[Buddha-l] Can Buddhists quit smoking?

[curt]

Richard Hayes wrote:
> So I ask: What reactions does the proposal of a smoke-free
> Buddhist practice provoke among the imminently sensible and mindful
> denizens of buddha-l? Does it incense you or does it seem sensible to
> you?
>   

Incense is a traditional "offering" - in fact the burning of incense 
probably has it's origin as a replacement for blood sacrifice. We could 
always go back to that, and then have a barbecue (outdoors) afterwards.

As Richard points out, the issue has more to do with trends in 
architecture than anything else. Perhaps what we should really be 
focusing on is the inherent alienation from nature involved in our 
"hermetically" sealed living (and worshiping) spaces.

Also, the sense of smell is (I read this somewhere on the internet - 
perhaps even wikipedia - so it must be true) the sense most closely 
associated with the emotions. Burning incense is a way of 
involving/appealing to the less analytical portions of our minds.

Also, I have found that burning incense (when combined with the right 
mantras) has wonderful magical powers - it keeps away both demons and 
agnostics.

> To save ourselves from at least one smoked red herring, let me add that
> the person making the proposal grew up in Asia. I say this lest someone
> imagine this proposal to find alternatives to incense might be yet
> another example of Puritanism masquerading as Buddhism.
>
>   

Unfortunately, Puritanism has been active in Asia almost as long as it 
has been active in the West. So I still suspect that this is nothing but 
more "Puritanism masquerading as Buddhism". After all, no right-thinking 
(that is, unaffected by Puritanism), Asian Buddhist would ever suggest 
such a thing!

- Curt