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Buddhist monk cuts off his own penis
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061122/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_life_thailand_monk_1
He cut it off because he got an erection while meditating. My personal reaction at this time is:
"WTF! A little off the middle path (and over a cliff), don't you think!" and "Great, got to love what 'Buddhist' stories the media chooses to cover." I will be probably be thinking about this a bit longer - although I really wish I didn't have to. Ick.
He cut it off because he got an erection while meditating. My personal reaction at this time is:
"WTF! A little off the middle path (and over a cliff), don't you think!" and "Great, got to love what 'Buddhist' stories the media chooses to cover." I will be probably be thinking about this a bit longer - although I really wish I didn't have to. Ick.
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Comments
What is even sadder (or funnier depending on how morbid your sense of humor is) is that there is actually a rule in the Vinaya that prohibits bhikkhus from doing such a thing, which implies that it has happened before. Stupidity is apparently timeless.
Sincerely,
Jason
One could wish that the fathers of religious fanatics had been similarly 'inspired'! (LOL)
Do you think he did it from anger, disappointment or equanimity? Or did he do it to test his own ability to withstand so sharp a pain? If so, I can only see a manifestation of pride rather than any appropriate "mortification of the flesh".
Mind you, we are far less aware or respectful of mortification than were our forebears. This is a pretty recent and localised phenomenon. Outwith the 'Protestant', predominantly Anglo-Saxon/Germanic inspired parts of the world, self-mutilation and deliberate infliction of pain are still common aids to spiritual growth. It is less than 40 years ago that I handed a 'discipline' (multiple knotted whip) and a spiked chain to wear round the arm back toi the Novice Master: I tried them once, a week into 30 days of silent retreat, but, alas, the only real decision to which I came was that I am not the stuff of self-mortifiers.
All our sacred histories are stuffed with stories of people doing something nasty to themselves. The Buddha Shakyamuni, of course, tried the extreme ascetic way and certainly gave it a good go. He wasn't the quitter that I turned out to be. There is a part of me that wonders whether he would have Woken Up under the tree if he hadn't been through that time. I am taught that he found a different, less extreme way and that there is no need to go to extremes. But he did! And, unlike the mainstream Christian view, he appears to teach that no one can do it for us. We have to do it for ourselves and, for some, only the extreme is moderate enough.
Wow, that is scary. Too bad he didn't read that first.
* raises hand *
reminds me of blackadder, "thats what happens when u get a gd idea - ur leg falls off, my uncle got such a good idea, to cut his toesnails with a scythe, and then his leg fell off"
(vaguely along those lines)
Since the khandhas lack full controll, my strategy is to develop patience and good will towards them
Palzang
I think it would do all men good to do this at least once in their lifetime.
Preferably early on.
Get it over with.
At least we'd be in no doubt, after this, that they WERE thinking with their brains.....
Did I just say that out loud?:wow: :eek2: