nokia

It's good that more people understand the beneficial effects of eating less as the body ages, rather than eating more and pumping in more multi-vitamins into a over-clogged digestive system. Isnt moderation the better way?

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7 Day Juice Fast

The 7 day juice fast was designed to support, detoxify, and strengthen the major organs of elimination in the body, including the liver, colon, kidneys, skin, and lungs.

Juice provides concentrated vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients in an easily absorbed form.

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Low-Calorie Diet May Lead to Longer Life

Published: April 5, 2006

A low-calorie diet, even in people who are not obese, can lead to changes in metabolism and body chemistry that have been linked to better health and longer life, researchers are reporting.

The findings lend support to the theory that eating less, long known to prolong life in rats and mice, may do the same for people, by preventing heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other diseases, and by slowing aging.

You would not have options 1&2 as the chanote is not in your hands to sell. Everything would be up to the owner. I think probably move on and rent would be best at a good age. That would be my plans, but it depends on your pension provision.

johnnyk. Your lawyer would of course represent you at the eviction hearing, but it would of course help if at 88 or 89 you sat there and looked sorry for yourself.

Imagine in thirty years' time, thousands of toothless, aged foreigners in their 70's & 80's straggling to Sanam Luang with their TGFs, petitioning for the right to stay in LOS & in their expired houses. Would the public be divided between the nationalistic Thais & the compassionate Thais, the former shouting "Foreigners, awk pai(Get out), Go home", and the latter saying "Have compassion on the elderly".

The less vociferous ones could convert their antique SUV/pickups/cars to campervan homes, and form campervan communities near rivers,streams etc. aka mobile squatters...

Seriously, does holding the chanote(land deed) mean anything more less than a worthless piece of paper since the landowner's name is written on it & not ours?

just put some weight in the back...like the mother-in-law!

That's a good one...

The tyre pressures are between 33-35 psi, about the same for the front & back tyres but the front tyres look slightly deflated compared to the back(engine compartment heavy?). Perhaps i could try to lower the back tyres pressure to 29-30psi as recommended by the handbk, unless doing heavy loading(eg. a troop of mother-in-laws). I could also try to find some cast iron 'dead weight' and put it in the cargo area, just above the wheels as advised, but the 'dead weight' may move around the inner liner when doing cornering...

p.s. btw are the self-service air tanks at the petrol stations the most accurate & best method to reduce/pump air?

No sane foreigner would want to appear in a Thai court.

If faced with a nasty landowner, how about at the 29th year of rental,

1. form a holding company or

2. sell the house to a Thai and purchase a condominium or

3. simply purchase another new house if u have the monies

since houses now are priced about the same as a brand new SUV here, and your SUV would have corroded into an antique or junk car by then?

You can take out one of the leafs from the rear suspension, should calm the rear end down a bit.

terdak_12, thanks for replying.

I guessed most people dont face this problem. Taking out a leaf is not a simple solution, and will affect heavy loading in the future.

Although I did drop about 7 pounds, it didn't stay off! My 3 fasts were all different. The first, I felt great, physically, mentally and spiritually. The second, I felt a bit down emotionally but not physically. The third, I just felt a bit bored with it and was glad to eat at the end of it. Never had any physical weakness. This must mean that we have more in reserve than we think.

Amazing! For many people, skipping a meal or two would be terrible enough, let alone 7 whole days. May i ask why did you choose to fast and what kept you going thru the 7 days? Some people begin with a long fast, but give up halfway when the hunger pangs overwhelmed them.

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"the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak"

Do good get good? Really true?? I'm sure most have heard of the Thai expression "Tham dee dai dee, tham chua dai chua". In all mathematical probability, do "good", get "good" sometimes, get "bad" sometimes, or get nothing in this lifetime. As for evil doers, some get punished, others go away scot-free.

