be to take advice from someone who is also quoted as saying, “Vanity is the healthiest thing in life,” I think in this instance he’s right. This quote can also be extended far beyond the fashion world into the consumption of other commodities. When going out to dinner, purchasing gifts or finding forms of entertainment, I tend to either spend a lot or spend next to nothing. Otherwise, where’s the fun?

There are downsides to living a life of extremes. People who have the ability to walk the middle path must lead peaceful, stress-free lives compared to those of us who are constantly living on one end of the spectrum. In our defense, though, we extremists do have some fun. I find that I have a tendency to both overanalyze and overreact, and life would be much easier if I didn’t have to deal with such issues.

But I can’t help but wonder: Is the middle path really that great? Those who adhere to this principle would likely be less inclined to allow the negative qualities of life or minutia to affect them, particularly when it comes to stress and anxiety. Following a balanced life doesn’t mean there’s no room for happiness, but it forgoes elation derived from traditional indulgences. Let’s face it, having a good time could be less morally sound, but perhaps that balance can be better appreciated and understood after experiencing one if not both ends of the spectrum.

In our later years we might look back ashamedly on college revelry. Sure, we had a good time, but perhaps it’s this reflection that could prompt leading a more balanced life even if it doesn’t begin until after college. If we go through college behaved yet bored, there could be less motivation to carry on a balanced life.

Attend just one frat party, and you’ll soon learn that moderation isn’t really all that compatible with the stereotypical college lifestyle. This applies not only to weekend activities but also to sports. A Panther win creates a University-wide feeling of euphoria, while a loss sends us into a collective depression. And let us not forget the intense happiness we all felt several weeks ago when we found out that our classes were canceled because of the weather — only to be followed by bitter resentment upon learning that we might be responsible for making them up on weekends.

Whereas Buddhism might say that I’ll never lead a balanced life without walking the middle path, I tend to believe that my extremes actually work to balance each other out. Given the choice between living an average life and a life that varies from one extreme to another, I’ll risk the latter option.

So maybe I’ll never have the capacity to be a Buddhist monk, but I don’t think I’ve lost anything by being by being a person of extremes. Perhaps someday, when I’m older and wiser, I’ll learn the art of balance and moderation, but for now I’ll enjoy straying from the middle path.

E-mail Katie at kna6@pitt.edu.