It's not politics, so it rarely comes up on the boards, but I am indeed a Buddhist. Honest (Buddhists can't lie).

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I wasn't born with enough middle fingers.

And Force, you may be more ethical now but, you still suffer from panic attacks and seem ill at ease with yourself, others, and the Universe. Something Buddhism would remove. But if you are happy, then good for you.

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It's the difference between suicide and slow capitulation... - Jim Morrison

1. Tibetan. Although there is not a big difference. All Buddhists share the same basic stuff. We don't fight with one another like some other unnamed religions do.
2. About 5-6 years. So I am still a novice. It's a VERY complicated philosophy.

BTW, my wife had panic attacks. She started studying Buddhism. She doesn't have them anymore. So you might be on to something there.

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I wasn't born with enough middle fingers.

...I've wanted to talk to a Buddhist for a while.

What made you decide to become a Buddhist?
Do you have to be vegetarian?
What about intoxicants?
Do you have to adhere to all five of the Five Precepts?

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It's the difference between suicide and slow capitulation... - Jim Morrison

If I make ethical progress, then nothing else matters in an ultimate sense.

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"I am a Tory Anarchist. I should like every one to go about doing just as he pleased- short of altering any of the things to which I have grown accustomed." (Max Beerbohm)

I'm going home now, so we can pick this up tomorrow.

Quick version: My wife was a miserable, evangelical, sheltered Christian. She dropped it. She picked up some books and ultimately decided she was always a Buddhist but never knew. I read all the same books and reached the conclusion that of all the faiths I know about, that one was the best for me.

No. But it's recommended. More on this later.

Beer is my favorite drink.

You don't HAVE to do anything! But yes. There are no real loopholes there outside of force necessary to defend yourself. As the Dalai Lama pointed out, there are not that many iron clad rules, so the least you can do is follow the few there are!

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I wasn't born with enough middle fingers.

Maybe not, but like I said, as long as your happy.


Stekim:

Thanks for asnwering my questions. I have more but I'll ask them later.

I asked about the 5 Precepts because of two of them. Refrain from incorrect speech (could you clear that one up for me?) and refrain from sexual misconduct (again, could you please clear that one up?)

Thanks.

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It's the difference between suicide and slow capitulation... - Jim Morrison

I'm not sure what the Buddhist answer really is so I'll continue my habit of guessing answers before Stekim comes back to give us the real one.
Even if this guess isn't right, it's the answer I'd personally go by and it illustrates Buddhism and Christianity being compatible, so it will work for us Jesuddhaianityists.
Incorrect speech and incorrect sexual conduct would be those behaviors that cause trouble in a physical or emotional sense to others. So it would be incorrect to say something utterly malicious to someone or to cheat on your wife unless she's okay with it and you do it honestly.
My second guess is that incorrect speech is using the name of the snorkelwacker in vain.

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"Man lives in the sunlit world of that which he believes to be reality. But unseen by most is an underworld, a place that is just as real... but not as brightly lit... A DARK SIDE!"
-opening from Tales From the Darkside

even thats an understatement. have you read any of the mahayana philosophies? Nargarjuna's analysis of Causality and Nirvana? Vasubandhu's Argument for Subjective Idealism? This stuff gets pretty intense.

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WARNING: In the unlikely event of an accidental agreement with any or all points made in the above post, contact a clinical psychologist immediately.

The views expressed in the above post are not necessarily those of Joker and/or any of his affiliates.

Personally, I'm a direct realist.

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"I am a Tory Anarchist. I should like every one to go about doing just as he pleased- short of altering any of the things to which I have grown accustomed." (Max Beerbohm)