---

Karma is classified into four kinds:

1. REPRODUCTIVE KARMA

2. SUPPORTIVE KARMA

3. OBSTRUCTIVE KARMA OR COUNTERACTIVE KARMA

4. DESTRUCTIVE (UPAGHATAKA) KARMA

it's really not possible to "being thrown out of his "30 year lease" home because something happened to the landowner/landlord or the landlord got nasty". the 30 years is legally binding regardless of what happens to the land owner, there should be no problem enforcing that.

the problem is when the lease is up, you may have no chance of renewing it.

stevenhaigh, you certainly have a valid point.

Well, we could look at 30 year leases as cheap rental compared to annual rental, or we can continue to "squat" in our house after 30 years. I dont think every landlord would be so mean to evict an aged tenant after 30 years, unless the government needs the land, well too bad no compensation for that.

Over the last few years, i have heard only nasty disputes when the foreigner spilt from his TG... u own the land, i own the house....?

Worst case scenario: in 30 years' time, all the evicted, homeless, aged foreigners can form a retirement community in the national parks... as a new UN minority tribe... what else can we possibly do?

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Squatting is the act of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or building that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use. Noun: one that squats is one that settles on property without right or title or payment of rent. Squatters often claim rights over the spaces they have squatted by virtue of occupation, rather than ownership; in this sense, squatting is similar to (and potentially a necessary condition of) adverse possession, by which a possessor of real property without title may eventually gain legal title to the real property.

Squatting has a long history, as old as or older than the idea of property itself. To squat in many countries is in itself a crime; in others it is only seen as a civil conflict between the owner and the occupants. Property law and the state have traditionally favored the property owner. However, in many cases where squatters had de facto ownership, laws have been changed to legitimize their status. It is said that the United States Homestead Act is an example of such legislation. Additionally, US states which have a shortage of housing tend to tolerate squatters in property awaiting redevelopment until the developer is ready to begin work; however, at that point the laws tend to be enforced.

--

Insecure ownership is indeed a problem faced by many farmers in developing countries.

In Thailand, about half of the area is classified as forest reserve land and it belongs to

the state. However, about a quarter of this land is actually under cultivation by squatters

who occupy it illegally. Many of the squatters settled a long time ago, in some instances

long before the land was officially declared public forest.

Ban Tung Wah in Takua Paa district, one of several settlements occupied by the Mokans, was flattened by the tsunami, leaving its inhabitants -- the indigenous sea gypsies -- homeless. The Mokans were living on 26 rai of coastal land in the area for decades but had no legal hold on the land as they had no title deeds or other documents.

After the tsunami, they were told by a local official that they could not longer occupy the land because a public hospital was to be set up in the area. They had in fact been squatting on public land all these years, they were told.

Well, i was curious about CM and when i first came to CM in 2003, i was impressed by this neat, orderly, laid back city compared to the horrendous traffic & crazy skycrapers in BKK. The cool winter temperature, mountain scenery, international airport & the low prices are definitely plus points.

My 4x4 Vigo truck is a bit bouncy unloaded compared to a car, but settles down when carrying a few passengers. I do not intend to install any Carryboy yet. Anybody has this minor problem and manage to solve it?

I agree, there is no doubt that fasting helps you focus on Spiritual things. I have fasted for 3 periods of 7 days, eating nothing at all - just drinking water and a couple of coconut waters a day. You become much more 'centered' and able to focus, also, meditation takes on new meaning.

Fasting definitely helps a person to focus more on spiritual things, than on worldly pleasures. Over-indulgence in worldly pleasures will lead to Mara.

Did you lose weight or get physically weak during your 7 day fasts? I assume most people here eat moderately, and do not binge.

Folks, we are all aware of the risks in a 30 year lease, which gives a foreigner a right to use the land for 30 years. Well, most of us have not been in LOS for that long, but has anyone heard of any foreigner being thrown out of his "30 year lease" home because something happened to the landowner/landlord or the landlord got nasty?

A year back, many tourist-related business(guesthouse,hotels,tourist agencies) displayed both US$/Thai baht prices based on (US$1=40b). I wonder are these guesthouses still quoting US$10/400b, US$20/800b for convenience's sake and losing out on the difference???

