[bluefoxicy]

Anyone have a good starter text for Buddhism?

I'm not so much interested in all the stuff about gods and whatever, although spiritual ideals are not out of bounds for me (I'm just not inclined to believe in/worship Lei Shin or Quetzcotl or whatnot).  I am more interested in concepts of philosophy; I believe such things are universal, insomuch that Jesus, Buddha, Gandhi, etc would probably get along really well.  For example, Buddhists are often (but not always) vegetarians on the belief that all things have a right to life, and thus tend not to kill things unnecessarily; I personally think the natural order is such that life encompasses death, but I think food is quite different from frying a beetle for self-amusement.

It never hurts to be educated, ne?

[weazletoe]

Before this thread gets locked, I would just like to use this chance to say.....


I like turtles.

[majorvices]

Guess what? Besides not allowing eating meat buddhists are forbidden to drink alcohol. 

If you are really interested here is a couple of good books:

"The Heart and Mind of the Buddha's Teaching" by Thich Naht Hanh

Actually, anything by the said author.

And, FWIW, while religious topics are forbidden here Buddhism can also be looked at as applied philosophy, so IMO it can remain open for now.

[euge]

My Laotian neighbors are Buddhists and they drink like crazy. When the monks visit I let them park in my driveway.

Have an interest in the subject myself, though on a day to day basis bringing along a healthy dose of humility to counterbalance that which causes me trouble (my ego).

I found this book extremely helpful: Zen and the Art of Poker: Timeless Secrets to Transform Your Game

[majorvices]

Do they grill steaks as well? 

[euge]

Do they grill steaks as well? 

When their father died they went through 20 briskets, countless cases of beer and probably a good 3 bottles of Hennessey. The party lasted a week. The brisket was sliced, marinated and grilled, served with sticky rice and papaya salad- the food was f'ing awesome!

[bluefoxicy]

Guess what? Besides not allowing eating meat buddhists are forbidden to drink alcohol. 

My Aikido Shihan is a serious orthodox Budhhist priest.  He enjoys Crown Royale, of course in appropriate moderation (much the same way I enjoy Tullamore Dew... I never even get a buzz, because I sip it very slowly, nice and spicy for a cheap Irish whiskey).

"The Heart and Mind of the Buddha's Teaching" by Thich Naht Hanh

Actually, anything by the said author.

Ooh, new author for me.  

And, FWIW, while religious topics are forbidden here Buddhism can also be looked at as applied philosophy, so IMO it can remain open for now.

I think all religions have at least two components, although I'd argue three:  Beliefs, Spirituality, and Philosophy.  Spirituality possibly falls into Beliefs (i.e. Kundalini, Chi/Ki, etc.) but also Philosophy (as philosophy is often strongly tied to spiritual health:  murderers/rapists/thieves/etc can be argued to be spiritually unhealthy under most spiritual systems).

I had this huge post up but I think I can be brief on this; the more I say, the more chances to start a flame war.

Usually when discussing such things, I'm primarily interested in Philosophy and specifically disinterested in Beliefs.  Beliefs are what you get out of your holy texts (bible, Qu'ran, Tao scrolls, etc) with gods, salvation, the like... these are things you can only argue by "it is my religion."  It's not productive, and it's messy.

Philosophy--both self-standing and spiritually-entwined philosophy--presents challenges that are more personal.  Most holy texts claim murder is wrong; to ask you why is not questioning your holy doctrine, but more to ask you why murder is wrong in its own right.  It challenges you to think and understand your morals, the very core of your personal philosophy.

Such things help you understand your own beliefs, rather than challenging them.  To understand why murder is wrong, however, is also to understand--at least in large part--why theft is wrong, why lying is wrong, etc. In truth, the answer is a lot more complex than you'd think at first glance.

These are more interesting topics than systems of belief.  I have no interest in arguing over gods and salvation with people; those discussions are both fruitless and tended to incivility, which is probably why most forums ban such things in the first place.

[bluefoxicy]

I found this book extremely helpful: Zen and the Art of Poker: Timeless Secrets to Transform Your Game

Poker? 

I really don't know what to think about poker.  I find the social aspect of the game amusing, but certain implementations (casinos playing against the deal, i.e. 5 card stud) ... as Backgammon.  There are quite a few things that can be said about games.

Predictably, I much prefer the game of Go.

[majorvices]

Do they grill steaks as well? 

When their father died they went through 20 briskets, countless cases of beer and probably a good 3 bottles of Hennessey. The party lasted a week. The brisket was sliced, marinated and grilled, served with sticky rice and papaya salad- the food was f'ing awesome!

In that case, they follow the tenets very loosely. Meat is forbidden in buddhist as well as alcohol. But I am sure there are people who make their own rules in buddhism as there are in all forms of dogma.

[euge]

I'm sure they aren't strict Buddhists. They're pretty Americanized and acculturated - especially the kids. I have a hard time understanding the adults' english though.

[bluefoxicy]

In that case, they follow the tenets very loosely. Meat is forbidden in buddhist as well as alcohol. But I am sure there are people who make their own rules in buddhism as there are in all forms of dogma.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarianism_in_Buddhism

There are many practices of Buddhism.  All such things are explained by a philosophy of reverence for life, and are given as interpretations of Buddha's teachings.

[euge]

I found this book extremely helpful: Zen and the Art of Poker: Timeless Secrets to Transform Your Game

Poker? 

I really don't know what to think about poker.  I find the social aspect of the game amusing, but certain implementations (casinos playing against the deal, i.e. 5 card stud) ... as Backgammon.  There are quite a few things that can be said about games.

Predictably, I much prefer the game of Go.

To me this thread is probably one of the most interesting since I tend to be the introspective type. I found poker to be tremendously stimulating. It's much more of a mental endeavor than it appears at face value. I read it on the sly and afterwards was actually accused of "meditating on my game". I enjoyed a brief supremacy and my opponents adapted of course. To that effect it made us all better players.

I would like to learn Go as well. I'm sure it is as much as player vs player as player vs himself.

[majorvices]

In that case, they follow the tenets very loosely. Meat is forbidden in buddhist as well as alcohol. But I am sure there are people who make their own rules in buddhism as there are in all forms of dogma.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetarianism_in_Buddhism

There are many practices of Buddhism.  All such things are explained by a philosophy of reverence for life, and are given as interpretations of Buddha's teachings.

Of course, but there was only one buddha, and he said that drinking and eating meat are against his teachings. Not much of an argument there.

Regardless, I am less concerned about your "Aikido Shihan'S" drinking habit and mroe concerned about his drinking choice. Crown? Rreally?? Weak. 

See, now I can see why religious topics are frowned on in public use forums. 

[euge]

Poor choice in alcohol? I'll say. Crown Royal put me in the hospital for an extended stay. Haven't touched a drop since.

Try introducing the Master to some nice Highland Single Malt.

[majorvices]

Crown is cheap Canadian whiskey marketing itself as fine liquor to suckers.