I did not mean to offend.chownah wrote:philosopher,_anicca_ wrote:
Of course there is skillful and unskillful desire.
However, it is impractical to live the way that a bhikkhu does as a lay person.
Do you interpret -annica-'s post as being disrespectful or critical of lay people pursuing the 8? I don't. I just think it is short sighted.....or maybe it is just presumptuous but not in itself disrespectful or critical....I guess.....don't know for sure....
chownah
If anything, I will admit to being presumptuous.
I said this, because from my own experience and what I have seen with other practitioners, people will impose myriad precepts on themselves, not be able to consistently keep them (for whatever reason), and then experience a lot of regret. I think it is great if you can keep the 8 precepts all of the time, but anagariyas are the only people who undertake these training rules.
Personally, I undertake the 8 precepts on Uposatha Days.
Additionally, I have noticed that people fantasize about living life like monks and use this to avoid personal responsibilities and because they believe livin this way will be wonderful and all of their problems will disappear. However, the issues and stressors in the mind are still their regardless of how many precepts you undertake, if you live at home, in a forest, or in a monastery.