Top Lama: “Violent Video Games as Good as Meditation”

[loplop]

The Karmapa Lama, one of Buddhism’s top leaders, has stated that not only does he play violent violent video games, he also thinks they are as effective as meditation in freeing the mind of worldly passions.

He also professes a liking for hiphop, though is too coy to name specific artists…

The current Karmapa Lama, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, leads a major school of Buddhism, the Karma Kagyu school, and occupies an especially delicate diplomatic position as he is the only major Buddhist leader to receive recognition from China (whose control he escaped from), India (where he resides now) and the Tibetan people.

However, he is a young man of 24, and as such has picked up rather more of global contemporary culture than any of his forebears.

He explains in an interview:

Moving to other issues, I believe you like to listen to hip-hop on your ipod. Who are your favourite artistes?

I can’t think of any specific artistes right now, I basically listen to what ever comes my way, whatever sounds appealing. It’s important for me to stick to my traditional forms of art because I am a Tibetan Buddhist teacher wearing these robes. It’s important for me to maintain my cultural affiliations.

But from time to time I do enjoy listening to hip-hop because it has a very modern sound to it and even though I’m a Tibetan teacher representing these ancient teachings, I’m also a global citizen in the 21st century. Hip-hop perhaps is one way of me being a 21st-century person.

Is that why you play war games on your play station because many might say it’s inappropriate for a Buddhist monk dedicated to peace to play war games?

Well, I view video games as something of an emotional therapy, a mundane level of emotional therapy for me. We all have emotions whether we’re Buddhist practitioners or not, all of us have emotions, happy emotions, sad emotions, displeased emotions and we need to figure out a way to deal with them when they arise.

So, for me sometimes it can be a relief, a kind of decompression to just play some video games. If I’m having some negative thoughts or negative feelings, video games are one way in which I can release that energy in the context of the illusion of the game. I feel better afterwards.

The aggression that comes out in the video game satiates whatever desire I might have to express that feeling. For me, that’s very skilful because when I do that I don’t have to go and hit anyone over the head.

But shouldn’t meditation take care of that?

No, video games are just a skilful method.

Who would have thought . . . .

[fujyoshi]

I like this guy (:

[Arnold]

This is further proof that Buddhism is 10x cooler than any other religion. (That and the fact that even the crazy, radical extremists only kill themselves and not anyone else)

[Fobb]

I like this guy.

[Melion]

All of sudden, being a monk does not sound so bad.

I want to follow Buddha now!

[tenshi_a]

Isn't he supposed to be able to take his desire for violence and ignore it, rather than satiate it? Or am I thinking of another set of monks...

I wonder if he likes those videogames where you play as a monk who's like a super powerful fighter in unarmed combat. Kind of like the Shaolin monks but more generic "monk" class.

[Gibb]

Isn't he supposed to be able to take his desire for violence and ignore it, rather than satiate it? Or am I thinking of another set of monks...

I wonder if he likes those videogames where you play as a monk who's like a super powerful fighter in unarmed combat. Kind of like the Shaolin monks but more generic "monk" class.

I bet he'll roll one of these guys when Diablo III comes out.
http://www.blizzard.com/diablo3/characters/monk.xml

[Leader Desslock]

Great... it's not bad enough that you've got these hyperdextrous ten year olds running around in the deathmatch arenas.... now we're gonna have ninja monks doing it. What good is a concussion grenade against the Five Point Exploding Palm Technique?

[Foppish Dandy]

This is further proof that Buddhism is 10x cooler than any other religion. (That and the fact that even the crazy, radical extremists only kill themselves and not anyone else)

Steven Segal.

[Old Ape Face]

Great... it's not bad enough that you've got these hyperdextrous ten year olds running around in the deathmatch arenas.... now we're gonna have ninja monks doing it. What good is a concussion grenade against the Five Point Exploding Palm Technique?

I bet those monk would put up a hell of a fight on PVP in World of Warcraft, South Koreans have nothing over these guys.

And the monk fails if he thinks Hip Hop, is 21st century sound.

Nothing wrong with loving Hip Hop to death, but damn how can you meditate to that?

I always thought of video games as a Cheap alternative to playing daily recreation slow moving sports, "like golf." Especially Worldof Warcraft, where you can gather a team of people and chill through an Instance.

[Tom Servo]

I want to follow Buddha now!
Buddha would be the first to tell you not to follow him.

This is further proof that Buddhism is 10x cooler than any other religion.
If by cool you mean inoffensive, then yes.

[Gibb]

I always thought of video games as a Cheap alternative to playing daily recreation slow moving sports, "like golf." Especially Worldof Warcraft, where you can gather a team of people and chill through an Instance.

I found MMOs to be too demanding, so I guess I see them in a different way than you do. Doing instances in WoW was a pain because you had to constantly be on your toes, making sure you don't screw up and wipe the entire party. It's also pretty intense because it takes hours to get through one of those stupid things, and if you leave to grab dinner or use the restroom, your group gets pissed.

Games like Disgaea are much more chill. :)

[Old Ape Face]

I found MMOs to be too demanding, so I guess I see them in a different way than you do. Doing instances in WoW was a pain because you had to constantly be on your toes, making sure you don't screw up and wipe the entire party. It's also pretty intense because it takes hours to get through one of those stupid things, and if you leave to grab dinner or use the restroom, your group gets pissed.

Games like Disgaea are much more chill. :)

that's high level Instances, the mid levels and low levels are actually very enjoyable to just casually game through even with a full team equal to the instance's level.