Religious Significance of Fasting

Many people in the world face untimely death owing to over-eating.

In Buddhism, fasting is recognized as one of the methods for practising self-control. The Buddha advised monks not to take solid food after noon. Lay people who observe the eight Precepts on full moon days also abstain from taking any solid food after noon.

Critics sometimes regard these practices as religious fads. They are not religious fads but practices based on a moral and psychological insight.

In Buddhism, fasting is an initial stage of self-discipline to acquire self-control. In every religion, there is a system of fasting. By fasting and sacrificing a meal once a day or for any period, we can contribute our food to those who are starving or who do not have even a proper meal each day.

'A man who eats too much', writes Leo Tolstoy, 'cannot strive against laziness, while a gluttonous and idle man will never be able to contend with sexual lust. Therefore, according to all moral teachings, the effort towards self-control commences with a struggle against the lust of gluttony?commences with fasting just as the first condition of a good life is self-control, so the first condition of a life of self-control is fasting.'

Sages in various countries who practised self-control began with a system of regulated fasting and succeeded in attaining unbelievable heights of spirituality. An ascetic was kicked and tortured, and then his hands and feet were severed on the orders of a rakish king. But the ascetic, according to the Buddhist story, endured the torture with equanimity and without the slightest anger or hatred. Such religious people have developed their mental power through restraining from sensual indulgence.

Fasting in the monastic community is considered an ascetic practice, a "dhutanga" practice. (Dhutanga means "to shake up" or "invigoration.") Dhutangas are a specific list of thirteen practices, four of which pertain to food: eating once a day, eating at one sitting, reducing the amount you eat, on alms-round, eating only the food that you receive at the first seven houses. These practices are adopted by individuals voluntarily, they are not required in the normal course of a Buddhist monastic's life of practice. The Buddha, as is well known, emphasized moderation, the Middle Way that avoids extremes, in all things. Fasting is an additional method that one can take up, with supervision, for a time.

The Buddha's spiritual awakening is directly related to fasting, but from the reverse. That is to say, only after the Buddha stopped fasting did he realize his mahabodhi, or great awakening. The founding story of the Buddhist faith relates how the Buddha was cultivating the Way in the Himalayas, having left his affluent life as a Prince of India. He sought teachers and investigated a variety of practices in his search for liberation from the suffering of old age, death and rebirth. In the course of his practices he realized that desire was the root of mortality. He determined, incorrectly, that if he stopped eating he could end desire and gain liberation from suffering. As the story goes, he ate only a grain of rice and a sesame seed per day. Over time he got so thin that he could touch his spine by pressing on his stomach. He no longer had the strength to meditate. He realized that he would die before he understood his mind; further, that desire does not end by force. At that point a young herds maid offered him a meal of milk porridge which he accepted. He regained his strength, renewed his meditation, and realized Buddhahood. So by quitting fasting, and eating in moderation, he realized the central tenet of Buddhist practice, moderation.

Thai baht firms on hopes of end to political crisis

Tue Apr 4, 2006 9:12 PM ET

The Thai baht rose to its highest level in a year on Wednesday after Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra offered on Tuesday to step down to defuse a long-running political crisis.

Dealers said that although an end to the political turmoil was not yet guaranteed, Thaksin's offer to resign was positive for local markets in the short term.

The baht strengthened as far as 38.35 per dollar, its strongest level since March 2005, and up more than half a percent from levels traded late in Asia on Tuesday.

"Thaksin announced last night that he would step down and this suggests things could settle down a bit and that is good for the baht," said a trader in Bangkok.

"But we still have to wait and see what happens, as he is still holding the position of prim minister."

Of course it's getting more expensive. Any place in the world getting cheaper??

Hopefully, your income level has been keeping up

Well, Japan had deflation for more than ten years during the 1990s, oil producing countries like Brunei had deflation for a few years, and most developed countries had steady inflation of 1-2% annually but with crazy oil prices, this is going to be history.

