Project Reason is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation devoted to spreading scientific knowledge and secular values in society. The foundation draws on the talents of prominent and creative thinkers in a wide range of disciplines to encourage critical thinking and erode the influence of dogmatism, superstition, and bigotry in our world.
Fully decked out in the attire, waiting online waiting to pay, wearing a pink blue-tooth headset on his right ear. This was in a Honolulu, HI venue that is.
For someone who claims the physical world is an illusion, teaches non-attachment and the such similar things, wouldn’t these types of material objects seem worthless/needless for someone who has achieved ‘monk status’?
It’s all very confusing. That’s all I needed to share with this board regarding this short, silly, strange encounter.
AMA: Fully decked out in the attire, waiting online waiting to pay, wearing a pink blue-tooth headset on his right ear
THe only way you could really know if Mr. Monk was emotionally “attached” to his pink blue-tooth headset is to observe his response after he was denied access to it or forbidden to wear it. Otherwise, you can’t be sure.
I once went to see a complicated and very beautiful sand painting that a group of Buddhist monks were creating in the Museum of Natural History in NY. Once the painting was completed, they would destroy it, presumably to demonstrate the illusory nature of the world, etc.
What was amusing was that all the monks were wearing large, complicated watches,
Fully decked out in the attire, waiting online waiting to pay, wearing a pink blue-tooth headset on his right ear. This was in a Honolulu, HI venue that is.
For someone who claims the physical world is an illusion, teaches non-attachment and the such similar things, wouldn’t these types of material objects seem worthless/needless for someone who has achieved ‘monk status’?
It’s all very confusing. That’s all I needed to share with this board regarding this short, silly, strange encounter.
Le sigh…
That doesn’t apply to all Buddhists. Especially the “physical world is an illusion”; more appropriately it’s the contingency of the world, i.e. the fleeting nature of things. Technology, to most Buddhists, is not useless or worthless; it’s just convenient. I like sara’s example which she probably didn’t intend to be used as supportive to my own point. The picture which the Buddhists crafted and then tore down was reality in motion. If that painting was so dear to you, and someone tore it up, wouldn’t you be devastated? I imagine so. What’s the point though? Why attach yourself to material things which are not of your own control. The world doesn’t exist to benefit anyone, it’s us who find things in it to benefit from. The Buddha tells us that when choosing what to benefit from, the only sure possession is one’s own mind, for it cannot be taken from you. It’s got nothing to do with emptiness and it’s not intended to be a state of nothingness. The intention is to not be disappointed when everything and/or anything is taken away.
Being a monk is not about abstinence.
It’s about experiencing material things as material things.
Saying “my phone is enabling me to call people far away in a comfortable way” is right.
Saying “my phone makes me happy and I would be lost without it” is wrong.
Right/wrong can be replaced with “will make you content”/“will make you discontent”.
These things take a while to really land on you. If you are interested, there lots of books people here will be glad to reccomand. I think it’s essential to dive into it if you don’t want to just scratch the surface of the whole Buddah fad.
Being a monk is not about abstinence.
It’s about experiencing material things as material things.
Saying “my phone is enabling me to call people far away in a comfortable way” is right.
Saying “my phone makes me happy and I would be lost without it” is wrong.
How about ...
Getting calls on my phone when it’s in my front pocket and set on buzz makes me happy ... ?
Being a monk is not about abstinence.
It’s about experiencing material things as material things.
Saying “my phone is enabling me to call people far away in a comfortable way” is right.
Saying “my phone makes me happy and I would be lost without it” is wrong.
How about ...
Getting calls on my phone when it’s in my front pocket and set on buzz makes me happy ... ?
Eh?
Experiential detachment is when you’re equally happy if someone suddenly snatches that vibrating cell out of your pants but doesn’t linger.
For someone who claims the physical world is an illusion, teaches non-attachment and the such similar things, wouldn’t these types of material objects seem worthless/needless for someone who has achieved ‘monk status’?
Was that person a monk or someone going to a costume party? Can you know the “monk status” of the person just by looking? Material things can be illusory even when worn as clothing.
Was the ear piece something of his to which he had an attachment or something required in the course of his duties or something used for convenience?
You’ve made too many assumptions, and your question should be directed to the person in question before asking it here.
Fully decked out in the attire, waiting online waiting to pay, wearing a pink blue-tooth headset on his right ear. This was in a Honolulu, HI venue that is.
For someone who claims the physical world is an illusion, teaches non-attachment and the such similar things, wouldn’t these types of material objects seem worthless/needless for someone who has achieved ‘monk status’?
It’s all very confusing. That’s all I needed to share with this board regarding this short, silly, strange encounter.
Le sigh…
About a thousand years ago, Zen master Fayan commented:
“The teaching of the mind ground is the basis of Zen study. The mind ground is the great awareness of being as is.”
(Quoted from the book, ‘ZEN ESSENCE - The Science of Freedom’ - translated and edited by Thomas Cleary)
Following the election, opponents of Bothwell, including H. K. Edgerton, a former president of the Asheville NAACP, challenged his election because the North Carolina Constitution does not allow for atheists to hold public office in the state.
