Is it okay to read buddhist text while i am using the toilet, having a smoke?

Buddhist ethical conduct including the Five Precepts (Pañcasikkhāpada), and Eightfold Ethical Conduct (Aṭṭhasīla).
Spiny Norman
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Re: Is it okay to read buddhist text while i am using the toilet, having a smoke?

Post by Spiny Norman »

Buddha save me from new-agers!
binocular
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Re: Is it okay to read buddhist text while i am using the toilet, having a smoke?

Post by binocular »

Digity wrote: Mon Feb 19, 2018 3:15 amWhat if you like to take long baths and read...would it be offensive to read a Dhamma book in the bath tub or on your phone?
Imagine enlightement striking while you're in the bathtub or on the toilet ...
Hic Rhodus, hic salta!
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Aloka
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Re: Is it okay to read buddhist text while i am using the toilet, having a smoke?

Post by Aloka »

binocular wrote: Mon Feb 19, 2018 10:05 am Imagine enlightement striking while you're in the bathtub or on the toilet ...


Image



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ganegaar
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Re: Is it okay to read buddhist text while i am using the toilet, having a smoke?

Post by ganegaar »

if the intention is to read and understand, and if that is the time one can find on a busy life, if the intention is not to disrespect,
what is wrong with reading in a toilet?

there are people who would tatoo buddha images out of respect, some do the same out of ignorance,
yet is not the intention that matters?

I would not recomend it in front of culturally sensitive ppl, but at your own home, with no one else to have negative emotions, I see no wrong in that, as long as the intention is pure!
Sīlepatiṭṭhāya naro sapañño, cittaṃ paññañca bhāvayaṃ;
Ātāpī nipako bhikkhu, so imaṃ vijaṭaye jaṭanti.
Digity
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Re: Is it okay to read buddhist text while i am using the toilet, having a smoke?

Post by Digity »

I sometimes like to sit in the bath and read (laugh if you want). I can be there for three hours sometimes. Sometimes I like to read Dhamma at that time or listen to a Dhamma talk. It never seemed inappropriate to me, until I heard about not reading a Dhamma book in the washroom. I heard about that independent of this post. Now I'm not so sure. I obviously don't want to disrespect the Dhamma.
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Aloka
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Re: Is it okay to read buddhist text while i am using the toilet, having a smoke?

Post by Aloka »

ganegaar wrote: Mon Feb 19, 2018 3:00 pm I see no wrong in that, as long as the intention is pure!

Although its not a place I've ever wanted to read something myself, I agree that pure intention is all important - that and the lack of a queue of other people waiting to use the toilet!


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Disciple
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Re: Is it okay to read buddhist text while i am using the toilet, having a smoke?

Post by Disciple »

Not okay. Should be plain common sense.
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ganegaar
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Re: Is it okay to read buddhist text while i am using the toilet, having a smoke?

Post by ganegaar »

About reading dhamma books, one thing to note is, certain dhamma books are treated as sacred text, just like bible and quaran, and they are usually the tripitaka or direct derivatives of it. For example, in Sri Lanka, we have such a sacred text called "piruwana poth wahanse".
Now, those books ofcause is not ok to be disrespected, because it involves hurting some peoples sentiments for sure. And certainly not a good idea to take those into a washroom!.

In a house in a western country that I visited, there was a Buddha statue in the toilet, seriously! It was used as a decoration, probably to make it look "serene" or "calm"!. I wonder how people would react to that, but to give the fair share of doubt to the owner, I think he just used it as an ornament, not as a disrespect.

On the other hand, there are people, who wear underwear with printed Buddha images. Now, I am not very sure what they want to show with that!
Sīlepatiṭṭhāya naro sapañño, cittaṃ paññañca bhāvayaṃ;
Ātāpī nipako bhikkhu, so imaṃ vijaṭaye jaṭanti.
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bazzaman
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Re: Is it okay to read buddhist text while i am using the toilet, having a smoke?

Post by bazzaman »

Leaving aside the sacred/profane question... I have found that reading of any kind while sitting on the toilet is detrimental to the functioning of ones innards. Maybe best to just concentrate on the job at hand...
Atāṇo loko anabhissaro...

Yena yena hi maññanti tato taṃ hoti aññathā,
malunkyaputta
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Re: Is it okay to read buddhist text while i am using the toilet, having a smoke?

Post by malunkyaputta »

No_Mind wrote: Thu Feb 15, 2018 11:58 am No looking at porn with -- same as above .. also make sure no suttas are open while watching porn on laptop .. or there is no desktop wall paper of Buddha
Hello my brother :)

I personally believe that consuming porn is not in accord with keeping the 3rd precept (avoiding sexual/sensual misconduct) - as it is taking advantage of someone else's pain/misery/suffering (the "actors") for your own pleasure...