As a developing country, Thailand's inflation has been 4-5% annually since 2003, energy price increased about 20% annually, raw food about 10% annually, so it's amazing that we are still able to get 20-25 baht meals from street vendors.

Let the commercial rents increase some more, western food prices etc to go up another 50-100%, and i'm sure the finicky tourists, backpackers will move the northern tourist capital elsewhere which has more "realistic prices" perhaps like CR?, and CM will become a mere transit point.

dear CM folks,

I was just wondering whether CM is getting more expensive? Is it the oil prices, rental increases or just my imagination?

3 years ago, i could have a decent meal at JJ Cafe(Thapae Rd) for 40-60 b, last month, it's 65-120 b for a meal/sandwich. 3 years ago, most hotel buffets were below 200b, now usually above.

I hope my experiences are isolated ones because an increasingly expensive city is not so 'charming' after all.

Cheers!

P.s. even the recent increase in sugar price has caused street vendors' desserts to be less sweet albeit at the same price.

Desire is actually from your heart or your soul but illness relates to your body and health, therefore, we don't desire for medicines but your body does

Your heart or soule is unhealthy when it is filled up with desires and medicines cannot cure it

You have a point. i think you are saying that we need medicine, rather than we desire medicine.

But most desires come because the heart/soul is trying to satisfy the flesh/body/senses.

Imagine if sex is painful instead of being enjoyable, the human race would probably die out long ago. Who doesnt like to look at pretty things(humans & objects), hear sweet nothings, smell an exotic perfume, or eat/drink their fav stuff? Who likes the new alcohol-free beer? Without the five senses, the heart/soul would be more objective, easier to overcome desires to enter nirvana, but humans beans are not born that way.

When are we going to move to Mars & Venus??? maybe there are some big eyed beans over there pursuing nibbana?

Buddhism says.... ' hel_l ' and ' Heaven ' are in oneself -- if you are unhappy you are in hel_l an if you are happy, you are in heaven.

The desire is the biggest issue for people, a tiny piece of string can cause you suffering..!!! If you can learn to let go it is the way to go, it is the way to be free from the pain and suffering.

I can say it but I'm struggling of doing it

Also, illusions, defilements, impurities, earthly passions, or simply desires. A generic term for all the workings of life that cause one psychological and physical suffering and impede the quest for enlightenment, including desires and illusions in the general sense. Earthly desires are also referred to as fetters or bonds (Skt samyojana or bandhana ), because they bind people to the realm of delusion and suffering.

From The Soka Gakkai Dictionary of Buddhism

The goal of Theravada Buddhism is practically unattainable. Theravada Buddhism focused primarily on meditation and concentration, the eighth of the Eightfold Noble Path; as a result, it centered on a monastic life and an extreme expenditure of time in meditating. This left little room for the bulk of humanity to join in, so a new schism erupted within the ranks of Buddhism in the first century AD, one that would attempt to reformulate the teachings of Buddha to accomodate a greater number of people. They called their new Buddhism, the "Greater Vehicle" (literally, "The Greater Ox-Cart") or Mahayana, since it could accomodate more people and more believers from all walks of life. They distinguished themselves from mainstream Theravada Buddhism by contemptuously referring to Theravada as Hinayana, or "The Lesser Vehicle." In order to make Buddhism a more esoteric religion, the Mahayanists invented two grades of Buddhist attainment below becoming a Buddha. While the Buddha was the highest goal, one could become a pratyeka-buddha , that is, one who has awakened to the truth but keeps it secret. Below the pratyeka-buddha is the arhant , or "worthy," who has learned the truth from others and has realized it as truth. Mahayana Buddhism establishes the arhant as the goal for all believers. The believer hears the truth, comes to realize it as truth, and then passes into Nirvana . This doctrine of arhanthood is the basis for calling Mahayan the "Greater Vehicle," for it is meant to include everyone.

