Bargirls and Buddha

[muythai2013]

Why do Thai woman who work in the sex industry put statues of Buddha and or spirit houses in their place of business.

Thai people will quote endlessly what is good luck and what is bad luck, don't point your feet at Buddha, don't touch his head if your a woman, however putting him in a room whilst your customers are chopping into you in the next room is fine.

I walk past a place every day and it has a larger then life size statue in the front, they have the statue for luck I have been told, as a Buddhist why don't I just quit striving to better myself and rely on goodluck/badluck.

[NomadJoe]

Why wouldn't sex workers put spirit houses at their place of work?

You should do some research about Buddhism. I'll help you get started. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism_in_Thailand

[lovelaos]

Why does the OP have a hang-up about sex? Buddha doesn't.

[chonabot]

Why should their job choice be an issue with your understanding of Buddha?

Understand the Dhamma first before your naive query

And how did you acquire your bespoke knowledge?

Oh hang on..this is Payak again..same same...carry on oh Muay Thai specialist

Edited June 12, 2013 by chonabot

[Morakot]

What else should they put there?

Most houses used by Thai people have a Buddha statue and a spirit house. Why should some houses be excluded from this?

Edited June 12, 2013 by Morakot

[muythai2013]

I was a Monk 2 times.

[maccaroni man]

The offerings will be made at night

[muythai2013]

should never of became a monk in the past, should have just came here and ask the experts who know it all and quote Wikipedia, anyone can edit or write in Wikipedia.

learn the facts about Buddhism and sex before you judge the thread ignorantly, Looks foolish when you get things wrong.

[lovelaos]

I was a Monk 2 times.

That explains a lot

[canman]

I was a Monk 2 times.

3rd time lucky?

[kblaze]

funny coming from the guy with an avatar of a dude smoking a cock. smoking cock is what is known in some circles as giving a BJ.

[muythai2013]

One of the Buddha’s supporters was a woman named Ambapali who was a wealthy courtesan of vesali and who later gave up her trade to become a nun. In the scriptures we read of prostitutes charging 500 or even a 1000 coins a night for their company.

By working as a prostitute she was going against Buddha's teachings of right living and thus became a nun to right her wrongs as a prostitute.

So modern Buddhist's who attempt to use Buddha to gain luck in a place that Buddha is opposed to are very much confused.

Edited June 12, 2013 by muythai2013

[muythai2013]

funny coming from the guy with an avatar of a dude smoking a cock. smoking cock is what is known in some circles as giving a BJ.

funny I don't see any smoke in my avatar, it's called water.

[Cluey]

Yes, no idea for the basis of the question, like asking why Catholic sex workers practice their religion?

If you think there's some sort of conflict between being religious and working in the sex industry, what about bankers, lawyers, politicians, soldiers and police, other mafia gangsters? Seems more conflicts there.

[muythai2013]

funny coming from the guy with an avatar of a dude smoking a cock. smoking cock is what is known in some circles as giving a BJ.

I'm talking about bg and you talk about who knows what, did I offend you somehow or someone you know.

[greg71]

To quote from a rather well known book,thou shall not judge or be judged thyself, dude if you were indeed a monk 2 times b4 then you should already know the answer to your own questions.Maybe its time for you to try the catholic faith.

[muythai2013]

Yes, no idea for the basis of the question, like asking why Catholic sex workers practice their religion?

If you think there's some sort of conflict between being religious and working in the sex industry, what about bankers, lawyers, politicians, soldiers and police, other mafia gangsters? Seems more conflicts there.

would a sex shop post a giant crucifix out front.

Worship yes, but there is a time and place, you don't put them in a sex shop, It does not even fit in to the teachings so it's counter productive anyway.

[muythai2013]

To quote from a rather well known book,thou shall not judge or be judged thyself, dude if you were indeed a monk 2 times b4 then you should already know the answer to your own questions.Maybe its time for you to try the catholic faith.

to quote from your book your god is a vengeful god, and in another chapter he is not a vengeful god.

turn the other cheek, another chapter an eye for an eye.

I would rather do without the confusion of contradiction.

[brewsterbudgen]

Most of the bargirls I know pray to Buddha for a successful night's work so they will be able to have some cash to send home to support their family.

[Cluey]

would a sex shop post a giant crucifix out front.

Worship yes, but there is a time and place, you don't put them in a sex shop, It does not even fit in to the teachings so it's counter productive anyway.

-

Perhaps the owners of the sex shops you frequent aren't religious?

Are you telling me you've never seen working girls from say Ireland or South America wearing crosses or displaying them in their rooms? Do you really think sex workers shouldn't show signs of their devotion to Christ just because of their profession? What would Jesus say?

Thais integrate their religions into their daily lives even more than Catholics, and what you might think of those beliefs or their profession isn't really of concern to them I'm sure.

