{"id":522,"date":"2012-01-07T03:35:11","date_gmt":"2012-01-07T03:35:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/areasontosmile\/?p=522"},"modified":"2012-01-07T03:35:11","modified_gmt":"2012-01-07T03:35:11","slug":"buddha-vs-tony-robbins-or-finding-the-middle-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/areasontosmile\/2012\/01\/buddha-vs-tony-robbins-or-finding-the-middle-way.html","title":{"rendered":"Buddha vs Tony Robbins; Or, finding the middle way"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
That's the whole Universe mapped out on the Tree of Life<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

(Unedited) question\u00a0submitted via Facebook<\/a>:
\n\u201cHey Dave,
\none thing I would like to add to the question of how it is possible for some people like Tony Robbins to be so emotional and energized most of the time:
\nThere are two controversial opinions on that issue.
\nOne opinion is that one should always try his best, be at peak states and live with passion and great emotions.
\nThe other is that emotions do harm to the person and that one should be a peaceful person, trying to breath slowly, meditate a lot and avoid stress.
\nI have the impression that religions like Buddhism are favoring the second option and modern coaches, great leaders and so on prefer the first one.<\/p>\n

Is there a right or wrong, is my impression false, is the middle way the best?. What do you think?
\nI mean you might be similarly busy, so what is the secret for this unbelievable endurance, or do you have bad days, too??\u201d<\/p>\n

In EXTREMELY broad strokes, coaches like Robbins teach that you embrace life, and embrace the world; that\u00a0everyone is already perfect<\/a>, and there is\u00a0nothing wrong with you. That means\u00a0your emotions are a navigational system<\/a>\u00a0that you can use to attract what you want into your life.<\/p>\n

Buddhism, on the other hand, teaches that this world is an illusion, and\u00a0being too attached to things can only cause you pain<\/a>. A common misconception is that Buddhism teaches the world is ‘bad’, but that isn’t true; a better way of saying it, is that this world is one big distraction.<\/p>\n

So, which one is right?<\/p>\n

The question of which one is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ isn’t the question, so much as which one can you apply and live by?<\/p>\n

Human beings are emotional creatures, and while you can learn in a few weeks how to focus on your positive emotions, it may take decades of meditation to gain total control over ALL your emotions.<\/p>\n

In the Kabbalah the far left hand path is called the Pillar of Severity, and the far right hand path is the Pillar of Mercy. The path up the middle is the ‘Middle Path’ and is the fastest, but most difficult.<\/p>\n

As in most things, the middle path is probably the best one, but it’s not easy to realize be able to dedicate yourself with 100% passion to your goals in one instant, and be willing to let go of them completely in the next; but\u00a0that’s what the spiritual path is all about<\/a>!<\/p>\n

As for me, I certainly have my own ups and downs; but instead of moving between 2 and 6 on a scale of 10 like most people, I tend to move between an 8 and a 12!
\nThe reason why this is, is I choose to perceive the world as being on my side, and\u00a0God being everywhere and watching over me<\/a>.
\nSo, if my goals don’t manifest in the time table I’d like, I realize it just means something better is happening. Even if something ‘bad’ happens, like a flat tire for instance, I choose to perceive it as helping me somehow (like maybe helping me avoid an accident I’d have been in further down the road).<\/p>\n

Can I prove it?
\nOf course not, but I walk around happy all the time and you can’t argue with results!<\/p>\n

You are great, and I love you!<\/p>\n

And if you love me back, click ‘share’ up at the top!<\/p>\n

B. Dave Walters<\/p>\n

Writer, Life Coach, and Talk Radio Host<\/p>\n

Find out more about me:
\nhttp:\/\/about.me\/BDaveWalters<\/a><\/p>\n

Ask me anything:
\nhttp:\/\/formspring.me\/BDaveWalters<\/a><\/p>\n

Pages I support:
\nJesus and Buddha\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0— Interfaith dialog<\/p>\n

Gnostic Theism<\/a>\u00a0— Religion and Spirituality for the 21st Century (Join the Movement!)<\/p>\n

Love One Another<\/a>\u00a0— \u00a0A group for the coolest Spiritual people on the Internet!<\/p>\n

\u00a0 \u00a0\"\"<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a>\u00a0\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Unedited) question\u00a0submitted via Facebook: \u201cHey Dave, one thing I would like to add to the question of how it is possible for some people like Tony Robbins to be so emotional and energized most of the time: There are two controversial opinions on that issue. One opinion is that one should always try his best,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":450,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37,55,39,35,15,29,81,38,40,46,28,112,41,48,17],"tags":[3,34,8,10,69,12,11,109,26,25,59,42,50,18,7,113,32],"class_list":["post-522","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-change-2","category-emotions-2","category-fear","category-getting-over-it","category-god","category-happiness","category-healing","category-hope-inspiration","category-law-of-attraction-2","category-love-yourself","category-peace","category-pessimism","category-positive-thinking","category-spirituality","category-universal-law","tag-b-dave-walters","tag-breakthroughs","tag-buddha","tag-buddhism","tag-christianity","tag-emotions","tag-gnostic-theism","tag-god","tag-peacelovemoney-com","tag-psychology","tag-scripture","tag-self-talk","tag-spiritual-but-not-religious","tag-spiritual-coach","tag-the-secret","tag-universal-law","tag-who-are-you"],"yoast_head":"\nBuddha vs Tony Robbins; Or, finding the middle way - A Reason to Smile<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/areasontosmile\/2012\/01\/buddha-vs-tony-robbins-or-finding-the-middle-way.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Buddha vs Tony Robbins; Or, finding the middle way - A Reason to Smile\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"(Unedited) question\u00a0submitted via Facebook: \u201cHey Dave, one thing I would like to add to the question of how it is possible for some people like Tony Robbins to be so emotional and energized most of the time: There are two controversial opinions on that issue. 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He is the author of one book, \"49 Lost Secrets of Peace, Love, and Money\". For years, friends and relatives looked to him for guidance and support during difficult times, and he realized at an early age that his purpose in life was to serve and inspire. While touring as a personal coach with a prominent rock band, he was discovered by one of the top trainers of the Anthony Robbins companies, which lead to him settling down to open and operate a Marketing, Business Services and Coaching firm in Los Angeles. Armed with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, he brings the same discipline and determination that helped him earn Black Belt rankings in Shaolin Kung Fu and Tai Chi to all areas of study and focus. In addition to earning a degree in English from Morehouse College, he has mastered the science of NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and other communication, healing, counseling and spiritual systems from all over the world. 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