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What can I do to have wholesome fun?
apathofflowers
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I mean, if I took the eight precepts, what kind of fun things could I do? May be just things that keeps the mind joyfully occuppied, not outrageously fun...
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paint,,write, read, walk dogs, take photographs, cook, metal detect, travel, volunteer, plant a garden, do random acts of anonymous kindness, golf, hike, run, walk, skate, organize a charity drive, have more picnics.
I just want to point out that karasti gave better than one suggestion a minute in the time elapsed between your two posts. Imagine what you could come up with in a day of contemplation?
@apathofflowers
If you took 8 precepts, I would see a doctor if I were you....You never know what type of side effects from taking so many would have on one's body & mind... And we don't want you to over-dose
On a more serious note : why not just enjoy whatever you do when doing it.... That way expectations wont be in a position to disappoint you.....
flower arranging perhaps ...
Welcome to New Buddhist ... which can be fun
What have you got against outragious fun? Have you no ambition?
Sky Diving
White Water Rafting
BASE Jumping
Bungy Jumping
I have friend who's a Buddhist who's into Gliding! That'd be fun I reckon.
@Bunks
I think @apathofflowers said "Wholesome" fun... Not "Awesome" fun
Why would observing the precepts preclude having fun? And who takes the 8 of them, besides novice monks? I can see how the one about not listening to music could be a problem. (Which is why most people only take the main 5
) But the world is full of fun things to do.
I looked up an old friend I hadn't seen in decades, and she and a couple of her cousins were living on some land the extended family had been given, in the Pacific Northwest. The day I left, they were pressing cider, from a small apple orchard on the property. I couldn't believe how much joy and fun such a simple activity could provide! The beauty of the surroundings combined with lots of warm smiles and good human company was like a little slice of heaven!
What else? Swinging on a rope swing over a swimming hole and letting go, with a big splash. Diving a cannonball off a diving board into a swimming pool. Going on some amusement park rides. Spending an evening with friends at a roller rink. (I can't believe how much fun that is, and how friendly people are at those places!) Bike riding in the countryside. Hiking up a mountain to enjoy a spectacular view. Dancing to your favorite music with friends or at a dance venue (as long as you haven't taken that extra precept!) Skiing. Snowball fights. Snowboarding. Sleighriding with a loved one. A waterfight on a hot day. Running and splashing around on the beach. Surfing. Reading a funny book. Or a thought-provoking book. Learning something new.
OP, why can't you think of these things yourself, that's what I don't understand.
why? Are they mutually exclusive?
This is what I don't get. Where's the hang-up, OP? Do the precepts rule out some of your customary fun-making?
As was said in the previous couple of thousand words, if it isn't hurtful, harmful or degrading, your options are nearly limitless.
Must be the caffeine withdrawal.
Peace to all
I have heard it said that the First Precept covers all, and includes you.
Start from where you are. Small steps.
The Eight Precepts are usually taken by laypeople during specific Buddhist Festival periods, as a gesture of increased Right Effort.... generally speaking, most laypeople vow to adhere primarily to the first five. The additional three are more in line with abstention during days of importance and significance.
Once you have mastered flower arranging, or weed collecting in my case, you could move up to an outragious spate of heretical shrine building ...
Here is one I did earlier ...
http://web.archive.org/web/20071024200049/http://www.zen45800.zen.co.uk/shrine2/
Whatever you find that is fun to do, that isn't unwholesome.
@lobster > weed collecting...
Sounds fun, do you have one big collection?
@apathofflowers
Since you are from Brazil, why not try Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?
I don't actually take the eight precepts, it was just an example, because it removes things that I used to find more fun, but now not so much. Such as gaming, TV shows, movies and things of the sort. Thank you for welcoming me, everyone. @lobster I said it didn't have to be outrageously fun in order to increase the ideas I could receive. @Dakini What's wrong with getting a little help? I have thought of some things, have looked on the internet for others, but I wanted first-hand experience from practicing Buddhists. @Namada I'm afraid of hurting people.
I think ice-cream would be OK, providing you only eat in the morning and not while lying in bed watching music videos.
http://www.dhammawiki.com/index.php?title=8_precepts
Attachment to ice cream, tsk tsk. Bad Buddhist, bad Buddhist!
Aside from all the fun and kindly appreciations, I would like to thank the OP for hitting a nerve in Buddhism... something worth paying attention to, I think.
Well, piffle!
As someone once observed about Buddhist practice, "the hard stuff is easy. It's the easy stuff that's hard." Tears are easy. Laughter is hard ... etc. The precepts, from where I sit, are not there so that good Buddhists could actually attain them. They are there so that when they fall short (which is guaranteed), they will have something against which to measure the error.
OP ... find someone to tell you a good joke or tickle your ribs. If you make a mistake correct it. Pay attention and take responsibility. Find good friends and love them. Do your work. Don't let Buddhism make things worse than they are.
Best wishes.
Just noodling.
>
I disagree with this. This echoes what some of the Buddhist literature you see around and what some of the teachers say, that people only come to Buddhism because they're in distress. Seeking help is their only motive. That simply isn't true.
Some people are attracted to Buddhism because it suits their inclinations, their personality. They might be naturally introspective, and naturally concerned with others' welfare. Some are attracted to the logic of the 4 Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, as compared to the make-believe of theistic spiritual traditions. Some choose Buddhism because they are happy, and find other traditions to be too judgmental, to focused on "sin" and negativity.
It was only after joining this forum that I discovered that Buddhism can have a Puritanical side. Some of the newbies get so worked up about whether it's "bad karma" to think a certain way, or to want meat, or to skip their meditation session for the day, or to experience joy. Is the karma bogeyman going to come and get them, they worry.
IDK, is that a cultural thing? That's a very different focus in Buddhism than I've experienced. I think some people need to relax a bit. Remember the Middle Way, and stop using "karma" to flagellate yourselves. Not too tight on the reins, but not too loose, that's the Middle Way, the balanced way.
Since we're taking a music break, I just had to share this one, too.
Honestly, I can't imagine that the 7th Precept refers to music of a spiritual nature. I think it was intended to apply to music of a sensual nature, that might lead to heedless behavior.
Enjoy a little inspiration.
I hope this isn't too off-topic.
I was really quite happy when I had Buddhism delivered by mail, one day. I was certainly inquisitive, and somewhat dissatisfied with my RC path, and a little frustrated... having been immersed in Catholicism since birth, and still finding aspects of it troubling and unfathomable, I was almost trying to be devout, and really, pretending.... so when "The Book" arrived (courtesy of my churchgoing RC Mother) my brain engaged and my mind flipped.
In a good way.
But there was no unhappiness there, nossiree....
I count it as unhappiness when there are doubts and some aspect of life that generates a sense of unsatisfactoriness.
Then that definition is flawed, because it's calculated only within your mind, as that.....
@federica... as perhaps the definition of happiness is in yours?
No, not really. I'm going by the standard normally-understood definition of happiness.
It follows that the standard, usually-accepted definition of UNhappiness is also understood...
You win ... happiness/unhappiness are understood ... I guess.
Sorry, @genkaku , I wasn't trying to 'win'...
I was just clarifying.....
read, try to understand and work according to the following sutta
(mannamana sutta (from sanuktha nikaya, kandhaka vagga)
Jeesh, @upekka, you're such a killjoy...
Those are instructions for Monks, not so much for laypeople....
Fun will come. But maybe it's not the fun you are used to. Let's call it joy.
You may want to bear in mind Thich Nhat Hanh's "Five Mindfulness Trainings," @apathofflowers, which is the five precepts better worded for laypeople.
Middle path, moderation, equanimity: gaming, watching tv, whatever you have mentioned above may sound like innocent passtimes and a lot of fun, but a whole day indulging just in that activity will do you simply no good.
Though the monk/layperson distinction is traditional and cultural, and it is getting increasingly blurred in western Buddhism.
Sometimes we will find ourselves transgressing one or more of the precepts despite our best intentions.
Life is full of grey areas.
In those cases, we have to take accountability of our actions and learn to live with the consequences, without berating ourselves too hard.
I love this forum, but, you guys are so sharp I find that I rarely have anything to add. Back off on being awesome, if you would be so kind.
In all seriousness, the only thing I can think to add is to just be mindful of the things you are doing. Gaming is a blast, catch a movie, enjoy the people that you are around. But, try to do a little something to be of service.
Lay off of the cocaine and waffles, unless you intend to share.
Speaking of waffles and harmless fun .... where is @Jeffrey?
I was wondering that a while back. Same with @Earthninja
When we are prone to an unwholesome attitude or behavour, it is a good plan to increase our attention to overtly spiritual/dharma related, wholesome fun.
So:
Perhaps this is the sort of fun the original poster meant?
I seem to recall earthninja may have had a baby not so long ago. Probably got his hands full
Volunteering at the local animal shelter to walk dogs, and play with cats, is quite fun.
I've been wondering about @Jeffrey, too. As well as @Tosh and @how. I know how often takes time off in the summer away from the internet. I hope all is well with them.
I've been missing Howard as well. He's my Zennie guy!
Heavens forbid...I've just had a terribly horrid thought....What if they've managed to get off the net and have got a life and are having wholesome fun....
On a more serious note...Jokes aside....May they all be well.....
That's what I was doing before some Samsara loop landed me here again, @Shoshin
Lol
OP has disappeared... will close but happy to re-open at their request.
Thanks to all....