Would you say that Buddhists are hippies?

[Ervin]

Is Buddhism a religion and od philosophy of peace? Some of the reasons I ask that is because: Are teachings on hell and hungry ghost realms going to do certain things that might disturb your peace? And I have heard of Buddhists fighting wars?

Also, if you wish, I would like to suggest for you to look at the following forums and if you don't mind could you pick through the differences between yourselves and hippies. Like tor instance, from my knowledge hippies are vegetarians and vegans, but I heard a lots of Buddhists eat a diet including animals and their products.

http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/index.php

Thanks

[Kim O'Hara]

Would i say Buddhists are hippies? No. Some Buddhists are hippies, and some hippies are Buddhists, but there isn't much overlap except in the west.
Is Buddhism a religion and od philosophy of peace? Yes. The first training rule is not to kill, and it goes on from there. Again, some Buddhists do kill animals for food and people in wars, but the religion is focused on peace and non-harm.

Hippie forum? I will stay here, thanks.


Kim

[Annapurna]

No.

Buddhists follow the teachings of the Buddha.

Hippies, back in the sixties, were influenced by Buddhist, Hindu, Tao and all sorts of teachings which altogether formed "New Age" philosophies....of 'flower power', love, freedom and a strong rebellion against war (Vietnam) and old structures in society.

These philosophies contain ideals like veganism and vegeterianism, but are basically a colorful mix of old teachings stirred together.

[Annapurna]

I heard a lots of Buddhists eat a diet including animals and their products.

Eating meat is not prohibited in Buddhism. The Buddha taught not to kill, since all sentient beings fear death as we do, and wish to live happily, just as we do, and if we kill, we harm and hurt, and we will sow karmic seeds that we will reap one day, we will reap what we have sown, we will inherit our karma.

But we can eat meat of an animal that someone else killed.

May seem like a paradox. But even monks can eat meat if they didn't kill the animal themselves and did not order someone else to kill it for them, if it just happened to be available in the donating household anyways.

Monks are given food by the community, you see.

[LonesomeYogurt]

I would imagine most serious Buddhists are far too conservative in their views towards alcohol, sex, and entertainment to really align well with the Hippie movement.

[Hanzze]

I would imagine most serious Buddhists are far too conservative in their views towards alcohol, sex, and entertainment to really align well with the Hippie movement.

Some Hippies say, that Buddhists are much to attached as that they could handle such things.

Would i say Buddhists are hippies? No. Some Buddhists are hippies, and some hippies are Buddhists

Yep

[daverupa]

It seems to me that the accumulation of labels "buddhist" + "hippie" + etc. is a problem, in that it buys into sakkaya-ditthi; self is presumed to be in these labels, somehow, and the problem is then formulated as matter of properly coordinating the Venn diagram these various labels create in order best craft and present a personality.



It's crazy talk.

[Hanzze]

Oh really, what made you think so?

[pegembara]

Yes they are minus the wine, women/men and song.


BOB MARLEY - DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY

Here's a little song i wrote,
you might want to sing it note for note,
don't worry, be happy

in every life we have some trouble,
when you worry you make it double
don't worry, be happy

dont worry be happy now
dont worry be happy
dont worry be happy
dont worry be happy
dont worry be happy
aint got no place to lay your head,
somebody came and took your bed,
don't worry, be happy

the landlord say your rent is late,
he may have to litagate,
dont worry (small laugh) be happy,

look at me im happy,
don't worry, be happy

i give you my phone number,
when your worried, call me,
i make you happy

don't worry, be happy

aint got no cash, aint got no style,
aint got no gal to make you smile
but don't worry, be happy

cos when you worry, your face will frown,
and that will bring everybody down,
so don't worry, be happy

don't worry, be happy now...

don't worry, be happy
don't worry, be happy
don't worry, be happy
don't worry, be happy

now there this song i wrote
i hope you you learned it note for note
like good little children

dont worry be happy

listen to what i say
in your life expect some trouble
when you worry you make it double
dont worry be happy
be happy now

dont worry, be happy
dont worry, be happy
dont worry, be happy
dont worry, be happy
dont worry
dont worry be happy
don't worry, don't worry, don't do it,
be happy,put a smile on your face,
don't bring everybody down like this

don't worry, it will soon pass whatever it is,
don't worry, be happy,
i'm not worried

[David2]

[Hanzze]

Clearly the opposite, isn't it.

Another story, some tell:

"The hippie-mind is only one hair's-breadth away from enlightenment."

