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Old 12-28-2009, 12:22 PM   #41
demonsbane
 
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Default Re: [DF] Help with creating a Buddhist cleric and holy warrior

Quote:
Originally Posted by b-dog View Post
Thanks for the help. I want to say that I am not looking for any true buddhism just sort of the fluff and kewl stuff that goes with it. I also would like to say that a Christian cleric would be fine for a DF PC too because they would be like the Hollywood vampire slayer cleric and would fit fine in a DF game IMO.
Your point was clear from the first post.

However, when you put "pacifist" things like Buddhism or Christianity into an action and fantastic "frame" as Dungeon Fantasy for creating characters ready to kick butts, you're forced to distort them. That leads to the assimilation of misinformation, and to spreading it. (Some nuances regarding chivalric orders would be suitable here, but I don't want to expand about that now)

My personal stance here is to make fictional religions and worlds for Dungeon Fantasy, so you avoid to denaturalize things and imagination flies with more freedom.

In your case, I would do a template borrowing cool ideas from Buddhism and other sources, for instance (it happens every day), but I would never call that a Buddhist character. Or instead maybe you could try to play in the Yrth/Banestorm setting . . . This is my personal view. And no, I don't agree with DF 7: Clerics concerning the use of real world gods' names for Dungeon Fantasy characters; in fact, Shiva is mentioned and is one of the worst examples because that god is too many things. I see the point in the ideas of that box but the drawbacks too.

Anyway since you really want to try this, you have another figure to look at from the point of view of Buddhism as Holy Warrior: Guesar de Ling.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Molokh View Post
I don't see the point of ascribing some mystical specialness to the things 'handed down' from some guru. That sound dangerously close to treating guru as some sort of low-level deity.
You don't see the point of that because you think there aren't such supernatural element. It's normal.

But however, that is how it works, always, in all spiritual ways, independiently of the potential drawbacks. Buddhism isn't different. It doesn't need to be in the way people would like it to be. It is as it is, independiently people finds that comfortable, dangerous, or not.

A guru isn't like an university teacher, but a completely different thing. A guru is, in some senses, "the supreme deity" for the disciple while this is still unable to know his own Self by himself (btw, the Self in the ultimate sense is the same than Buddhist Paranirvana). A master is a kind of external projection, and the disciple needs to know this beforehand for not falling into idolatry which is one of the many forms of ignorance and keeps the ego untouched, like the duality between principle and effect, god and creature, Buddha and ego. The guru is there for helping and not for abusing of the disciple. Additionally a true master is egoless, he doesn't get anything at exchange. A guru is pure compassion, even if his methods can be harsh sometimes. He stands for something that isn't really human, but transcendent. And that sort of "deity status" is only provisory, a means to an end. Some methods require a minimum of physical relationship with the master but this doesn't changes anything. When the disciple, through his own achievements, has no need of that external help and with the supernatural element already bestowed to him, then he can/must be left alone, but always thanks to the previous steps. Such previous steps can be followed quickly or slowly. They can be more apparent or less apparent, but they are needed in all cases.

Also you can check Power Investiture. In real life that is obtained through a guru, despite the advantage is not very deep in a rules-wise way, for saying the least, regarding the Awakening.

Of course, adherence to a guru is dangerous if he's not a true guru, and this happens a lot. Specially today, but not exclusively. Anyhow, lots of things in life are dangerous, and because that there were warnings about false masters. Nobody can to achieve Buddahood without a true master, without the empowered means, only by reading books or in company of deluded people. Many times the supernatural element is handed down in non-obvious ways, making people to think that no transmission happened, leading to errors about the nature of spirituality. Also, to fact of pertaining to the Shanga, to be an ordained Buddhist monk or nun, . . . doesn't grants one the benefit of the supernatural element. Something more is required.

