Buddhist brother says engaging with others in ‘violent’ and ‘bloody’ online game is like playing chess; only worries he may become addicted

Huayan once achieved the Legendary Eagle Master position, a very high ranking in Counter-Strike (CS).

“Why should I quit this good activity? While playing games, I can communicate and cooperate with people to achieve a win-win situation. I also gain empathy for others. These traits are all helpful for a person’s growth,” he said.

  • Murse@slrpnk.net
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    26 minutes ago

    says gaming, religion serve similar life purposes

    Glad it’s a Buddhist saying this. My knee-jerk was to compare the benign influence of violent videogames to the radicalizing influence of violent religions.

    This may just be my lack of familiarity with Buddhism, but my understanding is they’re generally pretty chill and actually make a positive impact on society. Other religions, not so much.

  • pticrix@lemmy.ca
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    4 hours ago

    I used to play Left for Dead 2 with a Buddhist monk back in the day.

    I might have also sold him half an ounce of weed once, after getting a good deal for a whole ounce, but I wasn’t smoking enough to warrant having that much on hand. Allegedly. I imagine the experience of handing illicit substances to a monk in full regalia might have felt surreal and kinda sinful to my Christian educated ass.

  • k0e3@lemmy.ca
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    11 hours ago

    There’s an Instagram account where a Japanese guy writes the Buddhist mantra (not sure if that’s the correct English term) every time he kills an enemy in Super Mario. It’s actually really funny.

  • colourlessidea@sopuli.xyz
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    11 hours ago

    Many people say playing CS, which is a violent and bloody game, will lead him to hell because it is not something a religious man should do.

    • Kirp123@lemmy.world
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      10 hours ago

      He’s a Buddhist, he’s already in hell (since Buddhists believe that if you reincarnate you failed to achieve Nirvana and you are still suffering).

      • cjoll4@lemmy.world
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        5 hours ago

        Buddhists believe in hell realms that are worse than Earth. Wicked souls reincarnate as hell beings, and it takes much longer than a normal human lifetime to work off the negative karma and have another chance at rebirth into a higher realm. Being born as a human is fortunate and rare in the cosmic scope of things.

  • JennaR8r@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    10 hours ago

    I thought Buddhist monks have made a vow to live a life of nothingness with no technology and no outside influences. How did he get access to screens and technology? Wouldn’t he be exiled from the monastery for bringing in such things?

    • psycotica0@lemmy.ca
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      5 hours ago

      I don’t know about this dude, but also not all monks are, like, born into a monetary and raised in it. So probably he played videogames when he was younger, and argued as an adult that they’re not that bad.

    • tocopherol@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      4 hours ago

      Some monks may do that but it’s not common to fully insulate themselves, or they may temporarily spend time away from society focused only on dhamma study but otherwise will read the news and engage in activism and wordly things plenty. They don’t handle money and avoid alcohol, sex and drugs etc usually but still have recreation and even fight in militaries at times. Many monks and buddhist lay people specifically take a vow to remain in the worldly sphere (as a “Bodhisattva”) so they can use their experience and conditioning to help guide other people out of the suffering of the mundane world.

    • KeenFlame@feddit.nu
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      9 hours ago

      I thought Christian pastors have made a vow to serve the Lord and abstain from monetization of the church. How did they get access to little boys holes? Wouldn’t they be exiled from the church for raping kids?

      • JennaR8r@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        4 hours ago

        Ah, you’re comparing this videogame-playing monk to those guys? Then clearly something ain’t right here.

        • village604@adultswim.fan
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          2 hours ago

          It’s hyperbolic. An exaggerated example to prove a point.

          A better example would be the Amish. There are multiple different sects that allow varying use of technology, with some allowing computers and phones.

          Their whole thing about technology is it being a distraction from God, and different groups have different lines drawn.

          I’d imagine that getting to interact with people from all over the world would fit in with Buddhism’s quest for enlightenment for some monks, but not others.

      • village604@adultswim.fan
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        2 hours ago

        Some sects allow computer and cellphone use. I’d imagine there’s different sects of Buddhist monks with varying thoughts on the topic.