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The 'Middle-Way' does require giving up all worldly possessions. Instead, the Middle-Way states to not engage in sensual pleasures.

A person can have basic worldly possessions ('requisites'), such as food, housing, clothing, medicine, etc, and still practise the Middle-Way.

In short, practising the Middle-Way does not require being a monk or nun.

The 'Middle-Way' was described in the 1st Sermon as the way of life that does not rely on impermanent & unsatisfying sensual pleasures for happiness nor subjects oneself & attempts to become impervious to pain.

The Middle-Way culminates in the four blissful meditations (jhana) and ultimately Nirvana, which is permanent peace & freedom. The happiness of the Middle Way is far superior to the happiness of worldly pleasures. Therefore, there is no contradiction.

People are attached to sensual pleasures, which generates suffering when those sensual pleasures cease &/or are lost. Sensual pleasures also create enslaving tormenting addictions. Further, sensual pleasures cannot bring true permanent happiness, which is why people get bored of sensual pleasures and continually search for & acquire new sensual pleasures.

Therefore, from a Buddhist perspective, reliance on sensual pleasures cannot be bring lasting true permanent happiness. The scriptures state:

The Blessed One has said that sensual pleasures are of little satisfaction, much stress, much despair & greater drawbacks. The Blessed One has compared sensual pleasures to a chain of bones...to a lump of flesh... a grass torch... a pit of glowing embers... a dream... borrowed goods... the fruits of a tree... a butcher's ax and chopping block... swords and spears... a snake's head: of much stress, much despair & greater drawbacks."

Alagaddupama Sutta

> *And what may be said to be subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement? Spouses & children... men & women slaves...
> goats & sheep... fowl & pigs... elephants, cattle, horses, & mares...
> gold & silver are subject to aging... illness... death...
> sorrow... defilement. Subject to aging... illness... death...
> sorrow... defilement are these acquisitions, and one who is tied to
> them, infatuated with them, who has totally fallen for them, being
> subject to birth, seeks what is likewise subject to aging...
> illness... death... sorrow... defilement*
> 
><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.026.than.html">*Ariyapariyesana Sutta: The Noble Search*</a>

 

The 'Middle-Way' does not require giving up all worldly possessions. Instead, the Middle-Way states to not engage in sensual pleasures.

A person can have basic worldly possessions ('requisites'), such as food, housing, clothing, medicine, etc, and still practise the Middle-Way.

In short, practising the Middle-Way does not require being a monk or nun.

The 'Middle-Way' was described in the 1st Sermon as the way of life that does not rely on impermanent & unsatisfying sensual pleasures for happiness nor subjects oneself to & attempts to become impervious to pain.

The Middle-Way culminates in the four blissful meditations (jhana) and ultimately Nirvana, which is permanent peace & freedom. The happiness of the Middle Way is far superior to the happiness of sensual & worldly pleasures. Therefore, there is no contradiction.

People are attached to sensual pleasures, which generates suffering when those sensual pleasures cease &/or are lost. Sensual pleasures also create enslaving tormenting addictions. Further, sensual pleasures cannot bring true permanent happiness, which is why people get bored of sensual pleasures and continually search for & acquire new sensual pleasures.

Therefore, from a Buddhist perspective, reliance on sensual pleasures cannot be bring lasting true permanent happiness. The scriptures state:

The Blessed One has said that sensual pleasures are of little satisfaction, much stress, much despair & greater drawbacks. The Blessed One has compared sensual pleasures to a chain of bones...to a lump of flesh... a grass torch... a pit of glowing embers... a dream... borrowed goods... the fruits of a tree... a butcher's ax and chopping block... swords and spears... a snake's head: of much stress, much despair & greater drawbacks."

Alagaddupama Sutta

> *And what may be said to be subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement? Spouses & children... men & women slaves...
> goats & sheep... fowl & pigs... elephants, cattle, horses, & mares...
> gold & silver are subject to aging... illness... death...
> sorrow... defilement. Subject to aging... illness... death...
> sorrow... defilement are these acquisitions, and one who is tied to
> them, infatuated with them, who has totally fallen for them, being
> subject to birth, seeks what is likewise subject to aging...
> illness... death... sorrow... defilement*
> 
><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.026.than.html">*Ariyapariyesana Sutta: The Noble Search*</a>

 

People are generally attached to their worldly possessions therefore people generally suffer over their worldly possessions when those possessions are subject to change. Further, worldly possessions cannot bring true permanent happiness, which is why people get bored of worldly possessions and continually search for & acquire new worldly possessions. Therefore, from a Buddhist perspective, reliance on worldly possessions cannot be bring lasting true permanent happiness according to Buddhism. The scriptures state:

And what may be said to be subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement? Spouses & children... men & women slaves... goats & sheep... fowl & pigs... elephants, cattle, horses, & mares... gold & silver are subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement. Subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement are these acquisitions, and one who is tied to them, infatuated with them, who has totally fallen for them, being subject to birth, seeks what is likewise subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement

Ariyapariyesana Sutta: The Noble Search

People are attached to sensual pleasures, which generates suffering when those sensual pleasures cease &/or are lost. Sensual pleasures also create enslaving tormenting addictions. Further, sensual pleasures cannot bring true permanent happiness, which is why people get bored of sensual pleasures and continually search for & acquire new sensual pleasures. 