Buddhism is barely known by contemporary people, despite they talk and talk about it. Buddhism as it is presented to westerners and as they understand it, is only a sophisticated and subtle forgery. "Broad-minded", "prejudiceless" people angers if someone try to speak about Buddhism properly, because this spiritual tradition, subtly twisted and distorted, has been turned into an important part of modern thinking.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tantric View Post
I'm not sure what you mean by 'real' here. Is there an official stamp of approval? No. Is the Gautama Buddha the only source of real wisdom? He said rather specifically that he was not, but you can believe as you choose, and it is certainly possible that he is the only source for you, as he is for me.
Official stamp of approval? Yes, something like that, but prescinding of bureaucratic and social structures and in secretive ways. There are/were reasons for that. However official documents about this were known in Japanese Zen, as can be seen with Dogen, but that is extremely unusual for saying the least -regarding studies, "specialists" often cut the parts they dislike, thought.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tantric View Post
Are you familiar with this koan: What do you do if you see the Buddha walking down the road? Hit him with a stick. The Gautama Buddha is not irrelevant to the path towards enlightenment, but he does sometimes get in the way. The dharma itself is all the information we need to get to Nirvana, yet we are still grateful to the Buddha and the sangha for preserving that information.
I'm afraid you're not understanding what I was saying. OTH I know the doctrine enough well, thank you. And I can say the things aren't so simple, despite sometimes they are portrayed in a way making one to think they are so simple at the beginning specially when real teaching is lacking.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tantric View Post
NP. I like talking about Buddhism. Give me half a chance and I'll babble for an hour. Sometimes it is hard to tell if a person is being argumentative or just eager to debate, especially on the internet. I'm just talking.
I am not argumentative, but informative. It happens true Buddhism often offends contemporary people because it clashes with their assumptions, but that isn't my fault nor makes me argumentative.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tantric View Post
I see it that rigid adherence to anything is dogmatic. When a person reaches a state of satori, then we look back on his life and what lead him there. That is the 'real' Buddhism. Whatever works.
Doesn't matter how individuals see that. It's the nature of things. "Dogmatism" isn't but a label you're putting there, nothing more. "Whatever works", of course . . . nobody ever achieve satori without the means, it just doesn't work. Buddhism isn't for individualists nor for "freethinkers". It just isn't available for contemporary minds if they aren't willing to step outside of the current mental frame and values. Forgeries are, of course, easily available everywhere. Forgeries of this sort can be dangerous, and are very difficult to spot. For too many individuals it is, indeed, impossible without careful guidance.

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Originally Posted by tantric View Post
My suggestion, my nefarious plan, as a Buddhist, is to employ skillful means
Quote:
Originally Posted by tantric View Post
There is no 'real' Buddhism (...) to avoid offending or misrepresenting True Buddhism is silly
I would say here is an incoherence. You declare yourself to be a Buddhist (?), while at the same time you deny the reality of Buddhism. Do you "walk" along a path you don't believe in? Maybe that explains some things?

Quote:
My suggestion, my nefarious plan, as a Buddhist, is to employ skillful means to teach about the dharma while having fun. To this end, I suggest the yamabushi template in GURPS Japan. It needs Discipline of Faith to be sohei. If the OP is interested, we can work out some lenses.
Sure. Go on.
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Last edited by demonsbane; 12-29-2009 at 07:50 AM. Reason: typo
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Old 12-28-2009, 01:59 PM   #42
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Default Re: [DF] Help with creating a Buddhist cleric and holy warrior

Dude, are you Nichiren or something? WTF?

Quote:
Nobody can to achieve Buddahood without a true master, without the empowered means, only by reading books or in company of deluded people. Many times the supernatural element is handed down in non-obvious ways, making people to think that no transmission happened, leading to errors about the nature of spirituality. Also, to fact of pertaining to the Shanga, to be an ordained Buddhist monk or nun, . . . doesn't grants one the benefit of the supernatural element. Something more is required.
Well, one Siddhartha Gautama did it all by his lonesome. The idea of him being just another person is paramount in understanding Buddhism. He did it, so can you

Also, consider this, from Thich Nhat Hanh

Quote:
1)Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. Buddhist systems of thought are guiding means; they are not absolute truth.

2)Do not think the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow minded and bound to present views. Learn and practice nonattachment from views in order to be open to receive others' viewpoints. Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge. Be ready to learn throughout your entire life and to observe reality in yourself and in the world at all times.
Quote:
My personal stance here is to make fictional religions and worlds for Dungeon Fantasy, so you avoid to denaturalize things and imagination flees with more freedom.
I have no idea what that means. Or, rather, it could mean so many things I don't understand what you are trying to say.