Vijnanavada, or "Doctrine of Consciousness." Each of these schools believed that all of physical reality was an illusion. The only thing that existed was Void or Emptiness. The Vijnavadans believed that everything we perceived was self-generated and that all our perceptions were caused by previous perceptions in an elaborate chain of causation. This would explain why our perceptions tend to be uniform throughout our lives and why we tend to share our perceptions with others. But, in the end, it's all illusion. The world needs to be rejected as a world of illusion.

The Tantric Buddhists, on the other hand, developed a different methodology from this insight that the world is unreal. Just because the physical world doesn't exist doesn't mean that one should reject it. On the one hand, if the physical world doesn't exist, that means that one cannot commit right or wrong. As a way of proving that one is enlightened, all sorts of forbidden acts should be engaged in: fornication, thieving, eating dung, and so forth. A similar movement occurred in England in the seventeenth century. A group of radical Protestants, called the "Ranters," took the Protestant notion of divine election to its farthest extreme. If one is saved and one knows it, that means that one can't sin no matter what one does. In fact, committing all sorts of heinous acts can serve to demonstrate one's salvation. So the ranters would fornicate in the streets and curse and do all sorts of obnoxious things in order to demonstrate their salvation. One form of Tantric Buddhism was similar to this.

--

As human beans, it's easier said than done. We can let go of one string(desire) but there will be other stronger hidden strings pulling you elsewhere. Happiness is purely a state of mind, can you really attain your own heaven on Earth where desires, sicknesses & pain reside? When we are sick or in pain, dont we all desire for medicine/healing. Isnt that a desire too?

Out of billions of jelly beans, over the course of several millennia of human history, how many is said to attain the highest goal on Earth? Probably less than a handful. Maybe more when we move to Mars & Venus...

Buddhists do not believe that the buddha was a god, so how could they possibly believe that a piece of wood or metal is a god? The dictionary defines an idol as "an image or statue worshipped as a god". And in buddhism, the statue of the buddha also reminds us of the human dimension in buddhist teaching, the fact that buddhism is man-centred, not god-centred, that we must look within not without to find perfection and understanding. So true buddhists do not worship images. The image is a symbol that helps people to recall the qualities of the buddha. But popular buddhism in LOS fused with Brahmanism, Hinduism, Shintoism and other idolatrous Eastern religions, which makes it more complicated.

The first precept is "A disciple of the Buddha does not kill nor let others kill.." Harming, not to mention killing, produces fear in others, and, according to Buddhism, it destroys our seed of compassion. One must not deliberately kill any living creatures, either by committing the act oneself, instructing others to kill, or approving of or participating in act of killing. It is a respect to others' lives. One should not deprive others (animals not excluded) of the right to live. If one is hurt or killed, one's family, relatives, friends will suffer. It is the cause of rebirth in Three Evil Paths. The effect of killing to the performer are brevity of life, ill health, handicapped and fear.

---------BKK post

ERAWAN SHRINE / CRAZED ATTACKER BEATEN TO DEATH

Revered Brahman statue smashed

ANJIRA ASSAVANONDA

The remains of the Brahman statue at the Erawan Shrine after it was smashed to pieces with a hammer by a crazed man in the early hours of yesterday morning. Parts of the smashed statue (top picture) are placed on a piece of white cloth. — Photos by KOSOL NAKACHOL and PHRAKIT JUNTAWONG

A large crowd gathered yesterday in front of the famous Erawan Shrine to try and get a view of the remains of a much-revered Brahman statue after it was destroyed by a mentally-disturbed man during the early hours of yesterday morning.

Thanakorn Pakdipol, 27, was beaten to death after attacking the statue at about 1am yesterday morning.

His body was found in a pool of blood near the entrance of a hotel about 50 metres away, police said.

Two cleaners from Pathumwan district office _ Saksri Klinbua, 21, and Kasemsak Karunwong, 22 _ were arrested for committing the assault leading to the man's death, police said. Both apparently admitted their involvement, but pointed out that others were involved in the attack.

Members of the public were only allowed as far as an iron gate after authorities closed the shrine. Apparently, only the lowest part of the statue remained intact following the attack.