[muythai2013]

Most of the bargirls I know pray to Buddha for a successful night's work so they will be able to have some cash to send home to support their family.

Buddha is not supposed to be prayed to for success, He is supposed to be a guide to lead yourself on your own path to a better life.

pray to him day and night and the money will not rain down.

Edited June 12, 2013 by muythai2013

[brewsterbudgen]

Most of the bargirls I know pray to Buddha for a successful night's work so they will be able to have some cash to send home to support their family.

Buddha is not supposed to be prayed to for success, He is supposed to be a guide to lead yourself on your own path to a better life.

pray to him day and night and the money will not rain down.

Maybe you could set up a little stall at Nana to advise the girls on how they should practise their Buddhism.

[Cluey]

Buddha is not supposed to be prayed to for success, He is supposed to be a guide to lead yourself on your own path to a better life.

pray to him day and night and the money will not rain down.

-

Most Thais, including monks, don't practice any kind of "pure" Buddhism, after 2440+ years that's probably even harder to find than a "pure" Christian religion as Jesus intended.

That's why I used to the plural for religions, Buddhist practice here mixed in with those from Hinduism, especially royal ceremonies, and among the common people the animist beliefs that were here long before any Buddhist missionaries arrived.

Before you slyly try to slip in little digs about what bars I frequent I don't, There is no need to turn a discussion into cowardly attacks.

-

I don't think there's anything wrong with you or anyone else visiting whatever bars, brothels or sex toy vendors you happen to fancy. Or remaining celibate if you prefer, up to you, no offense intended.

[manarak]

OP, my understanding is the following:

Sexual desire (and practice) in Buddhism is not worse than failing at the other principles.

Regarding prostitution, my guess is that for the payer it is not relevant if the sex is paid or not.

For the payee, I think the failing can be very light under some conditions, because the prostitute will not do it out of desire, but does it to provide for her family and herself.

A prostitute doing it because of greed, lazyness or whatever achieves a greater failure.

But everybody involved certainly fails at the rules of good life or what it is called.

Regarding the differences between catholics and buddhists: for catholics extramarital sex is a deadly sin, for buddhists it is just another failing, nothing special.

I also understand that buddhism is not an all-or-nothing practice, because people who fulfill all levels of buddhism are called... Buddha.

So I think a prostitute working in that trade because she has no realistic other opportunity to make money can still be a pretty good buddhist.

[MissFarmGirl]

the first man, you ask interesting questions,

but I think you ask wrong questions of Buddha

Buddha is both high and low

when I say low, I mean Buddha is within us,

within everyone who open there heart

because Buddha is in our heart, Buddha is everywhere we go

then Buddha comes to the place where working girl and boy work

Buddha is also high, so we must show respect

you do not touch head of older person or point feet,

same show respect Buddha

everyone want some lucky, who is better to ask?

Buddha is difficult for me explain, but easy for me to feel

Edited June 12, 2013 by MissFarmGirl

[muythai2013]

the first man, you ask interesting questions,

but I think you ask wrong questions of Buddha

Buddha is both high and low

when I say low, I mean Buddha is within us,

within everyone who open there heart

because Buddha is in our heart, Buddha is everywhere we go

then Buddha comes to the place where working girl and boy work

Buddha is also high, so we must show respect

you do not touch head of older person or point feet,

same show respect Buddha

everyone want some lucky, who is better to ask?

Buddha is difficult for me explain, but easy for me to feel

Buddha should be followed and respected, he is not there just to ask for things, that's materialistic and goes against everything he was teaching.

High or low we strive be better, but I don't see anyone as low just living wrong and they should not ask for Buddhas help with their wrongdoing.

They should not say please Buddha give me more sex today so I get more money today because I want money money money, they should say thankyou for teaching me to love all that I have already.

[bonobo]

As this is getting more in depth as to the religious aspects of Buddhism, I am moving it the Buddhism forum where perhaps better-informed or more interested members can contribute.

[Jasun]

It is often the least advantaged in society who place the greatest faith in religion.

[simple1]

OP: The following quote is, I believe, applicable.

"Living a spiritual life, the Buddha saw, is not about arguing over the name of that which is beyond name and form, but rather is about living in harmony with the Divine Presence in every moment of life"

As a self-described Buddhist, why not concentrate, rather than posting topics that seem to have no relevance to your personnel spiritual journey. Alternatively it would be interesting to see your explanation as to why you believe they are meaningful.

Edited June 12, 2013 by simple1

[aussieinthailand]

To quote from a rather well known book,thou shall not judge or be judged thyself, dude if you were indeed a monk 2 times b4 then you should already know the answer to your own questions.Maybe its time for you to try the catholic faith.

Did not the big J say he who is without sin cast the first stone? and tell the whore to go and sin no more?

Catholic church? another one of the corrupt religions out there,