Therefore, from a Buddhist perspective, reliance on sensual pleasures cannot be bring lasting true permanent happiness. The scriptures state:

The Blessed One has said that sensual pleasures are of little satisfaction, much stress, much despair & greater drawbacks. The Blessed One has compared sensual pleasures to a chain of bones...to a lump of flesh... a grass torch... a pit of glowing embers... a dream... borrowed goods... the fruits of a tree... a butcher's ax and chopping block... swords and spears... a snake's head: of much stress, much despair & greater drawbacks."

Alagaddupama Sutta

> *And what may be said to be subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement? Spouses & children... men & women slaves...
> goats & sheep... fowl & pigs... elephants, cattle, horses, & mares...
> gold & silver are subject to aging... illness... death...
> sorrow... defilement. Subject to aging... illness... death...
> sorrow... defilement are these acquisitions, and one who is tied to
> them, infatuated with them, who has totally fallen for them, being
> subject to birth, seeks what is likewise subject to aging...
> illness... death... sorrow... defilement*
> 
><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.026.than.html">*Ariyapariyesana Sutta: The Noble Search*</a>

 

The 'Middle-Way' does not state to give up all worldly possessions. Instead, the Middle-Way states to not engage in sensual pleasures.

A person can keep basic worldly possessions ('requisites'), such as food, housing, clothing, medicine, etc, and still practise the Middle-Way.

The 'Middle-Way' was described in the 1st Sermon as the way of life that does not rely on impermanent & unsatisfying worldly pleasures for happiness nor tries to liberate the mind by subjecting oneself to & attempting to become impervious to pain.

The Middle-Way culminates in the four blissful meditations (jhana) and ultimately Nirvana, which is permanent peace & freedom. The happiness of the Middle Way is far superior to the happiness of worldly pleasures. Therefore, there is no contradiction.

People are generally attached to their worldly possessions therefore people generally suffer over their worldly possessions when those possessions are subject to change. Further, worldly possessions cannot bring true permanent happiness, which is why people get bored of worldly possessions and continually search for & acquire new worldly possessions. Therefore, from a Buddhist perspective, reliance on worldly possessions cannot be bring lasting true permanent happiness according to Buddhism. The scriptures state:

And what may be said to be subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement? Spouses & children... men & women slaves... goats & sheep... fowl & pigs... elephants, cattle, horses, & mares... gold & silver are subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement. Subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement are these acquisitions, and one who is tied to them, infatuated with them, who has totally fallen for them, being subject to birth, seeks what is likewise subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement

Ariyapariyesana Sutta: The Noble Search

The 'Middle-Way' does require giving up all worldly possessions. Instead, the Middle-Way states to not engage in sensual pleasures.

A person can have basic worldly possessions ('requisites'), such as food, housing, clothing, medicine, etc, and still practise the Middle-Way.

In short, practising the Middle-Way does not require being a monk or nun.

The 'Middle-Way' was described in the 1st Sermon as the way of life that does not rely on impermanent & unsatisfying sensual pleasures for happiness nor subjects oneself & attempts to become impervious to pain.

The Middle-Way culminates in the four blissful meditations (jhana) and ultimately Nirvana, which is permanent peace & freedom. The happiness of the Middle Way is far superior to the happiness of worldly pleasures. Therefore, there is no contradiction.

People are generally attached to their worldly possessions therefore people generally suffer over their worldly possessions when those possessions are subject to change. Further, worldly possessions cannot bring true permanent happiness, which is why people get bored of worldly possessions and continually search for & acquire new worldly possessions. Therefore, from a Buddhist perspective, reliance on worldly possessions cannot be bring lasting true permanent happiness according to Buddhism. The scriptures state:

And what may be said to be subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement? Spouses & children... men & women slaves... goats & sheep... fowl & pigs... elephants, cattle, horses, & mares... gold & silver are subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement. Subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement are these acquisitions, and one who is tied to them, infatuated with them, who has totally fallen for them, being subject to birth, seeks what is likewise subject to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement

Ariyapariyesana Sutta: The Noble Search