Sayan Pakdipol, father of the man who attacked the statue, said his son had been in and out of hospital suffering from mental disorders since he was about 21. His mental condition was attributed to stress.

Mr Sayan said his son had returned home at about 8pm on Monday night and appeared irritable. He vanished at about midnight, prompting his father to call the police.

Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra called for the reconstruction of the Thao Maha Brahma statue, which is also known as Phra Prom.

Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai ordered the Culture Ministry's Fine Arts Department to restore the statue as soon as possible.

''The shrine was widely revered by not only Thai people but those from other countries in the region. Many countries have contacted us to express their sorrow over the incident. That's why we need to rebuild the statue as quickly as possible,'' Mr Surakiart said during an inspection of the site.

Arak Sanghitakul, director-general of the Fine Arts Department, said the restoration work could take about two months to complete. Unlike the Thao Maha Brahma statue, which was made of plaster, the replacement would be cast in a mix of metals, including copper, to make it more resilient.

''We will maintain the shape and appearance of the deity that was destroyed. The remains of the old statue will be included in the new one to preserve the spirit of the deity,'' Mr Arak said.

Paichit Rojanavanich, chairman of the Than Tao Mahaprom Foundation, the organisation responsible for overseeing the shrine, said the foundation was ready to meet the costs of the restoration.

Mr Arak said the shrine would soon be reopened, while a photo or painting of the original would be installed so people could continue to pay their respects while the restoration work was carried out.

Most flower vendors abandoned their stalls on hearing the bad news. Those who remained said they had not been present when the attack took place.

Pachara Khansakorn, 36, who sells drinks near the site, said she was expecting a drop in income and the coconut juice usually popular among visitors to the shrine was not selling well yesterday. She said, however, that she would not seek a new location for her business since she had been working there for over 10 years.

She said she hoped the shrine would reopen soon, ''so we can get back to our normal lives''.

this is a particularly relevent topic for me at the moment. For me, there is a clear division between drinking alcohol in a very moderate social sense, and drinking alcohol with the intention of intoxication. Though, i recognize that there can be a fine line between these two.

There have been times when i would have one or two beers with a colleague, and have no inclination for more. This was a period when my Practice had a lot of momentum, and a couple of beers never appeared to undermine my judgement or my general 'defense systems' (ie. mindfulness). Somewhat unfortunately, my Practice has lost some of that momentum, and while i don't have a 'drinking problem' as such, from a dhammic point of view, my drinking does tend to now undermine those defense systems. As you said, 'in LOS beer is cheap, and the weather can be rather warm'.........i might add, 'the girls are beautiful and are very available'. So for me, breaking the precept of abstaining from intoxicants, can result in a downward spiral that jeopodises the whole structure of my sila. And this is the biggest danger in intoxication. Currently i am working on regaining the lost momentum in my Practice, and one of the ways i hope to do this, is to abstain from alcohol.

As i see it, the impact of sensual objects on the sense bases invariably leads to some form of intoxication. Music, food, visual objects, thoughts ect. are all subtley intoxicating. It is simply not possible to abstain from all objects that may stimulate our craving. However, alcohol is one stimulant that can be abstained from. There's no doubt that abstinence is the best choice. However, if someone can genuinely drink moderately in a social situation, i don't think they should make too big an issue over it.

w/metta

dm

Well said, researchers have proven that alchohol & dim light makes EVERYONE more attractive.

Even a lady that we wouldnt normally look at in broad day light, rated 5 out of 10, becomes a 7-8 , when our sensual feelings are aroused through the effects of alcohol. Guys who are too shy to approach a lady, would suddenly get a sense of false bravado to do it, while those who are already bold enough, would do even crazier things or go beyond that. Some get loud and obnoxious, others become more cheeky once alcohol takes away all their inhibitions.

Certainly, we are not here to pass judgement like some western religions,but to understand & encourage one another to have a clearer mind, and a superior conduct. Everyone is free to live his/her life as he/she deemed as fitting. No abbot from no temple is coming to no house to remind anybody any precepts.

