I was doing some reading on Buddhism, and i found that one of the 5 rules to live by, kind of like the 10 comandments to christians, was not to consume alcohol or drugs. It said this clouds the mind. I have noticed several different references to Buddhism, through posts, threads, and even aviators, and wondered what all the Buddhist out there in the city thought about this. Is this true, and if not or if it is misleading, someone fill me in.
I cannot speak for buddhism. I can tell you what /my interpretation/ of this phrase is, and you may do whatever you want with it. -------------- first i must point out: i read many books, i meditate roughly 80% of my awake time, i research a lot on meditation technics, methods, origins, howtos, whatfors, and whys. (buddhist mainly, but/and others too) I've never heard nor read about "commandments" for/from buddhism. or maybe this only one: "i take refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha". ( each three words would take about a day to explain, i'll reffer you to the best teacher you caould have on the subject: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/A...89587/sr=11-1/ref=sr_11_1/002-8776458-3921661 The Robert A.F. Thurman Collection (On Tibet / On Buddhism) (1999) That's a DVD, not a book. It stages RT speaking, teaching, enlightening. *I RECOMMEND THIS DVD TO ANYONE WHOM WHISHES AN INTRO ON BUDDHISM* (i cannot emphasise the previous phrase enough, please read it again) ) ++++++ so now that this is said, here is my interpretation: buddhism is not a religion, nor a phylosophy. It's a set of technics to be in control. To be in control of our emotions. Not in a vulcan-burry-it-all-inside way, but rather in a buddha's way which would be: I feel emotions (love, hate, fear, curiosity, desire, repulse) and act upon them with my mind, in order to not let the /bad/ emotions generate /bad/ responses. Buddhism proposes many many technics to encounter one's True Self (the one Self beyond the emotions, and their consequences, the one that is, no matter what). Most of these technics involves a clear mind, thus most of them prohibit the use of any thing that would alter the mind. but: 1/ not all technics requires a clear mind (although those that don't require a tremendous rigour of the mind _that would be what is called "focus" int the matrix trilogy_) 2/ drugs can either cloud OR clear one's mind. +++++++++++ But we in today's society /need/ that. We are bombarded with adds, messages, all the time. The figures goes up to 3000 a day, minimum. The use of drugs can help (i did say CAN HELP) minimise the impact of such bombardement. In *my opinion* that bombardement /is/ a drug. So to answer the question what is my vue on such saying: Buddhism does not dictate such commandments, as far as i know. +++++++++ I did find a texte relating to an herb that would be smoked and that would be evil; could be tabaco as musch as it could be weed. I *choose* to beleive that weed is what i make it to be. To me it's a welcom help to minimise the impact our society has upon my perceptions. It was veryveryvery usefull at first, and now has becom just a nice ease. I don't need it no more in such manner , but i still welcome the help. I would consider inviting you to read a stephen king book: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...002-8776458-3921661?v=glance&s=books&n=507846 where the hero joins a different eality thanks to a drug, and then as he enlightens doesn't need the drug anymore. that's how I vu weed. .. oh, and I love you all ^__^
props man im half asian and i wanted to get into buddism but theres no temples where i live just christin churches
http://www.religioustolerance.org/buddhism1.htm The Five Precepts: These are rules to live by. They are somewhat analogous to the second half of the Ten Commandments in Judaism and Christianity -- that part of the Decalogue which describes behaviors to avoid. 1. Do not kill. This is sometimes translated as "not harming" or an absence of violence. 2. Do not steal. This is generally interpreted as including the avoidance of fraud and economic exploitation. 3. Do not lie. This is sometimes interpreted as including name calling, gossip, etc. 4. Do not misuse sex. For monks and nuns, this means any departure from complete celibacy. For the laity, adultery is forbidden, along with any sexual harassment or exploitation, including that within marriage. The Buddha did not discuss consensual premarital sex within a committed relationship; Buddhist traditions differ on this. 5. Do not consume alcohol or other drugs. The main concern here is that intoxicants cloud the mind. Some have included as a drug other methods of divorcing ourselves from reality -- e.g. movies, television, the Internet. I like some of the ideas and buddhist philosophies but i think about weed the same as you.
so i'll say it again: buddhism has not dictacted any commandements that i know of. I have read a lot on the subject. (i've been unemployed for over a year, and i spend most my time on meditation/reading _ that's a lot of books) Those 5 guidelines that you cite all come from the buddhist concetp of what is reality. they are not the foundation to anything, they are consequences of a way of thinking. they are not where you start a spiritual journey, they are meerly some stones along the path to enlightenment. this is a big difference (in MY POINT OF VUE _not a humble one) beetween buddhism and any other stream of thoughts (any other religion/phylosophy) : BUDDHISM DOES NOT DICTATE ANYTHING. DOES NOT AFFIRM ANYTHING AS BEING TRUE OR NOT. buddhism proposes (PROPOSES NOT IMPOSES) means / technics / guidelines to research within one's self the true Self. the one beyond our conceptions of time, space, life, death, and even body/ consiousness. Those 5 gidelines you cite could take ages to explain, because they are consequences of a certain way of thinking, whereas many other "stream of thoughts" imposes them as a basis for a way of life, without ever explaining them, or even demonstrating them. ok i'll sayt it one last time: these are not guidlines to live one's life by, these are consequences of a way of life. ++++++++ on a side note BUT IMPORTANT : a web page that so blatently wants to resume buddhism , and does not even cite two of the three main concepts of the religion has not much credit in my vue. To be buddhist is "to take refuge in the Buddha,, the Dharma, and the Sangha" (dixit His Hollynes the Dalaï-Lama) and the once that is said, you start defining those concepts. Dharma and Sangha are /note even cited/ on that web page. Talk about inaccuracy... let go of that web site, go grab a book writen by a LAMA or a RINPOCHE there you will be introduced to buddhism.
The Buddhist five precepts advise against consuming drugs that cause "heedlessness". This is not a commandment, but a recommendation. Actually, in some advanced tantric practices cannabis is used to aid in meditation. "Heedlessness" can be translated to not being aware, and cannabis can be said not be among the drugs that cause heedlessness. So, if it's beneficial to a practitioner, they can use it. Though, you should have caution against becoming to attached to it.
I liked this. Our belief matters a lot in this matter. Better not to need it, but also have no need to reject it. Help is always appreciated in whatever form it comes. Our unconditional love to you to.
It is my belief that the usefulness of the herb as a means to help grow spiritually can be either a help or a blockage. It depends on the individual ...
Agreed. It can be a help and a blockage at different times and in different ways. The trick is to recognise it. Just because it once helped doesn't mean it always will. Just because it never used to, doesn't mean it never could.
There were two Zen Masters who were friends. One taught at a University and followed all the precepts. The other taught out of his house and didn't follow any rules. The first Master came to visit the second only to find him getting drunk and signing. He told his friend he shouldn't be drinking as alcohol isnt supposed to touch the lips of a Buddhist. The drunken Master replied, 'But one who doesn't drink alcohol isnt even human!' The first Master got upset and scoffed 'If I'm not a human then what am I?!' 'A Buddha.'
the real truth lies in the beginners mind, keep it fresh and ready. see how a new person to this area made more awareness of our own consciousness.