”self-mortification”, is one of the two extremes to be avoided, the other extreme being addiction to sensual pleasures (ka^ma-sukha), whilst the Noble 8-fold Path constitutes the Middle Path (majjhima-patipada^, q.v.). See the Buddha”s first sermon, "The Establishment of the Realm of Dhamma" (Dhamma-cakkappavattana-Sutta).