--

Prajna-Discernment or the ability to make good judgement, insight, wisdom and enlightenment will emerge if your mind is pure and calm.

well,i do not consider myself as a buddhist, but i gave up drinking two years ago.

Now, I'm learning to appreciate a clear mind, and to be detached from the need for alcohol.

Occasionally, i do get strange looks/qns from friends, "hello this is LOS, why dont you drink?"

What's my weakness then? i couldnt stop after a glass or two. There's simply no kick.

If there's alcohol, esp free beer or hard liquor at a party or on board a plane, or when i'm giving a treat, simply go for as many glasses as possible.

Certainly not to the point of being completely drunk, but maybe semi-intoxicated, feeling high, and free from the worries of life, but able to get home safely in one piece...

--

Samudaya-The cause of suffering is the desire to have or control things

Man has been making & drinking Wine for thousands of years if not longer.

We know that alcoholism is bad, too much alcohol is bad for the body. And drunken driving kills.

How about moderate amounts? Why is alcohol deemed completely as bad, considered as pleasure-seeking,and included as one of the monastic precepts(Do not consume alchohol or drugs) that monks have to keep,even lay buddhists are encouraged to do so?

In LOS, beer is cheap, and weather can be rather warm. Has anyone given up this particular pleasure for religious reasons and would like to encourage the others to do so?

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Attachment is a great example. We can be attached to our need for alchohol (addiction)

The prohibition against alchohol clearly extends to other intoxicants because they cloud the mind and lead of lack of mindfulness.

"What are the six dangers of addition to strong drink [i.e. wine, beer, etc.] and sloth producing drugs [marijuana, bhang, etc.]: present waste of money, increased quarelling, liability to sickness, loss of good name, indecent exposure of one's person and weakening of the intellect."

-- Sigalaka sutta

"Those who recognize me as their master should not drink any strong liquor, even a drop on a blade of grass"

-- Sutra quoted in Abhidharmakosha bhasyam.

Fortunately, serious practitioners always give up intoxicants once they learn to appreciate a clear mind.

Hello folks,

It's a long & hot saturday afternoon, so i was trying to figure out the necessity of the golden rule.

Are we humans beings, self-Centered(ME) by nature, caring for ourselves first, (young toddlers are excellent selfish examples) and need to be taught/reminded otherwise? What are your thoughts?

Cheers!

nokia

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Do not do to others what you would not like yourself. [confucius XII,2]

Consider others as yourself. (buddha)

The Golden Rule (do unto others as you would have them do to you) and the Wiccan Rede (If no harm is done, do as you will) are forms of the Ethic of Reciprocity. Greek philosophers in the fourth centurybce derived it from logic as the most basic moral code, and four thousand years ago it appeared in ancient Egypt. It is the most basic relativistic-logic ethic. On account of its simplicity it is the most universal moral code known; appearing in nearly all cultures, being derived from multiple teachers, religions and philosophies at different times in different ways.

"The principle of reciprocity is often the justification, motivation and, in some cases, the essence of a moral code."

The Golden Rule appears in most religions including: African Traditional1, Baha'i, Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Native American, Paganism, Scientology, Shintoism, Sikhism, Taoism, Wicca4 and Zoroastrianism. It appears in most generic cultures and secular philosophies: Atheism, Humanism, Greek philosophy & culture, Marxism7, Roman antiquity1 and Persian1 culture. The oldest occurance of the golden rule may be one from 1970 to 1640BCE from ancient Egypt, making it a four-thousand old doctrine at least. The Egyptian empire spread its methods of religion and myths worldwide.

Yet it is not a universal belief of all religions. Nordic culture is probably an exception. Satanism does not accept the ethic of reciprocity and Anton LaVey edited the Golden Rule to add a note saying that he believed that punishment was acceptable for a persons' action if a person deemed them deserving of it for some reason.

"Every atheist I have known has always fallen back upon the one concept echoed worldwide, and taught by religious and secular leaders throughout all time: the so-called "Golden Rule."