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Tattoo you and other things in Siam

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 6:36 am
by tiltbillings

Re: Tattoo you and other things in Siam

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 6:51 am
by manas
I doubt that's allowable according to the monks' Vinaya, but:
According to Buddhist belief, to maintain the holiness and powers of the tattoo, bearers have to obey certain rules – not to kill or steal, no drugs or drinking, no lying and no sexual misconduct.
- if it gets some of the laypeople to conduct themselves better, then what on the surface appears to be clinging to rites and rituals (rather than trusting in kamma and acting accordingly), is nevertheless having some positive results.

:anjali:

Re: Tattoo you and other things in Siam

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 6:55 am
by BlackBird
In a perfect world the monks would be severely rebuked by the ecclesiastical council (who in this instance, could actually be put to good use) for not only encouraging this 'magical amulet' rubbish, but actually giving people 'magical' tattoos that make them 'bullet proof' and invincible.

Awfully divorced from the teachings of the Buddha.

Sad days.

Re: Tattoo you and other things in Siam

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 7:26 am
by Ben
I gotta get me one.
I'm totally sold on the snake venom and cigarette ash in the ink!
Thanks Tilt.

Re: Tattoo you and other things in Siam

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 10:29 am
by daverupa
manas wrote:- if it gets some of the laypeople to conduct themselves better...
From the article:
Some of them run maniacally, others crawl, but all mimic the creatures that are tattooed on their bodies.
I think the Buddha had something to say about this sort of thing...

Re: Tattoo you and other things in Siam

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 11:32 am
by Ben
Dave,
Personally, I try not to be too dismissive of some vernacular and cultural aspects of practice. I would not presume to damn what the lay followers, described in the above article, as akin to performing rites and rituals or engaging in something akin to the dog ascetic or ox ascetic practices as was inferenced above.

The western form of Buddhism which attempts to occupy a spiritually purified and universalist approach to the Dhamma, is equally an artefact of cultural contexts inherited and invented. I believe it is worthwhile to have an acutely reflexive attitude to one's own Dhamma practice.
kind regards,

Ben

Re: Tattoo you and other things in Siam

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 11:58 am
by daverupa
Ben wrote:I try not to be too dismissive of some vernacular and cultural aspects of practice. I would not presume...
They are aspects of cultural practice which has been heavily influenced by a certain cultural transmission of the Dhamma, among other things, but to call it an aspect of practice stretches the bounds of that term past breaking, it seems to me.

Magical trinkets and cavorting fulfill which aspect of the training?

Re: Tattoo you and other things in Siam

Posted: Tue Apr 02, 2013 12:41 pm
by Ben
daverupa wrote: Magical trinkets and cavorting fulfill which aspect of the training?
I would encourage you to view this as a perception that has been conditioned by a particular western (universalist) buddhist worldview of being the only edifice of genuine Dhamma.
kind regards,

Ben

Re: Tattoo you and other things in Siam

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 5:02 am
by Sylvester
Sigh, I'd post a pic of my 108 tattoos, but they were all done in namman. Invisible...