While other religious and political leaders around the world are busy creating moral panics around violent video games, it appears that one Buddhist leader feels quite differently about them. The third ranking Buddhist, Ogyen Trinley Dorje (and, according to the article, the only Buddhist leader recognized by China, Tibet and India), apparently sees video games as therapeutic and a way to let out aggression:
Well, I view video games as something of an emotional therapy, a mundane level of emotional therapy for me. We all have emotions whether we’re Buddhist practitioners or not, all of us have emotions, happy emotions, sad emotions, displeased emotions and we need to figure out a way to deal with them when they arise.
So, for me sometimes it can be a relief, a kind of decompression to just play some video games. If I’m having some negative thoughts or negative feelings, video games are one way in which I can release that energy in the context of the illusion of the game. I feel better afterwards.
The aggression that comes out in the video game satiates whatever desire I might have to express that feeling. For me, that’s very skillful because when I do that I don’t have to go and hit anyone over the head.
In response, the interviewer asks “shouldn’t meditation take care of that?” to which he replies: “No, video games are just a skillful method.” So, kids, next time some politician says that violent video games are bad, why not point out that one of the most peaceful men in the world uses them to let out some aggression in ways that meditation cannot provide.
KJV Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (Rom 13:14 KJV)
If you feed a crack addiction with more crack…it does not lessen the addiction.
#1 Alfred1
That was scientific.
#2 The monk is absurd…being religious, I thought I inject correct religion, one consistent with reality, into the discussion.
I’m just waiting for the smears…it will be fun.
#1 – Of course the monk wasn’t suggesting you feed your crack addiction with more crack. He was suggesting an alternative to crack.
You see, video games aren’t real. The violence that appears to happen doesn’t actually exist.
The characters in GTA are imaginary – just like Jesus or Buddha.
Beware the righteous
1. “If you feed a crack addiction with more crack…it does not lessen the addiction.”
For once I completely agree with you Alfred1. Too many substance abuse programs merely replace the drug with an irrational belief in an invisible being.
So instead of the addicts wasting their time and money doing drugs. They waste their time and money worshiping unproven nonsense. It’s clearly replacing one crutch with a different crutch. Which is no solution to the underlying problem at all.
#4 Your pin head is the only point you have…
You missed the compatible properties:
“Releasing aggression” doesn’t cure the buildup of aggression…
Releasing aggression can be habit forming just like drug addiction.
Just like drug addiction, the need for it isn’t lessened by consuming more of the addicting drug.
#1
Most activities can be healthily maintained through moderation. Probably even jesus.
Though I find it funny that your view of reality includes a “cosmic Jewish Zombie who was his own father can make you live forever if you symbolically eat his flesh and telepathically tell him you accept him as your master, so he can remove an evil force from your soul that is present in humanity because a rib-woman was convinced by a talking snake to eat from a magical tree”
“no solution to the underlying problem at all.” //// Ohhhh, so close. Of course, games, sports, politics, gambling, binge eating, blogging, religion, is not any solution to anything. But all hoomans require is a distraction.
#6 The only crutches I see are the ones under your ears supporting a weak mind.
Christianity isn’t a crutch…only after overcoming adversity, is the peace that passes all understanding possible.
#8 Incredible, you abysmally fail to meet even your low personal standards…
Nothing you said even remotely resembles Christian thought, yet you suppose these proofs againgst Christ.
If they ever put a price on your head, take it.
#5 Better: Beware protoplasmic poetry, lacking higher organization.
#8 You forgot the part about drinking his blood too.
Become as one with the controller, grasshopper…
I completely disagree with the Buddhist leader.
Video games build aggression. Evidence? watch the Angry Video Game Nerd.
#13 Flydoo! Ready to open your mouth only to change sticky feet?
What do you know about “the part about drinking his blood.”
Alfred1 is the kind of Christian that motivates others to convert to other religions. He doesn’t turn the other cheek, he slaps his neighbors. If he knew the peace that surpasses understanding, he would shut up about how wonderful it is to be a Christian and JUST BE ONE.
KJV Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (Rom 13:14 KJV)
This is actually an impossible task, rather, paradoxical. Well, unless you subscribe to the idea that the mind (or spirit if you will) and brain are separate unrelated entities.
Barring that, all decisions are based upon the needs of “the flesh”, including the need to feel as if you are doing correct by your religion. That in itself is actually a selfish act as you are after eternal peace and happiness in the afterlife, which is what is required to make you feel good about yourself in your current life, thereby, a need of “the flesh”. The only way out of this paradox is to subscribe to the idea that the mind (call it spirit if you want) is disconnected from the activities of the brain, thereby allowing for the possibility of a purely “spiritual” or “mindful” drive for some decisions.
Unfortunately, it’s pretty well documented and proven that the mind and brain are not separate entities and that every “spiritual” drive investigated has an emotional (“flesh”) counterpart which is triggered by the brain telling the body to produce certain hormones or by a raised level of synaptic activity in certain regions of the brain.
But of course, the full workings of the brain are not known, and none of this offers any proof or disproof of a supreme being(s), creator(s), whatever you want to call it.
On a more relevant note, while it is a goal to remove the triggers of the aggression (lust, gluttony, etc), you must have a way to cope with those problems until the triggers themselves are fully removed. Otherwise you snap.
#16 Anyone who turns the other cheek to you wants a schlong up his ying yang…without even the common courtesy of a reach around after you’re done.
I bet you could a golf ball through a fifty foot garden hose…
I’ll be watching you.
# 17 xero said, on September 23rd, 2009 at 8:03 am
KJV Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (Rom 13:14 KJV)
You believe it paradoxical, because you reject Christ is an entity outside of ourselves, whom scripture says, dwells with us also…(He is omnipresent).
Therefore its not an impossible task.
While the precise lusts Paul is speaking of, aren’t identified… gluttony, drunkenness, greed for money, are obvious candidates…I would include masturbation in this also.
If one masturbates thinking it will lessen the need for it, permanently, they are will sorely disappointed…
Complete abstinence alone results in disciplined control over the flesh, by the power of Christ’s indwelling. I consider masturbation, or the abstinence from it, a perfect illustration of Paul’s teaching.
It works as advertised…those who follow this apostolic teaching, can testify to that.
Moreover, its wrong to ascribe to the needs of the flesh, all decisions…That is a satanic premise, one he used to plead his case before God ‘s(Job c.1) heavenly court. True love results in actions that are irrelevant to the “needs of the flesh,” every day.
Indeed, the incarnation of Christ is the epitome of that, giving up the State of Being God, to be humbled and slain, as a man on earth, for our sake, for the love of us and His Father…Christ becoming flesh has so subverted Satan’s argument, evil spirits cannot say “Jesus Christ came in the flesh.”
The act was one of pure, unselfish love, with no reference to a “need of the flesh.”
The mind must be separate from the brain, apart from their obvious property differences.
You are not the sum total of your experiences…you are more than all of them put together. You have a sentient awareness of self apart from your body, and can put yourself in contexts away from your body…
If the brain and mind were one entity, merely synonyms denoting the same thing, that would be impossible.
People snap when they allow their lusts enslave them…doing what Paul taught, liberates one from slavery…it’s the only way it can be done, in the power of Christ’s regenerating Spirit.
I thought I inject correct religion, one consistent with reality, into the discussion.
I’m just waiting for the smears…it will be fun.
Ok, now I’m convinced that Alfred1 is an elaborate hoax/troll. How else could you explain someone so blind as to smear every other religion and then say that he was waiting for someone to smear his religion…