Structure of the Dependent Arising in terms of time and space in the evolutionary process of nature, and the Middle Way Professor Yang Hyung-jin

• To discuss the possibility of reaching an understanding of the Middle Way, the core teachings of Buddhism, on the basis of modern science's understanding of nature
  • He is of the view that the whole universe including living organisms is in the process of perpetual evolution due to a creative dependent arising where non-self and transient beings continue to blend smoothly.
• To illustrate his opinion that the structure of dependent arising in terms of time and space of the natural world represents itself non-self, impermanence, dependent arising, Avatamska華嚴 and the Middle Way through analysis of the Middle Way in terms of mutual relationship between Rupa色 and Sunnata空 as well as in terms of the dependent arising of the Dhamma realm法界緣起.

Hwajaeng和諍 and the right path正道, the Middle Path Professor Hong Chang-sung

• He is of the belief that this principle is the principle of the Middle Way. According to him, the Middle Way is not so much a product of arithmetic mean among various extremities as the most proper path. Hwajaeng is one way to find the most adequate view among many conflicting ones
• In search for a criteria to judge a proper and just path, he presents a sort of criteria in the name of "the principle of producing awakening" since the Buddhists should be committed to a way for producing ultimate awakening of the greatest number of people.

Problems associated with excess positivity and the Middle Way Professor Im sung-taek

• To view the Middle Way in terms of mundane and supramundane worlds.
  • The mundane Middle Way can not but escape from involvement in current social issues. In this sense, the term of positivity could provide a keyword to do a diagnosis of the modern society and to address various sorts of problems
  • On the other hand, the supramundane world can be approached through release from certain thoughts or opinions. Meditation based on Four Bases of Meditation could lead to "cognitive defusion", in which view does not take place inside thoughts but thoughts itself could be protected, thus providing an exit toward the supromundane world
  • Existence of the Middle Way in these two worlds represents dual aspects of human beings, thus indicating to people living in the mundane world that the door to the supramundane world remains open

The Middle Way and Practice in the Original Buddhism Professor Kim Jae-sung

To review the relationship between various types of practice in the original Buddhism and execution of the Middle Path

• the Buddha taught various types of practice through Nikayas and Vinaya Pitaka in both Pali and Chinese, on whose basis his students have sought ways to reach ultimate Liberation and Nibbana
• from the standpoint of the original Buddhism, the Middle Way means, first of all, the Noble Eightfold Path,
• this attitude refers back to the teachings which the Buddha gave to his five students at the deer park at Sarnath, Varanasi,
• in that teachings, it has been understood that the Buddha presented the Eightfold Path as a way to realize 'the Middle' instead of resorting to the two extremes of sensual pleasure and mortification

Thoughts on the framework to understand the Middle Way Professor Baek Do-su

• To try to focus, on the basis of the Pali canons and through reference to the Sanskrit canons, on finding a basis for analytics concepts, and rhetoric method such as metaphor and analogy as well as understanding methodology through objective of the Middle Way, its target and relations
• To find a correct approach toward the Middle Way and to present realistic meanings.

Understanding and Practice of the Middle Way on the Basis of the Nikayas Dr. Lee You-mi

• Dr. Lee received Ph.D in Buddhist philosophy at Kelanya University, Sri Lanka
• To explain the difference between the Middle Way and the Noble Eightfold Path
  • the Middle Way is the truth(sacca) which the Buddha was awakened to, and which represents 'abstract rightness’
  • the Noble Eightfold Path(magga) is the Dhamma about the truth, which represents 'concrete rightness’
  • the Middle Way is associated with explaining about the Noble Eightfold Path in accordance with the criterion of Sappurisa(righteous man眞人), since humans could become Sappurisa who have reached the truth through saddhamma(true Dhamma참법)
  • in short, the Noble Eightfold Path is the 'holy path(ariyamagga)' which follows footsteps (patidada) of the Buddha
  • To try to seek understanding and practice method of the Middle Way from the Nikayas which are believed to preserve original voice of the Buddha