Gui-Zhen Philo-Cultural Society :: View topic

Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 9:41 pm

I shall be the first to post a question hee hee

I would like to know what we would/would not include regarding intoxicants? What I mean is that we could have a vast list or things depending upon our view.
I can surmise that right away things that would be included are alcohol and illegal drugs. I do not include Western medications in that because I am not too certain of those. There could also be foods included if we are to go that far, but I am not entirely sure if that would be included.
Clarification would be great, as well as just a general discussion on this topic Smile

Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 12:38 am

Excellent inquiry.

I daily contemplate the foods I eat, not for a long time. I contemplate their effects on the mind. If its influences sluggish thinking, fatigue, confusion, dizziness, etc. I don't spend a lot of time on it...only when a want for nourishment arises.

In Buddhist cultivation, and Daoist cultivation, intoxicants basically include anything that influences the mind in negative effects; emotionally, mentally, and physically as an end result.

Mainly pointing directly at Alcohol and Cigarettes. We know what alcohol does to our bodies and mind, thus it is obvious how it effects our cultivation. Smoking on the other hand is quite mysterious for most people because they don't want to put down their habit, if they are smokers.

Smoking is terrible for one's cultivation regardless what of level they are at. Amoking puts death in the body. Cigarettes are known as the "Anti-Man". It pollutes the body inevitably regardless of one's spiritual abilities, and does not indicate complete compassion and virtue.

There will be an article written about Smoking and Cultivation very soon.

Other things which affect cultivation are sugary foods Wink

, spicy foods, too salty of foods, fried and tangy foods, milky foods. They all harm the body and require one to constantly maintain their health, thus wasting away their efforts from cultivation on curing themselves.

Peace,
Lin

Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 6:01 pm

[quote="jingxinyuan"]Excellent inquiry.

I daily contemplate the foods I eat, not for a long time. I contemplate their effects on the mind. If its influences sluggish thinking, fatigue, confusion, dizziness, etc. I don't spend a lot of time on it...only when a want for nourishment arises.

In Buddhist cultivation, and Daoist cultivation, intoxicants basically include anything that influences the mind in negative effects; emotionally, mentally, and physically as an end result.

Mainly pointing directly at Alcohol and Cigarettes. We know what alcohol does to our bodies and mind, thus it is obvious how it effects our cultivation. Smoking on the other hand is quite mysterious for most people because they don't want to put down their habit, if they are smokers.

Smoking is terrible for one's cultivation regardless what of level they are at. Amoking puts death in the body. Cigarettes are known as the "Anti-Man". It pollutes the body inevitably regardless of one's spiritual abilities, and does not indicate complete compassion and virtue.

There will be an article written about Smoking and Cultivation very soon.

Other things which affect cultivation are sugary foods Wink

, spicy foods, too salty of foods, fried and tangy foods, milky foods. They all harm the body and require one to constantly maintain their health, thus wasting away their efforts from cultivation on curing themselves.

Peace,
Lin[/quote

Many of those foods I actually already stay away from, so to me that is easy. Ever since last weekend I have started to cut meat out of my diet. I still have eaten cheese, milk and grain-fed eggs. I have not had meat since last Monday actually.
Not to ask a stupid question, but do you mean by milky foods cheese & milk? Just wondering about that.
I am not a huge egg eater but I do bake a lot with eggs and for me personally I did not want eggs from chickens that ate chickens. I gave myself some leeway with things as far as not eating meat because these foods are not killing animals. Maybe my view is off a bit..not sure.
Thanks!

Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:56 pm

I actually felt pretty good on the vegetarian diet. I can't put my finger on it, but I also felt lighter or something. Hard to explain. I ended up eating meat when I got back though. Not because I craved it, but because my wife cooked chicken, and I would have felt really bad not eating it. Same with sex. The kicker is that I didn't miss these things much after I abstained for a while. But once they get reintroduced, your body starts craving them.

P.S. What about Ron's comment on using soy as a protein? What was that all about Lin?

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:35 am

Oolong Rabbit wrote:

I actually felt pretty good on the vegetarian diet. I can't put my finger on it, but I also felt lighter or something. Hard to explain. I ended up eating meat when I got back though. Not because I craved it, but because my wife cooked chicken, and I would have felt really bad not eating it. Same with sex. The kicker is that I didn't miss these things much after I abstained for a while. But once they get reintroduced, your body starts craving them.

P.S. What about Ron's comment on using soy as a protein? What was that all about Lin?

I had gone out to eat with some friends and we were sharing the dishes, so with that it was difficult not to eat meat on Monday. After that I have been able to easily give them up though. Sex is another story...I am single right now so that is easy for me Laughing

I do find it interesting that the cravings do come back after not having this for awhile though...

I know that a lot of people will drink soy milk, but I do not like the taste of it. Although I wonder if eventually I would grow accustomed to it. I am not a big tofu fan either, as I know a lot of people that will eat tofu. It would be easier for me to be a strict vegetarian.
I feel a lot better when only eating vegetables. I do feel lighter, but I think that also has a lot to do on digestion. It is MUCH easier on my digestive system.

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 7:40 am

I forgot.

Ron says so much in one moment that I can't get passed the sound of my laughter while he is on the next point.

Something about soy not being good for men...My father said the same thing. That Soy products lower the testosterone in men, but its good for women.

Peace,
Lin

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 6:11 pm

I think I read something about that as well - too much soy proteins enhance estrogens and production.

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:06 pm

joeblast wrote:

I think I read something about that as well - too much soy proteins enhance estrogens and production.

WOW! I had not heard of that. Do you know where you found that info?

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:59 pm

I think you can find the Soy information on www.garynull.com
Dr. Gary Null has an extensive research archive. Very intense.

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:15 pm

Thanks for the link, Lin!

Jen, Dave told me that, he's done a lot of research on that stuff...any anything endocrine related, for that matter.

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 9:15 pm

joeblast wrote:

Thanks for the link, Lin!

Jen, Dave told me that, he's done a lot of research on that stuff...any anything endocrine related, for that matter.

The same Dave that told you about the peanut butter Laughing

Sorry could not resist...ha ha ha

You know how I am though..I like to read any articles myself. It just seems that when more than one person reads it you get more info.

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 3:08 pm

that was a t-bag story, not his...not that I am defending his being corrupted by her hahahahaa

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:04 pm

joeblast wrote:

that was a t-bag story, not his...not that I am defending his being corrupted by her hahahahaa

I knew that it was from her..I remember making fun of him and you telling me it was from her. He, of all people...believed her!!!! AHHH LOL

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:19 pm

I'm going to begin writing an article this weekend on the effects that Smoking has on the body for a cultivator. There are many who smoke and cultivate both the Buddha Dharma and Daoist teachings, and think it is okay.

I know many would be upset with me, but that is just the way it has to be. There is no room for intoxicants when cultivating Proper Dharma of both Buddhist and Daoist Schools.

Peace and Blessings,
Lin

Posted: Fri Feb 29, 2008 8:27 pm

yeah, those cigarettes will kill ya!

There really isnt room for intoxicants...not if you are practicing diligently like you should be. I never was a big drinker, but I had a beer the other week and by the time I got done with it I was just...bleeech, I just did not want any more. Not really a fan of how alcohol hits me. THC, much the same, although I still havent completely killed that desire. I just dont do it much anymore because of how it affects practice.