There are these two extremes that are not to be indulged in by one who has gone forth. Which two? That which is devoted to sensual pleasure with reference to sensual objects, base, vulgar, common, ignoble, unprofitable. And that which is devoted to self-affliction, painful, ignoble, unprofitable. Avoiding both of these extremes, the middle way leads to calm, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to unbinding. So this is considered to be Buddha's first reference to the notion of the middle way. And what's interesting here, he's saying things that are consistent with many of the Hindu ascetics of the time.