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Gambling
Gambling.........Simple question, but can Buddhists gamble?
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Comments
Yes, they can, but they shouldn't:
(3) "What are the six channels for dissipating wealth which he does not pursue?
(a) "indulgence in intoxicants which cause infatuation and heedlessness;
(b) sauntering in streets at unseemly hours;
(c) frequenting theatrical shows;
(d) indulgence in gambling which causes heedlessness;
(e) association with evil companions;
(f) the habit of idleness.
- Sigalovada Sutta: DN31
Jason
(i) the winner begets hate,
(ii) the loser grieves for lost wealth,
(iii) loss of wealth,
(iv) his word is not relied upon in a court of law,
(v) he is despised by his friends and associates,
(vi) he is not sought after for matrimony; for people would say he is a gambler and is not fit to look after a wife.
(From the same Sutra.)
So there you have it....
Just give me the money, HH... I'll look after it for you and make sure it goes to a worthy cause....!!
Surely one should examine the merits of gambling as applied to a particlular situation rather than instantly checking if it is in the rule book and basing a decision on that. If you are looking for irrefutable opinions or certainties you may not find them in the context of buddhism. Is this not the type of rigid thinking that is used in other faiths?
I think that gambling with crossing the road against the lights (Traffic Roulette) or gambling on the weather by going out in the snow without a coat ("Pneumonia Roulette") may be just as unskillful. But I'll lay you 5 to 4 that someone knows better.
It has been known for me to gamble but not on a regular basis. I am aware that our Asian brothers are mad for it so I wasn't quite sure.
I wish to point out that I only gamble small sums of money. I think the most I have gambled at one time was $70 in Vegas and I believe I lost.
If I can give you all a tip, please remember the house always wins.
The article is about an Irish guy who came 5th in the World Poker Tour but is also a Buddhist and how he rationalises poker with his beliefs.
I can't remember the exact details, I'll try and dig out the article so I can provide some more info.
What level of knowledge and understanding is it aimed at ? Is aimed more at the Tibetan or Theravadan Forest belief system? Is there a Buddha Babes page?
Questions Questions..........?
The mag doesn't seem too bad. It's the first issue I've seen over here and it's a bit pricey at £6 but it only comes out quarterly. It doesn't seem to be tied to any one tradition, I guess it's such a specialist publication they'd be shooting themselves in the foot if they only covered one area. Not all the articles appealed to me but there were a few that were worth reading. May be worth going to your local Borders and reading a copy over a coffee. That way you can try before you buy !
And yes, the title does have a feel of the Larry Grayson's about it !
Palzang
Palzang
Interesting, Palzang-la. What makes you say this? I used to enjoy Tricycle when I could afford it. Isn't the National Enquirer a scandal mag? Please explain. I was thinking of buying it again.
The reason I say this is that sometimes they put in stories that are much more scandal and gossip than a serious exploration of Buddhism. I'm thinking of two stories in particular, one an "expose" by some nut case who used to be an attendant of Kalu Rinpoche (the second Milarepa) who claimed she was "sexually abused" by him (if what she said is true, which is doubtful, she should feel blessed, not abused!), and another where the editor, Helen Tworkin, interviewed Pema Chodron and kept trying to get her to talk scandal about Chogyam Trungpa, her teacher, which the Ven. Pema, much to her credit, refused to get sucked into. So I don't really read it any more because such stories, imho, are highly inappropriate. Just check out what the Buddha said about spreading gossip!
Palzang