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about certain precepts

TheFoundTheFound
edited November 2010 in Buddhism Basics
what's the logic behind, "not eating before 6 and not after-noon"??
I don't think I can do that , is that only for monks because of their daily routines or something?


and another one.. the, "abstain from watching shows, singing, music.."
I don't think I can do that... my favorite things to do are watching shows, making music....

and finally the sexual misconduct...a little pleasuring yourself count towards misconduct? :crazy::crazy:

Comments

  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    edited November 2009
    TheFound wrote: »
    what's the logic behind, "not eating before 6 and not after-noon"??
    Greed, attachment, lack of discipline and distraction.
    I don't think I can do that , is that only for monks because of their daily routines or something?
    This is a regulation set down for monks, but the first five precepts are usually the only ones laypeople adhere to, on a day-to-day basis. The further 3 (taking them to 8) are usually observed on Buddhist festival days, or days which mark an important event or occasion in the Buddha's life.
    They are adhered to as a mark of respect and a form of discipline. They concentrate the mind on self-control and self-mastery....

    and another one.. the, "abstain from watching shows, singing, music.."
    I don't think I can do that... my favorite things to do are watching shows, making music    ....
    This leads to abandonment of self-watching and self-discipline. Remember that music in India was a way of transmitting provocative words and gestures through dance (have you seen a'Bollywood' movie? no sex, no kissing, but that's all done through dance!) so it laid temptation down before monks....
    One day isn't much to ask anyone to try to do without such things, is it? if you find you can't go a day without these things, what does it say for the self-discipline you need to lead a good life according to the first 5 precepts?
    and finally the sexual misconduct...a little pleasuring yourself count towards misconduct?

    Bear this in mind:

    "Intention is all"......
  • DhammaDhatuDhammaDhatu Veteran
    edited November 2009
    TheFound wrote: »
    what's the logic behind, "not eating before 6 and not after-noon"??
    If one's life is devoted to meditation, eating after noon is unnecessary. The body does not need it. Plus, if the mind has developed samadhi, the samadhi is deeper & clearer in the evening, when the food is well digested and gone.

    But if a monk has not developed samadhi, not eating after noon is difficult. Many monks, especially some reknowned scholars & translators, spent much of their monk's life often sick.

    If a monk is often sick, it is a sign his mind has not developed samadhi.

    :)
  • fivebellsfivebells Veteran
    edited November 2009
    Trungpa said a few times that meditation leads to an end to the need for entertainment. All of these precepts are really prohibiting some form of entertainment. (You don't need to eat more than one meal a day, so the rest are just for fun, etc.)
  • JasonJason God Emperor Arrakis Moderator
    edited November 2009
    The eight precepts are training rules that are voluntarily observed by the laity during periods of intensive meditation practice.

    The extra precepts are simply there to foster a contemplative atmosphere and are designed to be supportive to meditation practice, nothing more. They are mainly taken on the Uposatha observance days, which are traditional (but not mandatory) days of more intensive reflection and meditation for both lay followers and monastics alike.
  • LyssaLyssa
    edited November 2009
    TheFound wrote: »
    what's the logic behind, "not eating before 6 and not after-noon"??
    I don't think I can do that , is that only for monks because of their daily routines or something?

    This practice began because monks did alms rounds for their food and it was considered impolite to bother people too early and in the afternoon.

    and finally the sexual misconduct...a little pleasuring yourself count towards misconduct? :crazy::crazy:

    Pleasuring yourself is not sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct concerns harming others, not oneself. Now, if you are consuming exploitive porn (is there any other kind?) while you masturbate, I would consider that sexual misconduct.
  • TheFoundTheFound
    edited November 2009
    Lyssa wrote: »
    Pleasuring yourself is not sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct concerns harming others, not oneself. Now, if you are consuming exploitive porn (is there any other kind?) while you masturbate, I would consider that sexual misconduct.

    That's the conclusion I came too also..


    (NO PUN INTENDED):lol:
  • coolbird_1coolbird_1
    edited November 2010
    Eating before afternoon can be interpreted in two ways. First, eating less keeps you awake and focused on your meditation so you are not thinking about obtaining food constantly. Because if you think about it, most people eat three times a day and many health experts are advocating up to six small meals a day. as a monk, you dont' want to be thinking about eating all the time or your meditation progress may be jeopardized. Second, in indian culture, morning was the time when people prepared their food and went to work. This was the optimum time for alms rounds because once people got busy with their work, they didn't have time to give alms. therefore your best bet would be to come by early in the morning, also when other auspicious activities were being conducted, prayers, etc. and get some alms.
  • compassionate_warriorcompassionate_warrior Veteran
    edited November 2010
    Lyssa wrote: »
    Pleasuring yourself is not sexual misconduct. Sexual misconduct concerns harming others, not oneself. Now, if you are consuming exploitive porn (is there any other kind?) while you masturbate, I would consider that sexual misconduct.

    Pleasuring yourself is misconduct only for monks. There is no other kind of porn but exploitive porn, that's the definition of porn. But there is erotica. Erotica doesn't contain violence or degrading images.
  • CinorjerCinorjer Veteran
    edited November 2010
    TheFound wrote: »
    what's the logic behind, "not eating before 6 and not after-noon"??
    I don't think I can do that , is that only for monks because of their daily routines or something?


    and another one.. the, "abstain from watching shows, singing, music.."
    I don't think I can do that... my favorite things to do are watching shows, making music....

    and finally the sexual misconduct...a little pleasuring yourself count towards misconduct? :crazy::crazy:

    Discipline and an orderly functioning temple, that's all.

    A monk's life is supposed to be focused on attaining enlightenment. The whole idea of a temple is to enter a structured world free from distractions. It is supposed to be a life of instruction by the senior monks, meditation, and chores and duties as assigned to keep the temple running.

    Just how strict the rules are depends on the traditions of the temple. In Japan, a lot of the senior monks were retired military generals and the temples were pretty much boot camps for Buddhists.

    As for masturbation, a lot of the young monks were shoved into the temples by their families without much choice as part of the cultural tradition. The old men and women who ran the place might have no problem with their hormones, but I bet the young monks did what people always do.
  • meh_meh_
    edited November 2010
    The life of a monk seems so appealing...I feel fab after 20 or so minutes of meditation...
    Monk Envy! Yes I know they have like, a whole bunch of chores etc. but I reckon it would be pretty alright actually.
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