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**johnbeller** · 09-06-2011, 05:56 AM

Hi ngodngam,

I would like to thank you for the time you spent answering my questions. I think that you hit the nail on the head when you pointed out the difficulty we beginners are experiencing. Buddhism is so wide and deep and the there is no clear "road map" how a beginner should start. For example i currently live in Jordan, which is a muslim country and i dont think there are any buddhist temples or buddhist community here to interact with. I tried to do things on my own but as you can see its not easy so this forum is the only place where i can get help.

I ve read your five percepts and i agree with most of them, but maybe your examples are a bit too extreme! for example killing a mosquito that keep on biting you and torturing you when trying to sleep is not the same as killing another human being!! so which is better, staying whole night awake suffering from bites and annoying noise, or killing the bloody mosquito?

When you talk about sexual misconduct, the woman does not have to be my neighbor’s wife!!! she could be a single beautiful woman that i meet in the club and we can spend good time together without anyone gets hurt!! how about masturbation? is it a sexual misconduct? please have a look at the following story and let me know what you think:

http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index....2,3456,0,0,1,0

In relation to the second question, i knew that the Buddha was Prince Siddhartha, but the whole point is that Buddhism can be used by some as escapism and denial. Personally, i dont want to become a buddhism for the wrong reasons if you understand what i mean!

Finally, regarding the third question, i thought that a baby is porn as a white page (egoless)!! I ve read articles describe the ego as "the voice in your head" or as "a by product of living with others" or as "an accumulated phenomenon" so the more you interact with others, the more they will add to your ego and it will become more complex. I did not know that feeling physical pain has anything to do with the ego but with the nervous system which is designed by nature to protect us from dangers. Maybe my understanding of the ego is not very accurate!

Regards,

09-06-2011, 05:56 AM	#23
johnbeller Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 488 Senior Member	Hi ngodngam, I would like to thank you for the time you spent answering my questions. I think that you hit the nail on the head when you pointed out the difficulty we beginners are experiencing. Buddhism is so wide and deep and the there is no clear "road map" how a beginner should start. For example i currently live in Jordan, which is a muslim country and i dont think there are any buddhist temples or buddhist community here to interact with. I tried to do things on my own but as you can see its not easy so this forum is the only place where i can get help. I ve read your five percepts and i agree with most of them, but maybe your examples are a bit too extreme! for example killing a mosquito that keep on biting you and torturing you when trying to sleep is not the same as killing another human being!! so which is better, staying whole night awake suffering from bites and annoying noise, or killing the bloody mosquito? When you talk about sexual misconduct, the woman does not have to be my neighbor’s wife!!! she could be a single beautiful woman that i meet in the club and we can spend good time together without anyone gets hurt!! how about masturbation? is it a sexual misconduct? please have a look at the following story and let me know what you think: http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index....2,3456,0,0,1,0 In relation to the second question, i knew that the Buddha was Prince Siddhartha, but the whole point is that Buddhism can be used by some as escapism and denial. Personally, i dont want to become a buddhism for the wrong reasons if you understand what i mean! Finally, regarding the third question, i thought that a baby is porn as a white page (egoless)!! I ve read articles describe the ego as "the voice in your head" or as "a by product of living with others" or as "an accumulated phenomenon" so the more you interact with others, the more they will add to your ego and it will become more complex. I did not know that feeling physical pain has anything to do with the ego but with the nervous system which is designed by nature to protect us from dangers. Maybe my understanding of the ego is not very accurate! Regards,
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