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New Tattoo
Seph
Veteran
Getting a new tattoo.
Here's a pic
(Mindfulness.)
Upper centre back/lower back of neck.
Cool, eh?
Here's a pic
(Mindfulness.)
Upper centre back/lower back of neck.
Cool, eh?
3
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Sorry, I am not an advocate of permanent body art - but am happy to discuss if you want to....
It might be interpreted as other things, but a discussion forum on buddhism (secular or non-secular - just for clarity) condoning self advertisements - boring!, BORING or just plain BOARing, dent work for me. But nothing really works for me any way!
If you believe that having a tattoo will bring you great happiness, great; all your hard earned cash indelibly engraved in your flesh!!!! - i remember seeing a Japanese tattoo when the guy doing the tattoo has actually made a major mistake and what you believed was a japanese symbol for I'm great' really means 'ingrate'.
But that is just my opinion, and as you don't know me it really doesn't matter, especially in an all forgiving forum like this, but, but, but, but, don't ask for an opinion when you have already committed yourself to it! Particularly when your avatar is basically a tattoo artists canvas!
Om mani padme hum! Oh that's just a mental tattoo btw..
"If you haven't got anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."
I am a little torn when it comes to Buddhist tattoos.
On the one hand I think having the buddha on your body may raise a query from the odd person which may then give the person an opportunity to talk about the dhamma which can only be a good thing right?
On the other hand, if I was just doing it to say "look at me. I am cool coz I'm a Buddhist" that's just more clinging to a label which is wrong view / action yeah?
just my two bobs worth anyway.....
I have my wife and kids names tattooed on my back but am holding off with the Buddhist tatt for now.
And I do really object to it as it is nothing but self ridiculing self-expression!
Once again I apologise if I have offended anyone here if they have body art! I don't have it, and won't. It's a bit like drink driving, you do or you don't - it happens and we all know it happens. but one day someone has to pay for it!
dot dot dot
But that's just my opinion since we are saying whatever we want on this all forgiving forum.
Not claiming superiority, just making a valid argument for the sake of having an argument. Did @Seph want us all to say - ''cool tattoo, wish I had one like that',
This is a discussion forum after all, and I find the climate of body art ridiculous! But that is just an opinion, and it can change.
I ask this respectfully and out of curiosity because this attitude towards tattooing is more typical of the over 50 crowd. Being an older bugger myself has me agree with you about much of it but saying that to someone already covered in tattoos seems unhelpful.
You know it's awfully rich of you to say that in an alphabet that you have no cultural connection with-- how many of your immediate relatives are phonecian traders? Do you really have the right cultural claims to use the Latin alphabet, are you white enough, no low caste blood, do you have the proper empowerments, did you learn the right secret handshake? Elsewhere on the internet I saw someone suggest westerners should *NOT* adopt Buddhism and should stick with their own domestic religions, like who knows, a Roman era middle eastern devotional cult. Phtew! It's one thing to look down your nose at low brow customs, another to suggest someone can't do something because they aren't the right race or family background or birthplace.
re: Body mods and the Buddhist experience historically & world wide
Creating permanent dot-like scars on the forehead in sets of 3, 9 or 18 was a feature of Chinese Buddhism (obligatory for all monks according to imperial decree-- made it easier to figure out who was a monk). They modified the Brahma Net Sutra to specifically mention one shouldn't criticize those who burn their flesh by burning incense on their heads. The custom grew out the indigenous practice of moxibustion (burning things on your skin, sometimes to the point of scars, sometimes just to create some heat)
In SE Asia, Buddhism mixed with local religion to create a custom of Buddhist tattoos (mostly magic charm with Buddhist themes)
ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yantra_tattooing
In my opinion, it's art. I like the forms of Buddhism that aren't anti-art (i.e. anti dancing, anti music, anti pictures and paintings)
I do not accept your back handed apology.
This is the second thread that you just shot
off. It didn't even call for all that.
You said " just making a valid arguement for the
sake of having an argument."
Yeah, I see.
I find THAT climate ridiculous....but hey...
do you.
How about....".Hmm...I'm not really into them....
but it's your body"....or not participating in the
thread at all....or keeping the fuckwit part to yourself?
You could have left it at 'no'.
The intention stinks to high hell.....
Good night
'Be' and 'Kind'.
Maybe I will get them in contact lens format as a HUD when available.
. . . and now back to the clothing debate . . .
I am sorry @vastmind It wasn't backhanded, it was straight forward. I am a FW at times, and I like to let things out and be blunt. Have your tattoos, but don't expect everyone to suck up to your perspective. I am as entitled to my opinion as you are, it's just an opinion, albeit a strong one, and yes, No was probably appropriate, but didn't explain why I said No...