Later on, when things get extreme then it's a causal play of farming till you get the right gear to do the High level instances, really nothing too challenging if you do it right.

[Haro!]

And the monk fails if he thinks Hip Hop, is 21st century sound.

Nothing wrong with loving Hip Hop to death, but damn how can you meditate to that?

As one of the people that likes to remind people that hip hop seems to be dying, I disagree. It is a style of music that has and continues to be adopted by people of so many different languages, cultures, socio-economic classes etc. I say this only because it is, for better or worse, one of the most accessible forms of music, can use just about any or no instruments. The way it can blend in with a given culture is pretty major.

As to the video games. I guess it can be used for higher purposes but, as an avid meditator, I don't think it fits my style.

[Caster13]

This guy is awesome! :thumbsup: :smokin:



Watch Walt try to make this a serious issue now.

[tenshi_a]

Nothing wrong with loving Hip Hop to death, but damn how can you meditate to that?

You know how people in anime always go train by meditating at the bottom of waterfalls? The point is not comfort; it's the exact opposite. If you are able to meditate while freezing to death and with tons of water threatening to split your skull, then you are a "freaking badass".

If he wants to meditate to hip hop, then I suppose it must be because it is very difficult to ignore the ego and find peace in it, rather than for listening pleasure.

(actually, I think he just likes listening to hip-hop when he's not meditating...)

[Caster13]

Well I can relax and fall asleep to Heavy Metal, and some people think I'm crazy for being able to relax to it.

[Old Ape Face]

You know how people in anime always go train by meditating at the bottom of waterfalls? The point is not comfort; it's the exact opposite. If you are able to meditate while freezing to death and with tons of water threatening to split your skull, then you are a "freaking badass".

If he wants to meditate to hip hop, then I suppose it must be because it is very difficult to ignore the ego and find peace in it, rather than for listening pleasure.

(actually, I think he just likes listening to hip-hop when he's not meditating...)

but, if he actually does like the Hip Hop music, and meditates to it for the sake of feeling calm while listening to it, it's just as weird.

I've meditated to Metal before, I swear it's therapeutic for anyone who wants to sit around an listen to the Base drum pull machine gun rolls in your head.

Well I can relax and fall asleep to Heavy Metal, and some people think I'm crazy for being able to relax to it.

But the difference between Hip Hop and Metal, Metal is technically more sophisticated in rhythm than Hip Hop, and the tones can very greatly in a single song. While Hip Hop is more ego boasting, Metal is more angry and demanding to throw your fist into a wall or something harder.

Think of Metal as the thing that makes your heart beat faster without running. While Hip Hop just moves your body into dance formations.

[waltsoph3]

Watch Walt try to make this a serious issue now.

Are you kidding me? I'm getting a laugh out of this.

Violent Video Games as Good as Meditation..lol never thought of it like. But sure I could see some think of it that way.

I love to play video games and its a great way to relax while having fun. :)

[loplop]

Are you kidding me? I'm getting a laugh out of this.

Violent Video Games as Good as Meditation..lol never thought of it like. But sure I could see some think of it that way.

I love to play video games and its a great way to relax while having fun. :)

Walt, I'm disappointed. I was really expecting more from you on this :P

[waltsoph3]

Walt, I'm disappointed. I was really expecting more from you on this :P

LOL what!? I mean its just video games here. Come on. I enjoy playing video games and some people I guess take it wayy to serious. But I don't see that in this story. I have no reason to complain. lol

[Caster13]

Usually you'd make a rant that sounds straight out of Glen Beck's mouth.

[RecentMidget]

either that or you'd just say something along the lines of

'this is terrible'
'i don't believe it'
or

'CONSPIRACY!!!1!!!!!111!!!'

[Caster13]

Like gohan once said, he's Master Of The Obvious.

[Trefellin]

Well I can relax and fall asleep to Heavy Metal, and some people think I'm crazy for being able to relax to it.

I often do that too.

It's what Burzum (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhRvjAv-H6k) was made for.

[waltsoph3]

Usually you'd make a rant that sounds straight out of Glen Beck's mouth.

No out of my own mouth. :P lol

No one makes me say what I say. Its my choice.
Sometimes I just happen to agree with some of his views. Is there anything wrong with agreeing with someone's point of view on a subject?

either that or you'd just say something along the lines of

'this is terrible'
'i don't believe it'
or

'CONSPIRACY!!!1!!!!!111!!!'

I can't help it if thats how I feel on certain topics. And lately YES there are things that make me say those things. Well except the conspiracy one. Thats a rare one from me.lol

But know this year alone I have seen dramatic changes. Unbelievable changes.

I said it once and i'll say it again..I didn't just start thinking this way at times. I just woke up on certain problems. One day you will too. You'll look at something or a situation in your life and go..wait a sec..thats not right.

I just appricate the chance to write what I can. Some people can't do that at all.

Thats all I've got to say.

[master terrence]

but, if he actually does like the Hip Hop music, and meditates to it for the sake of feeling calm while listening to it, it's just as weird.

I've meditated to Metal before, I swear it's therapeutic for anyone who wants to sit around an listen to the Base drum pull machine gun rolls in your head.



But the difference between Hip Hop and Metal, Metal is technically more sophisticated in rhythm than Hip Hop, and the tones can very greatly in a single song. While Hip Hop is more ego boasting, Metal is more angry and demanding to throw your fist into a wall or something harder.

Think of Metal as the thing that makes your heart beat faster without running. While Hip Hop just moves your body into dance formations.

Well, I think it's clear to everyone here that you have studied music thoroughly and have listened to a wide variety of songs.