Korea Journal of Buddhist Studies ISSN:1598-0642(Print) 불교학연구

Majjhimāpaṭipadā indicates the path of practice that does not fall into hedonism or asceticism. It is a way of transcendence that is different from negotiation or compromise, and is rather manifested in transcending both hedonism and asceticism. Majjhimāpaṭipadā can be described as the Noble Eightfold Path. The elements of the Noble Eightfold Path are composed of the mundane and the supermundane. It means that Majjhimāpaṭipadā encompasses both the mundane and the supermundane. The mundane path is related to the life of the human being in the network of history. Discussions on the mundane path are associated with today's social issues. These issues could include Neo-liberalism, Globalization, Unemployment, Trump shock, Brexit, Park-Geun-hye and Candlelight vigils etc. I believe that these issues are closely related to the problems of positivity surplus, and they can be adequately dealt with by a new understanding of negativity or ‘badness’. On the other hand, the supermundane path shows the possibility of living without being caught by the net of history. The supermundane life could be realized not through thoughts or opinions, but rather by putting down thoughts or opinions. Cattāro satipaṭṭhānā, which is practiced by observing the body or feelings, can lead to Cognitive Defusion that would rather allow us to see thoughts themselves than to see things in thoughts. Here, I see the possibility of the supermundane life that is not bound to thoughts or emotions. Majjhimāpaṭipadā presented in two dimensions means the duality of human beings. It opens the door to the supermundane for human beings who live in the mundane