Buddhist prayer all day, Counter-Strike all night, check.
That's how I imagine the thought process goes for a group of Buddhist monks in China who apparently play CS quite a bit in a cybercafe next to their temple. Gearbox Software's Randy Pitchford discovered them during a trip in China.
“I was a bit surprised when I was in China and I was told about a group of Monks who live in a temple next to a Cybercafe, he told MTV Multiplayer. "Apparently, the monks are not permitted to drink alcohol, eat meat or be married, but it’s totally acceptable for them to play violent video games. Apparently, this group of Monks spent a lot of time next door to their temple at the Cybercafe playing Counter-Strike."
So, buddhists, Counter-Strike, what's the deal? To live a Buddhist lifestyle, one is required not to kill, but apparently this does not extend to the realm of gaming.
A firsthand account was relayed to Multiplayer from trekker Chris Lynch:
“I never thought I’d see a monk pull out his knife and hack someone to death because he’d run out of ammo! The monks I saw were mostly teenagers, dressed in dark maroon robes, but otherwise pretty much the same as boys everywhere. They were quieter, but not in an intense, competitive way — they were having a lot of fun shooting each other, and chatting among themselves while they did.”
For those curious, most of this activity has been seen around Labrand Monastery in Gansu.
Many of the players were young, and also enjoyed Diablo 2 and Half-Life, though CS is most popular with them.
Moral: we can learn a lot from these fellows. If the Buddhist teachings of peace and indulging virtually in violent urges can harmonize together, I say we get our governments to legislate all war be carried out via Call of Duty 4, or something similar.
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If people knew Buddhist monks could play without getting homicidal, than maybe the ignorant masses won't assume: "Violent games breed violent people"
One of the primary tenents of Buddhist philosopy/religion is to not kill or be violent in any way..."All life is sacred, from the smallest bug and blade of grass, to the largest and most majestic of Earth's creatures." to harm any life is not the way of a Buddhist....
Near as I know anyhow >_> For all I know, there are different sects of Buddhists who practice that primary tenent in different ways...
"Thou shalt not kill any living thing, for life is given to all by God, and that which God has given, let not man taketh it away." - Jesus
And yet I frequent a Christian TF2 server run by a Christian CS clan (so sue me, my family is Christian, but I practice Buddhism - no, I am not a vegetarian). Young monks (children, as well) in training can also be seen with their faces buried in handhelds in certain areas of Tibet. They can also get physical while rough housing during free time. Monks are still human, you know, and entitled to *some* joys in life.