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Buddhism's position on bodybuilding and steroids
Hey guys,
Iv been a lay buddhist for about 12 months.
I frequently attend my university buddhist society meetings, meditate daily, go on retreat and study buddhism (when Im not studying at uni). My hobby on the side is body building. It's not just about getting 'big' and strong, i love the routine, looking after my diet, feeling good about myself and the clean lifestyle that it creates.
I do a cycle of testosterone twice a year to keep building up. This does not affect my mindfulness as there is no intoxicating impact or side effects. I only do a light dose of testosterone which is occurring naturally in my body anyway. All that stuff about roid rage etc I personally believe is a myth because it has no noticeable effect on my mood, perhaps only an overactive sex drive !
I am comfortable being a buddhist and continuing this lifestyle, I do not feel guilty, nor do i think it deteriorates any of my learnings from the dharma or any of Buddhas other teachings.
I understand perhaps it does interfere with the concept of 'letting go' and most people would attribute the use of a steriod with ego and image enhancement but for me I just enjoy the sport. When Im not working at a high pressured law firm and studying both law and busines I find bodybuilding is a hobby/escape for me a long with my meditation and buddhist study.
Thoughts and opinions? I don't have a problem with it but just interesting to see others
Kind wishes,
Andy
Iv been a lay buddhist for about 12 months.
I frequently attend my university buddhist society meetings, meditate daily, go on retreat and study buddhism (when Im not studying at uni). My hobby on the side is body building. It's not just about getting 'big' and strong, i love the routine, looking after my diet, feeling good about myself and the clean lifestyle that it creates.
I do a cycle of testosterone twice a year to keep building up. This does not affect my mindfulness as there is no intoxicating impact or side effects. I only do a light dose of testosterone which is occurring naturally in my body anyway. All that stuff about roid rage etc I personally believe is a myth because it has no noticeable effect on my mood, perhaps only an overactive sex drive !
I am comfortable being a buddhist and continuing this lifestyle, I do not feel guilty, nor do i think it deteriorates any of my learnings from the dharma or any of Buddhas other teachings.
I understand perhaps it does interfere with the concept of 'letting go' and most people would attribute the use of a steriod with ego and image enhancement but for me I just enjoy the sport. When Im not working at a high pressured law firm and studying both law and busines I find bodybuilding is a hobby/escape for me a long with my meditation and buddhist study.
Thoughts and opinions? I don't have a problem with it but just interesting to see others
Kind wishes,
Andy
0
Comments
Keep in mind you won't be able to use body-building as an escape forever. You could injure yourself in a way that will prevent or you'll just get old. What will you do then?
You're in a better position to judge whether this hobby will lead to suffering or not. If you can't feel good about yourself otherwise, then there's a problem.
I dont have any real opinion on it, but within your own post....... there are definatelly a few points open to interpretation. I have highlighted (did try to colour code but it didnt show up) some things which may be open to some interpretation, or even something you may wish to think about.
I dont feel well enough educated in the teachings to offer much of an opinion.
Speaking very personally, the body building, along with the steroid use, seems to
have way too much emphasis on the "self," and way too much "attachment" to the bodily
vessel in which you now reside.
Buddhism is a way of middle ground. Only you can determine the path which is right for you.
"Now having obtained a precious human body, I do not have the luxury of remaining on a distracted path."
- Tibetan Book of the Dead
Lastly, You wouldn't know if it was affecting your own mindset, you can't evaluate a broken tool with the same broken tool. Steroids have documented affects on the mind, and in my personal opinion & educated guess, would fall under the fifth precept.
but you are not obliged to do anything for Buddhism, you're choices are your own, but if you're striving to be a buddhist and follow the precepts, drop the steroids. The way you can look at it is, If I can drop them and still feel fine, I'm not attached to them, and if you cannot, they're an issue, but if you can, than you have no need to go back to them. logically, there is absolutely no reason for a Buddhist to use steroids outside of medical condition.
I agree with this view of attachment, it seems this way. I also new when I was writing the word escape people would pick up on this - I more so meant a way to 'let off steam' after a long day of work by exhausting myself in the gym.
To the poster who asks if I feel good off testosterone - Yes I do. I just found I reached a plateau in strength and my doctor is monitoring my use. It is not the test that makes me feel good, it is just a sport that I enjoy training in.
I understand that there is an issue of attachment, however would a Buddhist argue that there would be issues of attachment with someone who was a huge soccer/golf or baseball fan/player, who was training daily? Is this attachment that should be let go of too?
I guess the point I am making is that at this point in my journey into buddhism, I have not found that it interupts my progress of learning intellectually. Perhaps experience wise it may - However I also may reach a point in the future when I am more mindful where I do not see the necessity of pursuing such a hobby.
I do not however think I could ever be more than a lay buddhist. I enjoy learning and practicing much of Buddhas teachings, trying my best with the 8 fold path and practicing loving kindness, compassion, the 5 precepts, the 4 noble truths etc. For me when I first discovered Buddhism I was fascinated by such a beautiful and peaceful way of life - but I could never be an extremist in the sense that perhaps I am fearful of losing my identity or self. I think one of the best things about being human is the ability to be individual - does one think that all who are close to/or have reached enlightenment, or perhaps the people who go into solitude for years and other monks have given away their individuality? Converted themselves to a raw form of human with no distinctive characteristics?
Just food for thought
By doing bodybuilding, do you feel that you're somehow going to extend the period in which your body is "beautiful"? If you've studied Buddhism, you surely know that a major realization is that of impermanence. Your body *will* deteriorate, wither, and die eventually. Do you feel you can somehow prevent that?
From a medical perspective, doing steroids is playing with fire. If a physician is giving them to you, he/she should have their medical license revoked. If not, you're *definitely* playing with fire, since there is all kinds of well documented evidence of the carcinogenicity of exogenous steroids. Like smoking, drugs, or alcohol, you're young and healthy now, so you probably don't see the negative impact - yet. But when you develop a cancer you wouldn't have otherwise, you'll probably think it was a bad idea (speaking as someone who's had cancer...). It's just not worth it no matter how "good" it makes you feel or how "beautiful" it makes your body.
I've rambled on too much. You can build a strong "beautiful" body without steroids and other drugs.
Best of luck on your journey
Thank you for your response. I knew this topic would certainly attract negative feedback which is expected I guess. I am curious as to what everyones opinion is
like you're trying very hard to justify something you may already be internally questioning.
The use of steroids aside, as Mountains has pointed out, you might want to revisit impermanence
from a Buddhist perspective.
Flesh and blood for plaster.
Pride lives in you,
And hypocrisy, decay, and death.
The glorious chariots of kings shatter.
So also the body turns to dust.
But the spirit of purity is changeless
And so the pure instruct the pure.
The ignorant man is an ox.
He grows in size, not in wisdom.
Vainly I sought the builder of my house
Through countless lives.
I could not find him...
How hard it is to tread life after life!
But now I see you, O builder!
And never again shall you build my house.
I have snapped the rafters,
Split the ridge-pole
And beaten out desire.
And now my mind is free.
- Dhammapada
This may be true
Recently i find out that some medication i was taking (for over 3 years) was causing me a headache when i work with mindfulness for "long" periods. For a year i meditate daily and didnt notice that pain until i try much more longer sessions..there the headache was strong enought to keep me away from practice. For some time i thought, probably its tension.
Then i stop taking the med and the headache was completely gone. Also i notice now tiny differences in how tension arise, and practice in general. Whats crazy is that the med doesnt suppose to affect the mind, and headache or anything simmilar isnt in SE list..
That tiny med did all that, i cant imagine testosterone.