2. Indulging in worldly pleasures out of attachment
This is one of the things that feels so right about Buddhism -- it's not to say do-or-don't-do, it is to say do-with right-motive, do-not-do-with-wrong-motive.
I had an argument, once upon a time, with a devoted Christian about the movie Dogma. He said it was a horrible movie, because it was blasphemous -- taking a good message and filling it with profanity and the like. I argued that if God came to Earth today to reach those who were not already devout, then he would more likely speak their language than preach to the choir.
Sometimes I look at precepts like this one and I fear, am I a Buddhist because it is the easy way out? But I do not think I am. Rather than being more lax, it is more strict -- because rather than focusing on how other judge you, you are asked to focus on how you judge yourself. That is, you know better, regardless of what other people expect you to know.
I believe true Christianity asks the same of us.
Of all the forty-six secondary downfalls, this is probably in my Top 5 Most Difficult, because it really does rely entirely on the self, to judge one's own motives. All this world is a lie. Every word is a lie. Therefore it should be obvious why it is so difficult for me to be honest with myself. If I am undisciplined enough to allow myself to be attached to any thing, anyone, any action, then I will protect that attachment with lies.
What am I attached to?
Ego.
Anxiety, sadness.
Pleasure.
Friends.
Electricity.
Money.
My immediate family.
My perceived family.
Flirting.
Purity.
Books.
None of these are bad things, inherently. What is bad is why I enjoy them, why I have them, how I use them.
This theme is certainly revisited in other downfalls.
This is one of the things that feels so right about Buddhism -- it's not to say do-or-don't-do, it is to say do-with right-motive, do-not-do-with-wrong-motive.
I had an argument, once upon a time, with a devoted Christian about the movie Dogma. He said it was a horrible movie, because it was blasphemous -- taking a good message and filling it with profanity and the like. I argued that if God came to Earth today to reach those who were not already devout, then he would more likely speak their language than preach to the choir.
Sometimes I look at precepts like this one and I fear, am I a Buddhist because it is the easy way out? But I do not think I am. Rather than being more lax, it is more strict -- because rather than focusing on how other judge you, you are asked to focus on how you judge yourself. That is, you know better, regardless of what other people expect you to know.
I believe true Christianity asks the same of us.
Of all the forty-six secondary downfalls, this is probably in my Top 5 Most Difficult, because it really does rely entirely on the self, to judge one's own motives. All this world is a lie. Every word is a lie. Therefore it should be obvious why it is so difficult for me to be honest with myself. If I am undisciplined enough to allow myself to be attached to any thing, anyone, any action, then I will protect that attachment with lies.
What am I attached to?
Ego.
Anxiety, sadness.
Pleasure.
Friends.
Electricity.
Money.
My immediate family.
My perceived family.
Flirting.
Purity.
Books.
None of these are bad things, inherently. What is bad is why I enjoy them, why I have them, how I use them.
This theme is certainly revisited in other downfalls.
That is, you know better, regardless of what other people expect you to know.
And while I'm tempted to say you're being too hard on yourself with that list, I suppose that quote puts me in my place. You know better than I why you think your motives are wrong. Still, when you call into play words like "right" and "wrong", I feel like you're treading on dangerous territory... doesn't that still suppose a higher definition of the words? Some ultimate right and wrong?
Anyway, do you think your neighbor was kicked out or fled in embarrassment? My apartment neighbor has noisy sex every once in awhile, and while we don't cheer her and her off-again-on-again boyfriend on, we certainly don't mind a little background noise to our own orchestra. I think she's of legal drinking age, though.
p.s. like the new profile pic!
[Edited on May 27, 2006 10:12AM]