Buddhism for Tough Guys

[buddhismfordudes]

Hi - I'm Gerry Stribling from Louisville, KY, and have been a practicing Theravada Buddhist for nine years. I learned the Dhamma from monks during two summers I spent volunteering in Sri Lanka. I just turned 60 and am a former U.S. Marine and something of an adventurer. My mission for the rest of my life is to make the Dhamma accessible to the average "guy" who lives in the real world. To this end, I wrote "Buddhism for Dudes" (available through The Kindle Store and amazon.com) and am writing a blog called "Buddhism for Tough Guys" at http://www.buddhismfordudes.blog.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. I hardly think I have all the answers, but I am a serious Buddhist practitioner and have reaped the benefits of my practice, particularly in the professional world: I am in human services and have provided case management to homeless people and guys being released from prison for many years. Buddhism, I believe, is about embracing life rather than hiding from elements of life that takes us out of our comfort zones.

A quote from "BFD": "Compassion is not about freeing the mosquito in your bedroom. It's about getting sh*t on your hands when you reach into the gutter to try to pull someone out."

[bodom]

Welcome Gerry!

"Compassion is not about freeing the mosquito in your bedroom. It's about getting sh*t on your hands when you reach into the gutter to try to pull someone out."

I like it.

[DNS]

I like it.

Me too.

Hi Gerry,

Welcome to Dhamma Wheel.

I don't consider myself a "tough guy" but I did do martial arts earlier in my life and was in law enforcement.

Here is a domain that I have re-direct to a Dhamma Wiki page you may be interested in: http://www.zenpistol.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I still occasionally go to the shooting range.

[Khalil Bodhi]

[rowyourboat]

Ah, finally! Lots of tough stuff in the suttas.

"May nothing remain but skin and sinews and bones; may flesh and blood dry up in the body! Not before having achieved what can be achieved by manly strength, manly energy, manly exertion shall my energy subside!"

— MN 70

"As for the course of action that is unpleasant to do but that, when done, leads to what is profitable, it's in light of this course of action that one may be known — in terms of manly stamina, manly persistence, manly effort — as a fool or a wise person. For a fool doesn't reflect, 'Even though this course of action is unpleasant to do, still when it is done it leads to what is profitable.' So he doesn't do it, and thus the non-doing of that course of action leads to what is unprofitable for him. But a wise person reflects, 'Even though this course of action is unpleasant to do, still when it is done it leads to what is profitable.' So he does it, and thus the doing of that course of action leads to what is profitable for him.

"As for the course of action that is pleasant to do but that, when done, leads to what is unprofitable, it's in light of this course of action that one may be known — in terms of manly stamina, manly persistence, manly effort — as a fool or a wise person. For a fool doesn't reflect, 'Even though this course of action is pleasant to do, still when it is done it leads to what is unprofitable.' So he does it, and thus the doing of that course of action leads to what is unprofitable for him. But a wise person reflects, 'Even though this course of action is pleasant to do, still when it is done it leads to what is unprofitable.' So he doesn't do it, and thus the non-doing of that course of action leads to what is profitable for him."

—

Search manly strength on http://www.accesstoinsight.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and you get quite a lot.

with metta

Matheesha

[Ytrog]

Welcome tough guy

[Ben]

Greetings Gerry and welcome to Dhamma Wheel!

[David2]

Hi Gerry!

It's about getting sh*t on your hands when you reach into the gutter to try to pull someone out."

I understand and agree with this part of the quote.

Compassion is not about freeing the mosquito in your bedroom.

I disagree with this part of the quote.
Freeing a mosquito can also be a compassionate action. Why do you think it is not about compassion?
Don't be so tough to neglect baby steps.

[retrofuturist]

Greetings,

Welcome to Dhamma Wheel.



Metta,
Retro.

[Sanghamitta]

Hi - I'm Gerry Stribling from Louisville, KY, and have been a practicing Theravada Buddhist for nine years. I learned the Dhamma from monks during two summers I spent volunteering in Sri Lanka. I just turned 60 and am a former U.S. Marine and something of an adventurer. My mission for the rest of my life is to make the Dhamma accessible to the average "guy" who lives in the real world. To this end, I wrote "Buddhism for Dudes" (available through The Kindle Store and amazon.com) and am writing a blog called "Buddhism for Tough Guys" at http://www.buddhismfordudes.blog.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;. I hardly think I have all the answers, but I am a serious Buddhist practitioner and have reaped the benefits of my practice, particularly in the professional world: I am in human services and have provided case management to homeless people and guys being released from prison for many years. Buddhism, I believe, is about embracing life rather than hiding from elements of life that takes us out of our comfort zones.

A quote from "BFD": "Compassion is not about freeing the mosquito in your bedroom. It's about getting sh*t on your hands when you reach into the gutter to try to pull someone out."

Gosh. Sounds terribly tiring.
Perhaps I will start a blog called Buddhism For Ladies Who Lunch And Use Oil Of Olay.
After all, all stereotypes have a right to a voice.

[tiltbillings]

"Buddhism for Tough Guys" "

Gosh. Sounds terribly tiring.

The title sounds like a bit of self mocking humor. Geez.

[Sanghamitta]

I hope that you are right Tilt. I suspect that you may not be.
Or it might simply be humour that doesnt travel...
This side of the Atlantic just the use of the word " dude" means that many readers assume that the user has to use their forefinger to read.

[tiltbillings]

I hope that you are right Tilt. I suspect that you may not be.
Or it might simply be humour that doesnt travel...
This side of the Atlantic just the use of the word " dude" means that many readers assume that the user has to use their forefinger to read.

Dude here is not quite so bad, and gawd forbid I would say the word "fanny," as in fanny pack.

[Reductor]

Hi Gerry.

I like that you attribute compassion to tough guys. For all too many men, compassion is seen as decidedly weak.

Welcome.

[plwk]

Greetings Gerry,

Keeping this simple... hello