As far as I can tell, you have received some kind of pat on the head by a grand high lama somewhere, and you think that this means that you have perfect understanding that can be obtained no other way. That's so wrong it's actually creepy. Please be so kind as to send me your pic, so that should I see you walking down the road toward me, I can hit you with a stick.

[note to mods, this is a Buddhist koan in joke, not a threat of violence]
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Old 12-28-2009, 06:54 PM   #43
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Default Re: [DF] Help with creating a Buddhist cleric and holy warrior

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Originally Posted by tantric View Post
Dude, are you Nichiren or something? WTF?
I'm talking about some things related to the Parampara, or Buddhist lineages. You don't understand the passages you're quoting are suitable only once you're stablished in the path, and no one is really stablished in the path without receiving the empowered means.

You're talking and quoting without understanding.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tantric View Post
Well, one Siddhartha Gautama did it all by his lonesome. The idea of him being just another person is paramount in understanding Buddhism. He did it, so can you
Gautama was an avâtara. Naturally, a "divine-human being" implies a bunch of paradoxes, and we're used to the simplification and humanization of all spiritual figures.

Just another example: Muhammad in Islam is also regarded as just another person, but inside the spiritual path, deeper than faith, things aren't so simple. The same, again, is applicable to Buddhism.

An avâtara can start a spiritual line without he being worshipped as a God nor as any other thing. Buddha did that. Others did the same, too.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tantric View Post
Also, consider this, from Thich Nhat Hanh
All that you're quoting is extremely basic but correct, however I can't say the same about your understanding of it. The point is once you're really stablished in the path, with the working means, you must follow the teachings.

Just don't quote fragments of them in wrong contexts. That turns them into sources of ignorance. Also, you can apply such lines to yourself for psychological results. The problem is such elemental lines are easily misunderstood, so you can hurt yourself trying to play with them.

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Originally Posted by tantric View Post
I have no idea what that means. Or, rather, it could mean so many things I don't understand what you are trying to say.
I don't believe that.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tantric View Post
As far as I can tell, you have received some kind of pat on the head by a grand high lama somewhere, and you think that this means that you have perfect understanding that can be obtained no other way. That's so wrong it's actually creepy. Please be so kind as to send me your pic, so that should I see you walking down the road toward me, I can hit you with a stick.
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Originally Posted by demonsbane View Post
people used to despise all kind of authority rages hearing things like these
You're completely wrong about me, too. One could say you're trying to turn this into personal animosity, but I don't play that game.

Quote:
Originally Posted by tantric View Post
[note to mods, this is a Buddhist koan in joke, not a threat of violence]
You are just disguising your confrontational attitude.

Returning to the interests of the OP, I'm waiting for these lenses you were speaking in an earlier post. Now I'm not informative but curious.
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Old 12-28-2009, 07:05 PM   #44
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Default Re: [DF] Help with creating a Buddhist cleric and holy warrior

Yeah. A religious argument. That's real useful.
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Old 12-28-2009, 07:16 PM   #45
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Default Re: [DF] Help with creating a Buddhist cleric and holy warrior

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Originally Posted by David Johnston2 View Post
Yeah. A religious argument. That's real useful.
I'll be waiting for the "Buddhist cleric and holy warrior" Dungeon Fantasy lenses.
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Old 12-29-2009, 01:04 AM   #46
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Default Re: [DF] Help with creating a Buddhist cleric and holy warrior

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Johnston2 View Post
Yeah. A religious argument. That's real useful.
Well, you didn't think that only youngster religions get all the fun, did you? ;)
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Old 12-29-2009, 01:07 AM   #47
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Default Re: [DF] Help with creating a Buddhist cleric and holy warrior

You know, the whole argument reminds me of The Master and Margaret quote where Yeshua, referring to the bible, exclaims 'They are writing it down wrong. I did not say anything of it'.
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Old 12-29-2009, 01:21 AM   #48
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Default Re: [DF] Help with creating a Buddhist cleric and holy warrior

Quote:
Originally Posted by demonsbane View Post
However, when you put "pacifist" things like Buddhism or Christianity into an action and fantastic "frame" as Dungeon Fantasy for creating characters ready to kick butts, you're forced to distort them. That leads to the assimilation of misinformation, and to spreading it. (Some nuances regarding chivalric orders would be suitable here, but I don't want to expand about that now)

My personal stance here is to make fictional religions and worlds for Dungeon Fantasy, so you avoid to denaturalize things and imagination flees with more freedom.

