Self-denial is the route to enlighten.... Oh, the heck with it, I'll have anoth beer!

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

There is an establishmenmt in Peabody, Massachusetts that I pass all the time. It’s called Buddha’s Tavern
http://www.restaurants.com/US/USAlphabet.asp?Metro=BO&City=Peabody

The mind boggles. There’s a sign inviting you to come in, have a drink, and watch the Game.

I did an internet search. It turns out there’s a Buddha’s Tavern in Brisbane, too:

http://www.buddha.com.au/Tavern.htm

No offense to any religions, but this just seems weird. Like coming across **Jesus Christ’s Sushi Bar — All you can eat $9.95"

2

Never eat sushi from an all you can eat sushi bar :frowning:

I’ve had to drag too many puking friends to the ER to get rehydrated.

3

In my admittedly very poor understanding of Buddhism, I believe it is supposed to be a “middle way” between indulgence in earthly pleasures, and extreme deprivation/asceticism - Siddhartha Gautama tried both and came to the realization that neither was the right way. The rejection of “desire” is more like the rejection of envy/covetousness/greed - an unnatural attachment to material objects or other desired things that consumes one’s thoughts, and hinders your spiritual development. (Someone else explained this better on the board recently, I believe.)

I don’t know, however, if Buddhists typically reject alcohol. It’s also somewhat odd, at the very least, to turn such an important religious figure into a tavern “mascot”.