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whats the buddhist take on tattoo's?

lightlotuslightlotus
edited January 2011 in Buddhism Basics
sorry if this has previously been posted but out of sheer curiousity i've looking for opinons! I was channel hopping and came across this tattoo programme which is my favourite (i've wanted a tattoo for years now!!) to watch but in the programme this man walks in and has a thai buddhist tattoo done on the back of his leg. Is that not disrespectful?

Is it even allowed in buddhism?

Comments

  • ShiftPlusOneShiftPlusOne Veteran
    Which precept would it break? Disrespectful to who? I don't think there's any problem at all, though I personally don't feel the need for a tattoo.
  • NobodyNobody
    I guess it depends on the tattoo. :D
  • VangelisVangelis
    Or just check out the Buddhist tattoos of many of the newbuddhist members here: http://newbuddhist.com/discussion/3131/buddhist-tattoos/p1
  • lightlotuslightlotus
    it was the face of a Thai Buddha surrounded by Flowers. I normally notice say a lotus or a knot but thought that the buddha face was an odd choice.
  • Ficus_religiosaFicus_religiosa Veteran
    I have a small tattoo on my chest, gothic letters about 4 cm high each. The one is next to the other, but a bit lower. They represent my girlfriend and I.
    But I warn you - once you get a tattoo you'll want more ;)

    Allowed? There are no rules you know. Against any teaching? Not any I know of :)
  • RogerRoger
    edited January 2011
    I'd look into ego-attachment.

    Over here everybody's trying to personalize and individuate with tattoos; how does that reinforce the illusion of the ego?

    It can be like getting breast implants, wearing Polo shirts, or Dockers pants, or buying a Porsche? To a large part people get them in an effort to attract people of similar ___preferences___, right?

    Buddhism is not about superficial individual preferences; many preferences are based more or less on faulty assumptions and willful ignorance.

    Of course some cultures have tattooing as an integral aspect of their value systems and culture and they are not based on superficialities and mere embellishments like our western culture seems to be.

    PLEASE PLEASE understand I don't necessarily believe what I wrote above (I have nothing against tattoos, b-implants, fancy cars). I'm just trying to create a basis for a plausible counter argument.


    Like people said above: the Buddhist argument FOR tattooing would be: if doesn't hurt anybody (hahaha they DO hurt) and it makes you happy: go for it.
  • aHappyNihilistaHappyNihilist Veteran
    buddhism doesn't really get offended. this is partly because its members actually practice what they preach and partly because it's so founded in rationality and relies on nothing irrational and so doesn't have the constant need to prove issues of irrational faith.
  • [DeletedUser][DeletedUser]
    Buddhism is super emptiness of loving kindness. Unlike mundane perception that may despise and discriminate people even with a little scar on its body :sawed:
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