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

[Erik Hoogcarspel]

Benito Carral schreef:

>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,
>  
>
So everyone who dances the salsa is getting horny and sleeping around? And 'principles' are the way to save your marriage? Come on, Benny. You should know better! Lust is necessary for procreation and there's nothing wrong with having fun while procreating or eating popcorn or whatever. What the Buddha meant with his middle way is that addiction to fun or addiction to misery shouldn't stand in the way of one's awakening. So fiddling around with lust, stimulating it or holding on to restricting principles is both a wast of time, because it has nothing to do with awakening. Only if you discover that you cannot handle lust, that you get over the edge as soon as you see a spot of human skin, then you might consider to become a monk.  

Erik


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