I'm doing my senior project on Eastern religion. The section I'm doing now is on Buddhism, and one of the activities I planned to do for it was live for a week in the life of a Buddhist, by following their precepts. They are as follows:
1. Do not kill
2. Do not steal
3. Do not lie
4. Do not use intoxicating substances
5. Do not have illicit sex
6. Do not eat after the midday meal
7. Do not sit on high surfaces/expensive furniture
8. No frivolity (e.g. singing, dancing, jewelry, make up, perfume...)
I have issues with 6 and 8. I am currently struggling with binge eating disorder. It's not very severe right now, but I have a feeling trying to deprive myself that much will be very VERY disastrous, however I have no desire to tell my school of my personal eating issues. As for 8, I also suffer from depression. Two of the only things in the world that provide me with happiness are singing and dancing. I also have dance classes three times a week as part of my fitness project..
My question is, should I follow all the rules to the letter regardless of the effects on my health and happiness, or should I tweak it and not have the real experience?
Answer by ☸Sotapanna☸
Six, seven and eight are for monastic Buddhists, for what it is worth. Laybuddhists follow one to five, very devoted ones, and monastics follow one to eight. I would suggest you(try to) follow one-five for a week.
Answer by Been There
The first 5 Precepts are the ones that laymen follow.
But you could very easily learn from following all 8 for a week.
As for both #6 and #8, they likely are attempts to screen unpleasant feelings that are threatening to break out into the open.
As we advance in our practice of Buddhism, we learn to acknowledge and allow these feelings, without being swept away by them. It is, in some ways, very similar to Lamaze Childbirth classes, where you learn that the more you try to escape physical pain, the more it hurts. Therefore, you do not try to stop it nor panic because it is there.
Except in the case of Buddhism, it is psychological pain that is being talked about. It is this conviction we have - that we need to "fix" whatever is unpleasant - that actually increases the unpleasantness.
At any rate, eating is a good screening device, and so is distracting ourselves with singing and dancing. You are allowing your eating disorder to control you, but it does not have to be this way.
What would happen in your life if you decided that you were going to turn and face your uncomfortable emotions, without trying to "fix" them, but without letting them "hook" you or sweep you away?
I smoked cigarettes, a pack a day, for over 30 years ... after 5 years of practicing Buddhism, one day I set them down and never smoked again ... yeah, there were withdrawal symptoms. So what? I just let them be, and one day they weren't there anymore. That was 6 years ago. My sister (also a practicing Buddhist) calls Buddhism "The Great So-What".
Orignal From: Should I give up my happiness/mental health for my school project (only for a week)?
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