True hippies have no hindrance. If I have no money, that's okay. If I don't have a house or a bed, that's okay. I can sleep anywhere, I can eat any food. My whole life is freedom. I am free to do anything. Having no hindrance means not being attached to anything. So this hippie-mind is very good; it is a very high-class mind. But many young people are attached to hippie-style or natural-style living. This is no good. If you are attached, then hippie-style becomes a hindrance. You must cut off all thinking and all desires for yourself. Then you will soon attain enlightenment. The hippie-mind is only one hair's-breadth away from enlightenment. If a hippie could cut off his attachment to being a hippie, he would soon discover, 'Oh, this is enlightenment!' One of my first students in America had very long blond hair, which he wore in a pony-tail. One day I said to him, 'I think it would be good if you cut your hair.' He said, 'No no, I like my hair the way it is.' I said, 'If you are attached to your hair, you cannot attain enlightenment.' 'Okay, then I will cut my hair.' 'Fine. Now you don't need to cut it.' So he learned that being a true hippie is having no attachments. Afterwards, he did hard training and soon understood.

Seung Sahn (Korean Zen Master)

Sometimes its the my hair, sometimes my computer...

[Buckwheat]

Every sangha I have seen in the US was loaded with hippies. Not an extensive record of research bu me, but consistent nonetheless.

[Ervin]

I have heard that somewhere in the Buddhist teachings it says something like: If you see Buddha kill him. Why would it say that? Why use the word kill?

Thanks

[mikenz66]

Hi Ervin,

It comes from a Zen teaching, not from the Buddha or the Theravada.

Here is some explanation:
http://www.dailybuddhism.com/archives/670
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dan# ... the_Buddha



Mike

[Dan74]

The full passage is here (in Schloegl's translation), it might help see that what Linchi was suggesting goes deeper than just not clinging to teachers:

a. Followers of the Way, the leaver-of-home must study the Way. I
myself was formerly interested in the Vinaya and diligently studied the
Sutras and Treatises. Then I realized that they were only drugs
suitable for appeasing the ills of the world, only relative theories. At
one stroke I threw them away, set myself to learn the Way, started
Zen training and met great teachers. Only then did my eye of the Way
begin to see clearly, and I was able to understand all the old masters
and to know the false from the true. Man born of woman does not
naturally know this. But after long and painful practice, one morning it
is realized in one's own body.

b. Followers of the Way, if you wish to see this Dharma clearly, do not
let yourselves be deceived. Whether you turn to the outside or to the
inside, whatever you encounter, kill it. If you meet the
Buddha, kill the Buddha; if you meet the patriarchs, kill the patriarchs; if you meet
Arhats, kill Arhats; if you meet your parents, kill your parents; if you
meet your relatives, kill your relatives; then for the first time you will
see dearly. And if you do not depend on things, there is deliverance,
there is freedom!

c. Of those followers of the Way who come (to me) from everywhere
to learn the Way, there is none who does not depend on things.
Whatever they bring before me, I beat it down at once. If it is in the
hands, I beat it in the hands; if it comes from the mouth, I beat it
there; if through the eyes, I beat it in the eyes. Up till now there has
not been one who could stand alone. All fall into the traps of the old
masters.
I have no Dharma to give to men. I only cure diseases and undo
knots. Followers of the Way who come from everywhere, try not to
depend on anything. I only want to ponder this matter with you. See,
for ten or fifteen years I have not found one single man. All are like
hobgoblins lurking in thickets or on trees, wild fox sprites — mouthing
clods of filth, they struggle in confusion. Blind old rascals who unduly
squander alms given them by the faithful, and who declare loudly: "I
have left home!" That is how they see it.

[Ryuejaku]

No

Hippies are hippies, buddhists are buddhists.

[m0rl0ck]

Every sangha I have seen in the US was loaded with hippies. Not an extensive record of research bu me, but consistent nonetheless.

Really? Where i live, in the midwest, its mostly middle class, mostly white, with a smattering of students. Except the vietnamese temple is mostly vietnamese and the local bca church is mostly japanese immigrants and japanese descent.

[dharmagoat]

Where i live, in the midwest, its mostly middle class, mostly white, with a smattering of students.

I notice this in New Zealand too, based on my experience of Tibetan Buddhist, FWBO and Zen groups.

[mikenz66]

Lot's of Asians at the local Thai, Korean, and Chinese monasteries...

Zen and Tibetan does seem to be skewed the other way. I guess because there are few Tibetan or Japanese immigrants here...


Mike

[Monkey Mind]

Whenever my hair grows longer than 2 cm, I'm fond of saying, "I feel like a hippy with all this hair!"
Sorry, know it's off topic, couldn't resist...