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Non Substance Intoxicants

thickpaperthickpaper Veteran
edited May 2010 in Buddhism Basics
This thread is not about drink or drugs, please can we keep such talk from this thread.

In the Buddhas time there where just a few things that could intoxicate; that is stupefy and poison, and these are the obvious things. But today we have many other things that seem to intoxicate us, such as TV, Celebrity and internet addictions.

Do you think it makes sense to consider these "non-substances" as intoxicants and therefore treated as recommended by The Eightfold Path.

namaste

Comments

  • StephenStephen
    edited May 2010
    No, they are attachments. Different category altogether from what the Buddha meant by intoxicants. :) We are "addicted" intrinsically; some attachments are merely stronger than others.
  • thickpaperthickpaper Veteran
    edited May 2010
    Stephen wrote: »
    No, they are attachments. Different category altogether from what the Buddha meant by intoxicants. :) We are "addicted" intrinsically; some attachments are merely stronger than others.

    I think that if the Buddha understood the way TV (eg) worked on us, and the way it is used to delude us, he would see it as something more intoxicating than our actual attachment to it.

    You talk as if you have The Buddha's ear.

    namaste
  • PietroPumokinPietroPumokin
    edited May 2010
    yes, i think you may be right... or at least i feel that the distinction between drugs and non-drugs can be rather blurry. sex is a good example. anything that you can get a visceral high on and addiction... these are just general parameters but i think comparing drugs to tv and non-drug activities and objects is appropriate.
  • dennis60dennis60
    edited May 2010
    one definition of intoxication is.....overpowering exhilaration or excitement of the mind or emotions.
    Overpowering is the word here that gives me a clue to what you are asking. If "whatever" it is makes/causes one to forget their practice, one should be careful of it. It has the potential to cause us to act in such a way as to attract some negative karma, that we/or others will pay for with increased suffering......
  • StephenStephen
    edited May 2010
    We have new things, but nothing about our delusion and the reasons for it have changed. Things such as TV are actually not the strongest attachments. They're just easily identifiable as such, and difficult to let go of because of how pervasive they have become.

    Eh, The Buddha's ear?
  • aMattaMatt Veteran
    edited May 2010
    Stephen wrote: »
    Eh, The Buddha's ear?

    That would give you the power to rule in some countries you know.


    To me, it seems there is a big difference between intoxication from alcohol and watching television. I have never seen a show that was so amazing I passed out, or fell down stairs or swerved on the road.

    Then again, I don't watch TV much. Maybe reality TV could do that to me. :lol:

    With warmth,

    Matt
  • GuyCGuyC Veteran
    edited May 2010
    I am definitely addicted to the internet. But at least I spend over 95% of my time online reading or discussing Dhamma. I could be doing far worse things with my time. Though I suspect if the Buddha were here, he'd tell me to turn the computer off a bit more and go sit under a tree.
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    edited May 2010
    GuyC wrote: »
    I suspect if the Buddha were here, he'd tell me to turn the computer off a bit more and go sit under a tree.

    Does it have WiFi? :)

    Mtns
  • IrrisIrris Explorer
    edited May 2010
    hahaha :D
  • bonnibraibonnibrai
    edited May 2010
    LOL good one
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