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Say "fuck it"

BrianBrian Detroit, MI Moderator
edited October 2011 in Buddhism Basics
A perfect way for Westerners to understand the Eastern idea of giving up, letting go, reminding oneself that things aren't that important, that everything's impermanent, that it's not worth getting worked up over. Say "fuck it" :D





I haven't read the book, but it's called Fuck It: The Ultimate Spiritual Way.
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Comments

  • vinlynvinlyn Colorado...for now Veteran
    Gee, never saw that in the Dhamma. Perhaps Buddha spoke in a more sophisticated and acceptable manner.
  • BrianBrian Detroit, MI Moderator
    Buddha also lived 2500 years ago. Sophisticated and acceptable are just opinions and attachments to social cues.
  • BrianBrian Detroit, MI Moderator
    And if the word "fuck" bothers you, you should think about why that is.
  • vinlynvinlyn Colorado...for now Veteran
    @Brian

    There's a time and place for virtually everything. From my perspective, a religious website is not the place for wrong speech...as it is viewed by many people. I sometimes use the word...like in a bar or at a football game. This is a different environment.
  • @vinlyn - if @Brian doesn't have a problem with the word 'fuck' being used here, then it's probably OK, what with him being a admin and all.
  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    edited October 2011
    +5 internets for you, Brian. Much respect.

    @vinlyn
    Here we go again. :rolleyes:
  • ToshTosh Veteran
    And if the word "fuck" bothers you, you should think about why that is.
    Because it may offend those less spiritually enlightened than yourself, maybe?

  • ToshTosh Veteran
    Not that it offends me, but I'm not that bothered about other people's feelings over the word 'fuck'. I've bigger fish to fry like worrying about getting all these other sentient beings Enlightened; myself too.

    Just to clarify.
  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    edited October 2011
    The whole swearing debate thing is just stupid. Words are just words, we shouldn't be attached to these negative connotations that we seem to associate with words. Its silly taboo that we need to get over. :screwy:

    Saying, "Fuck you" and "Fuck it" are completely different things. One is clearly wrong speech (because its intent was to harm), and the other really isn't bad.

    But, ahem, back on topic. ;)

    I believe another member on NewBuddhist said to me that her boyfriend's philosophy was just "fuck it" or something similar to that. Or maybe she was reading this book or something... I kind of forget, that was months ago.
  • Its just another way of "letting go." Sure, why not?
  • The whole swearing debate thing is just stupid. Words are just words, we shouldn't be attached to these negative connotations that we seem to associate with words. Its silly taboo that we need to get over. :screwy:
    That's right. Fuck it. :om:
  • BrianBrian Detroit, MI Moderator
    @Brian

    There's a time and place for virtually everything. From my perspective, a religious website is not the place for wrong speech...as it is viewed by many people. I sometimes use the word...like in a bar or at a football game. This is a different environment.
    First of all: I never intended for this site to be a religious website. It's not. It's a discussion forum for those new to Buddhism.

    Second of all: Wrong speech is about intention. Saying "fuck it" to learn to let go is not wrong speech. Saying "fuck you" to someone who angers you, with the intent to incite anger or whatever, is wrong speech.

  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    Second of all: Wrong speech is about intention. Saying "fuck it" to learn to let go is not wrong speech. Saying "fuck you" to someone who angers you, with the intent to incite anger or whatever, is wrong speech.
    Bingo.
  • Personally speaking I find "fuck" to be one of the most useful words in the English language. It's also my favorite word.
  • It's also my favorite word.
    ...as your avatar would seem to indicate! ;)
  • I have no problem with the word "fuck," but in the recovery community an addict who has a case of the "fuck its" usually ends up in a very low place, not an enlightened place. Sometimes "fuck it" means for a person to give up and stop trying and gives way to an excuse to be an asshole. That is very not Buddhist, in my understanding. So I think phrases like that could use some context and explanation.
  • My comment is about use of the word, I haven't watched the video. Agree with the comment above, it is about intention and letting go of self will is different than giving up on keeping on going - saying f it usually means the later in my experience.
  • @Brian

    There's a time and place for virtually everything. From my perspective, a religious website is not the place for wrong speech...as it is viewed by many people. I sometimes use the word...like in a bar or at a football game. This is a different environment.
    Even some teachers use curse words during dharma talk if it suits the emotion and context.

    Who are we to judge what is appropriate or not? Perhaps your ego? social conditioning?
  • F has a meaning
    U has a meaning
    C has a meaning
    K has a meaning
    I has a meaning
    T has a meaning

    (do not ask me now, but you will learn it by degrees on the PATH itself)

    so FUCK IT is not bad at all
    problem is with the context we use 'FUCK IT' not with the words FUCK IT
  • seeker242seeker242 Zen Florida, USA Veteran
    Does this go too far with it? :D

  • edited October 2011
    saying f it usually means the later in my experience.
    If that's an issue though, then most of human language would just never be used. Every word has a primary meaning, then tons of other usages, not all official. If you only use the primary meaning of words, you're not going to be able to communicate all that well.


    edit: I'd also like to say "giving up" and "letting go" themselves could be misconstrued just as easily. Maybe even more so since "fuck it" can imply humor as well.
  • BrianBrian Detroit, MI Moderator
    I have no problem with the word "fuck," but in the recovery community an addict who has a case of the "fuck its" usually ends up in a very low place, not an enlightened place.
    Not sure what the correlation is between "the recovery community" and NewBuddhist.com...

