[Buddha-l] Re: The Buddha, an 'emotional weakling'? What are the "joys of living"?

[John Willemsens]

Please speak for yourself, Benito, not for Buddhism, let alone the Buddha.
John Willemsens,
Advayavada Foundation.
http://www.advayavada.org


>
> On Wednesday, June 21, 2006, Bob wrote:
> 
>> I find my experience is not the same as yours.
> 
>   I  thought that we were talking about the Old Indian
> Guy  and  his teachings--the state of the world and the
> effects of Western culture is all around us to see.
> 
>   Yesterday  I  was  talking  with  a young woman from
> Cincinnati who asked me if I dance salsa. I replied her
> that  I  don't  dance  salsa because that is against my
> principles, and she asked me why. I told her that salsa
> is conceived in order to promote lust, that lust is one
> of the unwholesome roots taught by the Buddha, and that
> I prefer to live a peaceful life for myself and others.
> She said in a funny way, "I'm not against lust, so it's
> a good reason for not becoming a Buddhist." I explained
> her  that  there are a lot of more good reasons for her
> not  becoming  a  Buddhist and just mention her some of
> the  basic  precepts. I was about to depart when I said
> her, "Do you remember when you told me how bad you feel
> about  your grandpa's three divorces and your dad's two
> ones?  Do  you  remember  when you told me how much you
> would  like to break that chain? Be aware of where your
> lust  is carrying you." Her face became serious at once
> and  said  in  a  no funny way, "I get your point and I
> appreciate it."
> 
>   Is  dancing  salsa  a  joy of living? Maybe for some
> people, but not for Buddhists.
> 
>   Best wishes,
> 
> --
> Benito Carral
>  Asturias, Sepharad (Spain)
>