In your case, I would do a template borrowing cool ideas from Buddhism and other sources, for instance (it happens every day), but I would never call that a Buddhist character. Or instead maybe you could try to play in the Yrth/Banestorm setting . . . This is my personal view. And no, I don't agree with DF 7: Clerics concerning the use of real world gods' names for Dungeon Fantasy characters; in fact, Shiva is mentioned and is one of the worst examples because that god is too many things. I see the point in the ideas of that box but the drawbacks too.
But what is cooler? Using real world religious names and then fitting them to DF or to make something else up to sort of be like them? I think that names have a sort of power and interest to them. I mean would you rather have a cleric of Zeus or Zorse? Plus there are many names used in DF now, so should it be changed?

Medusa = Snake headed woman whose gaze turns you to stone?
Chimera = Mix of lion goat and serpent?

I think names are sort of interesting, demon lords and devil in AD&D had names like Orcus, Demogorgon, Asmodeus, Beelezbub, Geryon, ect. I think these names added something and I think that having a DF monk of Buddhism who uses his enlightenment to kick butt and take treasure is fine with me.
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Old 12-29-2009, 01:32 AM   #49
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Default Re: [DF] Help with creating a Buddhist cleric and holy warrior

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Originally Posted by demonsbane View Post
Your point was clear from the first post.

However, when you put "pacifist" things like Buddhism or Christianity into an action and fantastic "frame" as Dungeon Fantasy for creating characters ready to kick butts, you're forced to distort them.
Both Buddhist monks and Christian priests have in fact taken the field of battle in reality even without objective physical demons out there to fight. This is of course an object lesson in why it's a good idea to avoid real religions in gaming if there's any chance at all that you'll run into an adherent or opponent of said religions.
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Old 12-29-2009, 02:49 AM   #50
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Default Re: [DF] Help with creating a Buddhist cleric and holy warrior

Quote:
I'm talking about some things related to the Parampara, or Buddhist lineages. You don't understand the passages you're quoting are suitable only once you're stablished in the path, and no one is really stablished in the path without receiving the empowered means.

You're talking and quoting without understanding.
You're talking out your ass. Why do you assume that I don't have empowered means? Because I don't agree with you? Your tone is patronizing and superior. Case in point:

Quote:
All that you're quoting is extremely basic but correct, however I can't say the same about your understanding of it. The point is once you're really stablished in the path, with the working means, you must follow the teachings.
Quote:
Quote:
My personal stance here is to make fictional religions and worlds for Dungeon Fantasy, so you avoid to denaturalize things and imagination flees with more freedom.
Quote:
I have no idea what that means. Or, rather, it could mean so many things I don't understand what you are trying to say.
I don't believe that.
Why? That sentence doesn't parse on a grammatical level. Do you mean "so as to avoid denaturalizing things so that the imagination flies with more freedom"? My imagination is fleeing for its life! Even if that's what you meant, I still don't understand how one follows from the other. Do you mean that we can make better stuff for DF if we don't impinge on the sacred works of Buddhism?

Quote:
Returning to the interests of the OP, I'm waiting for these lenses you were speaking in an earlier post. Now I'm not informative but curious.
Normally, I cut people a LOT of slack when I assume that English isn't their native language (twice you used 'stablished' instead of 'established', which, linguistically speaking, is very odd), but then again, those people are not normally condescending to me. From what little sense I can make of the above, I can say that I'm VERY busy right now making new lenses and templates for something else, and that we need to see the Shaman lens before making the Sohei lens. I did in fact notice that you're not especially informative, but I fail to see the connection between those two sentences.

Nevertheless, you seem to regard yourself as some kind of Buddhist - I notice that you didn't say whether or not you are Nichiren. And, according to Rev. Hahn, whom I parrot without understanding:

Quote:
Do not utter words that can create discord and cause the community to break. Make every effort to reconcile and resolve all conflicts, however small.
I shall discontinue this odd and useless debate in this forum and suggest that you join me in General Chatter for further reconciliation. Nam Myo ho Renge Kyo, dude.

Last edited by tantric; 12-29-2009 at 07:30 AM.
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