Views an Beliefs for my course work :)

Natali3

Hi There!

I was asked to research a religion and outline specific views on specific things. I choose Buddhism due to the fact I don't no much about the religion and I am very interesting in learning! So if any of you have any time please could you give me a few pointers on vies/beliefs on the following:

Toileting.
Sleeping.
Before any kind of surgery.
After any kind of surgery.
Blood Transfusion.
Emergency situations (i.e cardiac arrest)

Beej

Toileting: When you shit, just shit. Nothing else. That's Buddhism.

RebeccaS

TheBeejAbides said:

Toileting: When you shit, just shit. Nothing else. That's Buddhism.

And wipe. And wash your hands.

That's also Buddhism :om:

Beej

That's not toileting. That's after toileting. :facepalm:

genkaku

@Natali3 -- As far as I know, Buddhism teaches its students not to be careless ... i.e. to be attentive. And the body is one among many things to attend to: Sometimes sick, sometimes well -- be attentive.

If the framework of your questions points to other persuasions that prescribe this and proscribe that according to some scriptural ordinance, I think you've come to pretty much the wrong place. Buddhism suggests that if you are hungry and there is food, then eat. If you are tired, sleep. If you need to go to the doctor, go to the doctor. If you need to pee, then pee. If you have a heart attack, don't read scripture ... call 911. In other words, use your common sense.

zenff

Is there a religion which has specific views and beliefs on toileting?
Ignore this question, I don't want to know!

Natali3

Zenff....

zenff said:

Is there a religion which has specific views and beliefs on toileting?
Ignore this question, I don't want to know!

Surprisingly, YES! A lot of religions have views and beliefs regarding toileting!! It is just things like saying a prayer/blessing afterwards, only washing and drying hands outside the bathroom etc...

zenff

Never too old to learn, lol.

federica

@Natali3, I take it you intend to be a long-term regular member here....?

taiyaki

None of those things require a belief.

But their very functioning is the dharma.

Just try your best.

Of course there are rituals and they do serve a purpose.

For instance when I take a shit, I close my eyes and imagine shitting out my bullshit.

Sometimes it works. Most of the time it doesn't.

But man oh man taking a shit. What a miracle!

Tosh

taiyaki said:

But man oh man taking a shit. What a miracle!

It's not inherently a miracle on it's own side though is it?

Have you ever 'gambled and lost'? I have after a heavy session on the Guinness. Not nice.

taiyaki

Its what you make it.

Tosh

Natali3 said:

Hi There!

I was asked to research a religion and outline specific views on specific things. I choose Buddhism due to the fact I don't no much about the religion and I am very interesting in learning! So if any of you have any time please could you give me a few pointers on vies/beliefs on the following:

Toileting.
Sleeping.
Before any kind of surgery.
After any kind of surgery.
Blood Transfusion.
Emergency situations (i.e cardiac arrest)

Okay, here's something helpful. There is something called Boddhichitta which roughly means love and compassion for others. It's a state of mind to be cultivated and it's with this Boddhichitta mind that we can use (as long as it's genuine) as our intention for everything we do, including taking a shit, sleeping, having surgery, receiving or giving blood (giving blood DEFINITELY).

As an example, we could go to bed with the mind of Boddhichitta, so we will be rested and able to help others more compassionately than if we were physically exhausted.

Buddhism isn't too hot on dogma, I don't think - I mean 'Buddhism' encompasses many different sects which approach the aim of transcending suffering from many different angles. You've got Tibetan Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, Chan Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, TaiForest Buddhism, and many many many more; and probably sub divisions of those.

Personally, if I had to research a religion to answer those questions, I'd pick the Jehova's Witnesses - you'll find it a lot more simple and straightforward, particularly around the blood transfusion area.

Natali3

Tosh said:

Natali3 said:

Personally, if I had to research a religion to answer those questions, I'd pick the Jehova's Witnesses - you'll find it a lot more simple and straightforward, particularly around the blood transfusion area.

I am researching Jehovah Witnesses as well. That one was mandatory. I had to choose one myself and I chose this one Thank you for your help x

Cinorjer

Natali3 said:

Hi There!

