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Well, just like in every religion, there are shades of gray in Buddhism with most things, especially the 1st precept. Most of the hardcore Buddhists would consider Paintball, etc, a violation of the precept against causing harm. Personally, I'm sort of on the fence about it, because while you aren't causing harm to someone out of hate, etc, and it is a game, it sort of a simulation of war, where the whole point is to kill people. I guess it just depends on your point of view.

You need to be careful with terminology.

The Precepts are not Commandments, so it's not an issue of "do this and face damnation". They'll just cause you spiritual harm.

If that read "couldn't they say that violent video games and such are harmful?" then yes, they could and probably would.

The level of harm they do, however, would be extremely negligable and could be effectively countered with good acts or simple mindfulness of your actions while playing the video game.

...this would be considerably harder to do with, say, beheading your parents.

That's probably more along the lines of what Buddhism might label "unacceptable".

Most of this has already been gone over in the thread.

Thank you, I see now..I'm sorry if I constantly ask repeat question.. sweatdrop I am really busy with school at the moment, I don't have a lot of time to go through and read all the threads here.

Violence is counter to peace. Sex (gay and strait) is counter to the loss of want. The thing is, its not as easy as calling it a "sin" as in other religions. In buddhism there is a reaction to everything we do, so the question you should ask yourself in these matters is not whether its a sin or not. The question should be: Are you willing to take the consiquences of your actions?

I wish to say a few things

1) In paintball there is no intent to harm, the buddha warned against using voilence as it a) disrespects life and b) causes suffering. Paintball is a game, those who play believe it is fun, and no life is taken so there is no disrespect for life.

2)Everyone is welcome to become buddhist, there is no discrimination to homosexuals. Sexual misconduct is acting under lust, and not all homosexual acts are lustful. Lust is another attachment, another blindfold, that muddles the waters of our pond mind. There is a deeper more spiritual form of sex that exists, but many people are too attached to percieve it, and I believe this form is not intended for heterosexuals only.

3)Spiritually harmful is a bad use of terms. Attachments lead not to harm, but rather spiritual blindness and loss of perspective.

4)In tibetan buddhism it is believed being human is being rather low on the cosmic ladder, and that animals are much higher to achieving higher enlightenment. However, I will not comment on whether animals can experience peace, but rather point you in the direction of a famous koan: Does a dog have buddha nature?

Good luck with your journeys