  • saying f it usually means the later in my experience.
    If that's an issue though, then most of human language would just never be used. Every word has a primary meaning, then tons of other usages, not all official. If you only use the primary meaning of words, you're not going to be able to communicate all that well.


    edit: I'd also like to say "giving up" and "letting go" themselves could be misconstrued just as easily. Maybe even more so since "fuck it" can imply humor as well.
    Agree with you about the limitation of having only words to use to communicate, especially online where there is no non verbal cues and when individuals from many different social and cultural groups interact .... my point was it is all about trying to get across your intention to others and mostly when I have heard f.... it spoken it is in a giving up intent rather than a letting go intent- of course it doesn't have to be - I still haven't watch the video. Recovery groups help individuals living with active addictions of various kinds, often acutely life threatening and therefore understand the importance of letting go rather than giving up.

  • DaltheJigsawDaltheJigsaw Mountain View Veteran
    Love it!:) Thanks!
  • I think the reason why it's not an issue here though, is if it's your first time on the internet and you see someone say "fuck it" and that causes you to give up, you had some serious problems to begin with (more serious than a beginner Buddhist oriented community is equipped to handle). If you've been to the internet more than once and are still shocked enough to change your life views, you must have a very short term memory :P
  • Does this go too far with it? :D

    haha nice I was scrolling down about to post the exact same video before i saw that you beat me to it! =P


  • Yeah it depends what you mean. I remember getting an E on an exam (I was dealing with schizophrenia), and I said "fuck it" and was drinking vodka out of the bottle. Woke up in spicy red dorrito puke. Ugh! That's the wrong kinda 'fuck it'.
  • Sigh... this DIY non-Buddhist stuff again.

    Reminds me of the F word documentry where they interviews porn stars and alcoholic comedians as people we should respect listen to to...
  • edited October 2011
    Sigh... this DIY non-Buddhist stuff again.

    Reminds me of the F word documentry where they interviews porn stars and alcoholic comedians as people we should respect listen to to...
    Doesn't seem very Buddhist to judge someone as not worthy of respect because they're actually more open minded than the average person.
  • personperson Don't believe everything you think The liminal space Veteran
    I have no problem with the word "fuck," but in the recovery community an addict who has a case of the "fuck its" usually ends up in a very low place, not an enlightened place. Sometimes "fuck it" means for a person to give up and stop trying and gives way to an excuse to be an asshole. That is very not Buddhist, in my understanding. So I think phrases like that could use some context and explanation.
    /signed

    Of course intention is what matters most, but in my experience f it usually means give up instead of let go.
  • So I think phrases like that could use some context and explanation.
    /signed

    Of course intention is what matters most, but in my experience f it usually means give up instead of let go.
    The thing is, you guys are objecting but the explanation you say it needs is actually in the video itself.
  • MindGateMindGate United States Veteran
    edited October 2011
    Yesterday, there was a centipede on the ceiling of my stairwell. I didn't want to go down in case it was going to fall on me, but I just thought "fuck it" and went down anyways. How is that giving up?
  • "Fuck it" can certainly be used to express grim determination to forge ahead against all odds.
  • I have no problem with the word "fuck," but in the recovery community an addict who has a case of the "fuck its" usually ends up in a very low place, not an enlightened place.
    Not sure what the correlation is between "the recovery community" and NewBuddhist.com...
    You could be in both "communities" (recovering addict, new buddhist), and he's just saying if you are, this phrase may ring alarm bells.

    Basically: Fuckevada Buddhism may not be for everyone :)

    Personally, my first thought was that this whole thing is jumping on the back of the "Go The Fuck To Sleep" phenomenon.

  • edited October 2011


    Basically: Fuckevada Buddhism may not be for everyone :)


    Please teach me your ways Fuckkhu Daozen!
  • edited October 2011
    Sometimes, it's good to say "fuck it" and let go. But please don't think of it as an excuse to not Give a Shit. ;)



  • Sigh... this DIY non-Buddhist stuff again.

    Reminds me of the F word documentry where they interviews porn stars and alcoholic comedians as people we should respect listen to to...
    Doesn't seem very Buddhist to judge someone as not worthy of respect because they're actually more open minded than the average person.
    Open minded to pop culture but not actually open mind to Buddhism? I've done that and been there. I know what this whole "open minded business" is all about, it's actually narrow minded to alot of other things.