I was asked to research a religion and outline specific views on specific things. I choose Buddhism due to the fact I don't no much about the religion and I am very interesting in learning! So if any of you have any time please could you give me a few pointers on vies/beliefs on the following:

Toileting.
Sleeping.
Before any kind of surgery.
After any kind of surgery.
Blood Transfusion.
Emergency situations (i.e cardiac arrest)

I must say that's a refreshingly different list of subjects being asked about. I know that some religions have strict rules about hygiene and what's allowed in medical care, etc. For instance, Islamic law dictates an amazingly detailed precedure including only using the left hand to wipe the butt, etc.

Buddhism has no particular rules like that, especially for the lay Buddhist. Monks have the most detailed set of rules and for them, when to go to sleep and get up and how many robes and what type of bedding they're allowed to use might be spelled out. For the rest of us, being considerate covers normal daily behavior like that.

Also, we have no proscriptions against any medical procedure, surgery, blood transfusion, etc. We are expected to use what modern medical care is available.

Hope this helps.

Tosh

Natali3 said:

I am researching Jehovah Witnesses as well. That one was mandatory. I had to choose one myself and I chose this one Thank you for your help x

I know a fair bit about the JWs. With regards the blood issue, make sure you note that prior to WW2 both blood and organ transplants were allowed. Also not that JWs are not allowed to be patriotic and with WW2 in the USA giving blood was seen to be a patriotic thing to do.

So, in 1945 the JWs banned blood transfusions and organ transplants citing Acts 15 as the scripture referring. We had a young lad die recently in the UK after refusing a blood transfusion (he was 15 years old).

And now, over the years things have relaxed some, JWs can have all PARTS of blood transfused, but they cannot have blood all in one go. Weird? It's an interesting subject though.

Natali3

Natali3 said:

I am researching Jehovah Witnesses as well. That one was mandatory. I had to choose one myself and I chose this one Thank you for your help x

I know a fair bit about the JWs. With regards the blood issue, make sure you note that prior to WW2 both blood and organ transplants were allowed. Also not that JWs are not allowed to be patriotic and with WW2 in the USA giving blood was seen to be a patriotic thing to do.

So, in 1945 the JWs banned blood transfusions and organ transplants citing Acts 15 as the scripture referring. We had a young lad die recently in the UK after refusing a blood transfusion (he was 15 years old).

And now, over the years things have relaxed some, JWs can have all PARTS of blood transfused, but they cannot have blood all in one go. Weird? It's an interesting subject though.

Thank you! I knew about the transfusion side, but not the back ground into it! I shall put that in my essay (which is getting hugely long now as I had 12 mandatory religions to research and one of my own!!), I'm sure that will give me extra marks for the research side of things! Much appreciated!!

Natali3

Cinorjer said:

Natali3 said:

Hi There!

I was asked to research a religion and outline specific views on specific things. I choose Buddhism due to the fact I don't no much about the religion and I am very interesting in learning! So if any of you have any time please could you give me a few pointers on vies/beliefs on the following:

Toileting.
Sleeping.
Before any kind of surgery.
After any kind of surgery.
Blood Transfusion.
Emergency situations (i.e cardiac arrest)

I must say that's a refreshingly different list of subjects being asked about. I know that some religions have strict rules about hygiene and what's allowed in medical care, etc. For instance, Islamic law dictates an amazingly detailed precedure including only using the left hand to wipe the butt, etc.

Buddhism has no particular rules like that, especially for the lay Buddhist. Monks have the most detailed set of rules and for them, when to go to sleep and get up and how many robes and what type of bedding they're allowed to use might be spelled out. For the rest of us, being considerate covers normal daily behavior like that.

Also, we have no proscriptions against any medical procedure, surgery, blood transfusion, etc. We are expected to use what modern medical care is available.

Hope this helps.

I agree it is a set of different things, but my diploma is in health, so I guess they are relevant! But understandably some of them are quite difficult! Im going to have a lot of "There is no specific rule to this" in my essay!!

federica

I'm temporarily closing this thread until the OP responds to this:

federica said:

@Natali3, I take it you intend to be a long-term regular member here....?

thanks to all so far.