I'm Considering becoming a Thai Forest Buddhist...

[LARA]

Hmmm.  I'm considering becoming a Thai Forest Buddhist because:

1. I read an essay, "Now is the Knowing" by some guy from Seattle who was a Red Cross medic and then went on to become a monk in this order and it was very calming and down to earth and admirable.
2.  I'm really bored.  Not that I don't have stuff I need to do or anything like that, it's just that I really am burnt out on everything.
3.  I live in the effing boondocks where there are lots of effing trees and I have nothing else I can do for entertainment.
4.  I really kind of want to see how long I can sit on my butt outside in the trees without having to stop for a pee break.

The only problems I might have are:

1.  I have a life and responsibilities so sitting on my ass in a forest is probably not going to be practical.  I can barely get away with the lazy time wasting I already have access to.  Like posting here.
2.  Cows taste good.  So do chickens.  I could probably do with eating them only on special occasions but I'm not sure if that will be okay.
3.  I can't really handle the whole literal transmigration of the soul thing.  I've tried the whole literal transmigration thing before a long time ago but I've found that people don't like being told you think they are the reincarnation of Gandhi as much as you'd think they might.   Especially Indian psychiatrists.  They tend to retaliate with Haliperidol.  Hey, I thought it was a compliment....REALLY!  I'm sorry, dammit!
4.  Karma doesn't make any damn sense to me.  If I physically die and rot and my memory dies and that's it, how can some future one who is in no way me, be held responsible for whatever minor infraction I caused to come into this imperfect world?  Do we really need Karma to explain the psychological process of transference?
5. Life is not suffering.  And if it is and meant to be, then why bother to make vaccines, or build houses or cook breakfast?  Why not just accept we are not meant to enjoy ourselves and sit around being glum?
6. I can't think of another reason.

Anyway I would love your input on this one as I would like to know if I should become a Thai Forest Buddhist or if I make a better Atheist.

[Asmodean]

Thai Forest Buddhist

Sounds... Endangered, for some reason... Like the Giant Panda and whatnot...  

If you feel the need to join a "philosophy group" (for lack of a better expression), then these Forest Buddies [idle wordplay. No disrespect intended] are probably very far from the worst. Still, you can meditate and seek that inner... Something without associating with an organised system of belief...

Basically, my question is: why would you want to put yourself in a box?

[LARA]

Asmodean wrote:

Sounds... Endangered, for some reason... Like the Giant Panda and whatnot...  

Thanks, that was funny.   .

As to your question...Why would I want to put myself in a box... That's a good one. Hadn't thought about it that way yet.  I don't have an answer yet.

[JoeBobSmith]

I can't think of another reason.

[The Magic Pudding]

I used to be a Thai Forest Buddhist but it sucked.  More specifically the leaches, ticks and mosquitoes did and as you say time is an issue.  I've become a Kitchen Sink Buddhist, as this fits better with my existing domestic arrangements.  It is all very enlightening, contemplating the impurity of the used fork, but knowing this state of imperfection is only transitory, as with the coming of the sponge all cutlery will once again attain perfection.  And don't let anyone tell you we have no real choice in the face of causality, there is always a choice, either the sponge's spongy side or it's scourer side.  Of course I can't briefly impart the deep wisdom that I have gained, wisdom which allows me to know when to use the scourer side and when to refrain.

Go in peace.

[LegendarySandwich]

Can't you be an atheist and meditate, at the same time? Why become a Buddhist? It's a wayyyy better religion than pretty much any other mainstream religion, but it's still a religion.

[karadan]

Meditation is overrated. Just go to Thailand instead. It is one of the most amazing countries on the planet. Go to Chiang Mai and do some forest treks. That should sort your zen right out. Well, it did for me

[ForTheLoveOfAll]

Everytime I hear anything about Buddhism, I always think of Alan Watts.

[youtube:1vc9a6t1]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aufuwMiKmE[/youtube:1vc9a6t1]

[youtube:1vc9a6t1]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE5M8743a1s[/youtube:1vc9a6t1]

He's one of the best spiritual teachers ever. I'm not certain if he himself was actually an Atheist of some sort or spiritual in some way. He might have believed in reincarnation.

Either way, listen to some of his work, THEN go sit on your ass under a tree.