Becoming an author has brought me more visibility and engagement with hundreds—maybe thousands—of Buddhists and those wanting to learn about Buddhism. I’ve learned how many of them believe there’s only one way to be a Buddhist and practice Buddhism—their way. Ask 10 Buddhists how to define the faith and you’ll get 11 answers, with five of them delivered with my-way-or-the-highway certainty. I guess beginner’s mind isn’t part of their understanding.

I’ve been criticized for using the phrase “New Middle Way.” I knew I was being presumptuous in adopting it, but I wanted to make the point that, for Buddhism to thrive in the West, maybe we need a path that steers between secularism and strict traditionalism. Over the last day or so, I realized I’m talking about Jazzy Buddhism, bringing what came from the East and making it into something slightly different—still based on the fundamentals, still beautiful, and still improvisational.

I say “still” improvisational because the Buddha taught his followers to test every spiritual concept the way a goldsmith tests gold. They should accept only those teachings that lead to “benefit and happiness.” He didn’t preach thou-shalt-nots. He taught guidelines like the Eightfold Path, clearly aimed at grown-ups making difficult grown-up decisions. How you play the notes is up to you as long as you always keep reducing suffering and promoting benefit and happiness as your goal.

Don’t start improvising, though, until you have internalized the basics. But likewise, don’t get stuck in the fundamentals forever. You’re not trying to become an ancient museum piece, perfectly replicating ancient forms. You’re learning the structure so you can eventually transcend it. You learn traditional Buddhist practices so you can adapt them to your actual life.

This jazz analogy makes clear that you can’t just wing it. You can’t improvise jazz without learning music theory. Worthwhile improvisation comes from deep knowledge of the underlying structure.

But I see too may students of Buddhism getting stuck in school. It’s as though they’re waiting for a diploma. But graduation comes from within, when wisdom becomes second nature. At some point, you need to take ownership of what we Tibetan Buddhists call Vajra Pride, the certainty that you are already a Buddha. You don’t need Pomp and Circumstance as long as you have awareness, clarity, and compassion.

A Buddhist Path to Joy: The New Middle Way Expanded Edition by Mel Pine is available via online bookstores worldwide.

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