The Buddha used his answer as a teaching moment for his disciples when he said: "Monks, spiritual growth and evolution is much like playing a string instrument: it should not be too loose nor too tight. We should only follow the middle path." Perhaps today the Buddha would use the word "moderation" or the phrase "be a moderate".
Some ways for us to live in moderation can be applied to areas such as:
- Work. We need to work in order to live, not live in order to work. A daily or weekly schedule can and should include work along with leisure which allows time for meditation, exercise, socializing.
- Diet. Rather than constantly moving from one fad diet to another, it would be smarter and simpler to eat healthy meals in moderation.
- Politics. Rather than maintain rigid positions embrace some flexibility. Challenge yourself to see other points of view and why people hold those.
- Technology and social media. These are absolutely wonderful modern innovations but they should serve us and become sources of toxicity and negativity.