Sometimes being blunt is being honest, and if you are offended, then you have to ask why you have been offended. The intention was to show strong disagreement to the strong advocation of 'hey this is cool'. No I don't agree with tattoos as being cool Not apologising for that. And I won't comment again on tattoos, you know where I stand.
However, as a concession I will think twice before sating my opinion, and then will try and say it nicely!
So I regret what I said. I'll not let my broken x chromosome get the better of me in future.
Forgive me @Seph - go for it, if that's what makes you happy.
Always.
That said, I do have a couple of tattoos that are meaningful to me. One is a Sanskrit OM ॐ on my right shoulder, and ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ on my left arm. If someone doesn't like them, as they say in Muhdder Ruhsha: "tofe sheetsky, meester".
I respect that they are a personal choice, and those who want them, fine. But, I find many -- maybe even most -- unattractive. Others are quite beautiful. From what I see on Seph's profile pic, his are impressive. I remember seeing a couple of Thai guys who had similar tattoos covering their entire bodies (at least as far as I could tell...ahem). Stunningly beautiful.
But I also wonder if everyone who ever got a tattoo was always so pleased years later, particularly after they get old and flabby...or who don't get a job they wanted...or get turned down for a loan...or whose hoped-for-life-partner walks away. They're relatively permanent and they are part of the package that defines who you are.
To each his own.
But the Japanese link tattoos with Yakuza.
Or just do what you really want to do.
Ink in the skin......like all things, it too is impermanent and something one should not cling to, be one for or against tatoos.
Nothing wrong with self expression, we express ourselves in a myriad number of ways from what we wear to how we decorate our spaces.
The body is not self............yada yada yada you know the rest.
...wow... judgmental much? As you were so attentive to notice that my “avatar is basically a tattoo artists canvas”, you should also notice that my back to turned. How do you know what my language is... or my culture... or my background... or my race? What does anyone in this forum want us all to say? “Cool religion. Wish I could join?”
I somehow think you have missed the entire purpose of a discussion forum, especially from someone who self-proclaims to be a “seeker of profound wisdom”.
Blind and delusional.
Sorry. Just saying.
...dot dot dot...
I wasn't judging I was just expressing. BTW, after seeing the pic that @lobster put above - I'm changing my view - I want one of those please!
I think this is the best post in this thread so far!
(You're awesome, frederica!)
But, to be fair, I think the truth of the matter is haters gonna hate.
1) They are an external artistic expression of an internal commitment. (usually)
2) One lesson I have long since learned is that no matter what you do, or don't do, in life, someone will judge you. It's inevitable. I don't get bogged down with whether it's right or wrong anymore. It is simply a fact. Tattoos tend to reveal these people rather quickly. I like that. At least I know where I stand.
3) And finally, it is my experience that many tattooed people understand the difference between Pain and Suffering. (They are not synonymous. Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional).
Why must we divide the world into them and us... or worst yet, them vs. us?
@anataman. Do you really think it makes you better, or purer, or superior by trying to knock others down?
Seriously, what is it that you are frightened of?
Just so she doesn't have to say it again.
(I put my thoughts together today during work. I don't normally have access to a computer at work).
Sorry anataman
Oops!
(I actually know that.
...huh...?
So first let me introduce my self - my avatar is 'me' btw, and this world of gibberish is my tea-party I have put a lot into it, and it is rewarding - every day I do something really stupid - yesterday it was making a stupid statement about an opinion I held! And now I see my 'self' more for what it is.
I truly regretted what I said and if you are so thick-skinned that you can have a needle plunged into it and suffer the pain, but can produce something that says something about you, who am I to question you or your beliefs or what pleases you.
Mettha
By the way that is loving kindness with a sense of humour.
I bet it is! LOL!
This image comes from a site that is an image consultancy in Australia and has no members, but plenty of guests!
Truth be told, I'm somewhat impressed.
I've met some pretty nasty people of other discussion forums (I'm not there anymore) and I am impressed how you handled yourself and took responsibility.
That's awesome!
All my tattoos have significant stories behind them (and on a side note, all of my tattoos are of my own design. Nobody else's work on me but my own).
The largest piece's (on my back - a 25 hour ordeal) story can be read on my blogsite, if anyone's interested.
http://pieceofburlap.blogspot.ca/2010/12/tattoo-solace-in-pain.html
Gotta go. We'll talk more later!
Namaste
[lobster wipes away a tattooed salty tear]