Tech Dirt – Tue, Sep 22nd 2009:

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.




  1. LDA says:

    #1 Alfred1

    That was scientific.

  2. chuck says:

    #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.

  3. SN says:

    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. MrMiGu says:

    #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”

  5. bobbo, the antithesis of Nimby says:

    “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. Phydeau says:

    #8 You forgot the part about drinking his blood too.

    Become as one with the controller, grasshopper… 🙂

  7. Video Games lead to agression says:

    I completely disagree with the Buddhist leader.

    Video games build aggression. Evidence? watch the Angry Video Game Nerd.

  8. Alf says:

    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.

  9. xero says:

    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.

  10. jccalhoun says:

    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…

  11. right says:

    Hey Alfred. Just pulling things back, how do you reconcile your 100,000 at the Washington with Glenn Beck’s 1.7 million from “I don’t know the University”? You never answered us….

    Christianity is bad for your health and mental well being.

  12. Noel says:

    So, why do you all think that video games as a form of meditation are supposed to be a cure for anything? People can’t be cured of aggression, video games are just a good way to roll with it. I only wish that people who have aggressive tendencies would shut off their headsets.

    Speaking of futility… I don’t understand why you guys have to be so rude to each other. Just discuss, don’t insult or ridicule. I am willing to wager that this childish bickering does not move any of you closer to Nirvana.

    Please pardon my docility, I’m just not an excitable guy.

  13. right says:

    I’ve been playing video games for 20 years and will continue as long as I can. Keeps the mind and coordination sharp.

  14. jccalhoun says:

    Admit it, when it comes to religion, you are so narrow minded you can look through a key hole with both eyes.

    Spy out Christianity, it alone is the true religion…saying so isn’t a smear…its a statement of fact.

    This is amazing. “you are so narrow minded because you don’t agree with my narrow minded ideas!” Too funny.

  15. MrMiGu says:

    #18
    “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.”

    Does that also apply to the guy that gave that advice? The guy who lived his life turning the other cheek? The guy who your faith is based upon?

  16. Cap'nKangaroo says:

    $0.02 worth

    I agree with this man that video games can relief aggression, rather than promote it.

    I am reminded of a graduate student’s study of hunters and spousal abuse. The student began the study thinking men who hunt would be more likely to abuse their wives since hunting is an aggressive sport. Imagine the surprise (and she even said she was surprised) when the study revealed the opposite: Men who hunt were much less likely to abuse their wives. Her conclusion was that the men who hunt found an outlet for their aggression.

  17. BigBoyBC says:

    I don’t know where these guys get the idea video cames relieve agression, not when I play.

  18. jccalhoun says:

    However, God will give all, including you, a chance in hell to believe in Christ, and be saved…
    Wow, not only do you know the correct religion but you also know my religious beliefs. Amazing…

  19. jccalhoun says:

    Alfred1, that’s my point. Where have I written anything about what I believe? How do you know if I am a Christian, Buddhist, Wiccan, or atheist?

  20. MrMiGu says:

    #28,
    So you consider being beaten to the point of near death and then set to hang on a cross to die just an insult?

  21. Rick Cain says:

    I get quite a relief from Killin virtual Gnatsies!


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