What is the Buddhist term for the Middle Way taught by Gautama Buddha?

Majjhima Patipada is the Pali term for the Middle Way taught by Gautama Buddha.

The Middle Way is traditionally presented as a path between two extremes: sensual indulgence and severe self-mortification. Before enlightenment, Siddhartha Gautama had experienced both a privileged palace life and harsh ascetic practices. Buddhist texts say he rejected both extremes in favor of a balanced path.

In the first sermon, the Middle Way is identified with the Noble Eightfold Path, which includes ethical conduct, mental discipline, and wisdom. The teaching is therefore not merely a recommendation to compromise; it is a structured method for ending suffering.

The Sanskrit form is Madhyama-pratipad, while Majjhima Patipada is the Pali form. The phrase can also describe broader Buddhist approaches that avoid rigid extremes, but its early doctrinal meaning centers on the path to awakening.