I am no saint, though - I used to watch quite a lot :(
But that is my Khamma...

As of the current day - I am proud to be 4 months absolutely free of porn! :woohoo:

It would be wise for you to see (even just for the sake of it) - what happens if you stop...

Have a great day :)
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No_Mind
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Re: Is it okay to read buddhist text while i am using the toilet, having a smoke?

Post by No_Mind »

malunkyaputta wrote: Thu Feb 22, 2018 10:03 am
No_Mind wrote: Thu Feb 15, 2018 11:58 am No looking at porn with -- same as above .. also make sure no suttas are open while watching porn on laptop .. or there is no desktop wall paper of Buddha
Hello my brother :)

I personally believe that consuming porn is not in accord with keeping the 3rd precept (avoiding sexual/sensual misconduct) - as it is taking advantage of someone else's pain/misery/suffering (the "actors") for your own pleasure...

I am no saint, though - I used to watch quite a lot :(
But that is my Khamma...

As of the current day - I am proud to be 4 months absolutely free of porn! :woohoo:

It would be wise for you to see (even just for the sake of it) - what happens if you stop...

Have a great day :)
I will let slide your starting to be preachy in your very first post. Beginner's error and what not.

I never said anywhere that I watch porn. I said those are the rules I abide by ..

I would never start a car with a baby alone in the back seat does not imply I own a car or have an offspring. Same way.

But I completely argue the premise that a single guy or girl cannot watch legal porn. Porn actresses in legal porn industry (production house very often incorporated as PLC) earn upto $6,000 per shoot with median income of $1,500. That is same as 330-1000 hours of flipping burgers (and earned in 6-7 hours). They certainly are not in pain or suffering.

As long as something is not addictive .. it is not bad (speaking of laity) .. alcohol in moderation, porn in moderation .. even marijuana in moderation. But if someone wants to maintain a no-porn, no-alcohol, no-weed lifestyle .. good for them. But do not say it is bad Kamma if one does indulge ..

And don't jump to conclusions about strangers. It is whole lot of mental fabrications.

:namaste:
"The struggle itself toward the heights is enough to fill a man's heart. One must imagine Sisyphus happy.”― Albert Camus
malunkyaputta
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Re: Is it okay to read buddhist text while i am using the toilet, having a smoke?

Post by malunkyaputta »

Dear brother,

I apologize - I did not mean to be judgmental or step on someone's toes.
You are right - I assumed you were watching porn without really knowing for sure if you were - thanks for pointing that out :)

As far as I know the Dhamma - it is not wise behavior to indulge the senses, since you are re-enforcing habits that support self-view.
The first hindrance is Desire, and also - one of the ten perfections to practice is 'Nekkhamma' (renunciation).

In general - I believe one should always strive to be outside of his/hers "comfort-zone" in one's practice if we want our practice to bear fruit.

Have a good day, buddy!
and a great weekend! :namaste:
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manas
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Re: Is it okay to read buddhist text while i am using the toilet, having a smoke?

Post by manas »

I would leave books (or audio) at the door; why miss this opportunity to practice?
"Furthermore, when going forward & returning, he makes himself fully alert; when looking toward & looking away... when bending & extending his limbs... when carrying his outer cloak, his upper robe & his bowl... when eating, drinking, chewing, & savoring... when urinating & defecating... when walking, standing, sitting, falling asleep, waking up, talking, & remaining silent, he makes himself fully alert.[bolding added]

"In this way he remains focused internally on the body in & of itself, or focused externally... unsustained by anything in the world. This is how a monk remains focused on the body in & of itself.https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitak ... .than.html
One cannot be fully alert of two things at once. Reading a book, would be a distraction from what is happening with one's own body at that time.
To the Buddha-refuge i go; to the Dhamma-refuge i go; to the Sangha-refuge i go.
thepea
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Re: Is it okay to read buddhist text while i am using the toilet, having a smoke?

Post by thepea »

manas wrote: Thu Feb 22, 2018 6:04 pmOne cannot be fully alert of two things at once. Reading a book, would be a distraction from what is happening with one's own body at that time.
I can do this.
thepea
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Re: Is it okay to read buddhist text while i am using the toilet, having a smoke?

Post by thepea »

It’s only ok if the text is held with your left hand and the cigarette with your right. After you flush, the cigarette must be extinguished and the text tapped on your head six times. This will negate any wrong kamma incurred.
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