  • Open minded to pop culture but not actually open mind to Buddhism? I've done that and been there. I know what this whole "open minded business" is all about, it's actually narrow minded to alot of other things.
    Open minded to pop culture??? Are we talking about the same culture here? The USA has been so puritanical to just be embarrassing, and you're saying people who turn away from that are close minded? Just because they're not your chosen philosophy or faith or religion or whatever you want to call it? Come on. And do you claim to NOT be narrow minded to a lot of other things?
  • I have had a chance to view the video :) can see it may encourage and be an effective approach for some and as has been explained is less about not caring and more about bravely proceeding.
  • Open minded to pop culture??? Are we talking about the same culture here? The USA has been so puritanical to just be embarrassing, and you're saying people who turn away from that are close minded? Just because they're not your chosen philosophy or faith or religion or whatever you want to call it? Come on. And do you claim to NOT be narrow minded to a lot of other things?
    Think about it, The conservatives preaches family values, community spirit, being charitable, have social responsibility and work hard. They are all GOOD moral ideas! It is only because they are heavily contaminated by hatred and arrogance, that their behaviour makes some of these ideals seem fake and bad.

    Think about about what the opposing team is teaching? Be more free to do... "what"?

    Now which team's teaching is more enjoyable and easier to accept? Be a puritan and worry about moral consequences. Or alternatively, be "yourself", "fuck the system", "rock out" "express yourself", enjoy substances, try everything!

    Now let go, go with the flow of Samsara, satisfy all the craving of your eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind. Isn't this alot more easier to accept and enjoy?

    Now there is a old saying that goes "it takes 10 years to be a good person, but it takes a few hours to become a bad person."

  • Open minded to pop culture??? Are we talking about the same culture here? The USA has been so puritanical to just be embarrassing, and you're saying people who turn away from that are close minded? Just because they're not your chosen philosophy or faith or religion or whatever you want to call it? Come on. And do you claim to NOT be narrow minded to a lot of other things?
    Think about it, The conservatives preaches family values, community spirit, being charitable, have social responsibility and work hard. They are all GOOD moral ideas! It is only because they are heavily contaminated by hatred and arrogance, that their behaviour makes some of these ideals seem fake and bad.

    Think about about what the opposing team is teaching? Be more free to do... "what"?

    Now which team's teaching is more enjoyable and easier to accept? Be a puritan and worry about moral consequences. Or alternatively, be "yourself", "fuck the system", "rock out" "express yourself", enjoy substances, try everything!

    Now let go, go with the flow of Samsara, satisfy all the craving of your eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind. Isn't this alot more easier to accept and enjoy?

    Now there is a old saying that goes "it takes 10 years to be a good person, but it takes a few hours to become a bad person."

    I would kill myself right now before being one of those conservative christians you seem to value more than a non judgmental person. How many other people has that alcoholic or drug addict affected versus organized religion or even just christian culture in the USA since the 1500s? This is actually offensive that you could even say such a thing. Think of the exterminations of the natives in the name of GOD. You have to be the most judgmental "Buddhist" I've come across.
  • edited October 2011
    I'll be back after a few weeks.
  • edited October 2011
    Yes you tried to convince people that conservatives and christians are a different thing. You do realize their source for these "family values"? ROFL. I wonder how many families that group has been responsible for destroying throughout history. I love how you claim people like me (former drug user) used to be worse than a group with a body count to eclipse Stalin's.

    Not to mention, 100% of the credit for whatever level of open mindedness i possess goes to marijuana and the book Ishmael.
  • andyrobynandyrobyn Veteran
    edited October 2011
    Inspiring novel, that ... Ishmael. Ishmael for me though is associated with Moby Dick ( also saw the great new opera based on the story this year ... getting even further off topic now !)

    Thought I recognised the name John C Parkin ... was sent a quote from him earlier - about the value in taking the road of least resistence.
  • riverflowriverflow Veteran
    edited October 2011
    Think about it, The conservatives preaches family values, community spirit, being charitable, have social responsibility and work hard. They are all GOOD moral ideas! It is only because they are heavily contaminated by hatred and arrogance, that their behaviour makes some of these ideals seem fake and bad.
    Wow.
  • I was going to comment on thsi thread again...but then I figured...fuck it.

    :hiding:
  • The quote was posted sometime ago on Twitter ... What is the path of least resistance for you? Say F**k It and take that.
  • BhanteLuckyBhanteLucky Alternative lifestyle person in the South Island of New Zealand New Zealand Veteran
    Fuck It shares a lot with one of Ajahn Chah's favourite spiritual teachings; "Good Enough".
    It's quite profound stuff. Like!
  • vinlynvinlyn Colorado...for now Veteran

    I would kill myself right now before being one of those conservative christians you seem to value more than a non judgmental person. How many other people has that alcoholic or drug addict affected versus organized religion or even just christian culture in the USA since the 1500s? This is actually offensive that you could even say such a thing. Think of the exterminations of the natives in the name of GOD. You have to be the most judgmental "Buddhist" I've come across.
    Gee, do you think maybe that you've just been judgmental yourself?

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