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Expert: - 4/22/2009


Question
Do Buddists listen to music? If they get into their car, and they have the desire to listen to music, what do they do?
thank you,
joey

Answer
Dear Joey,

it really does depend.

To listen to music as a mindless diversion from life and
knowing this - still listen to music - only suffering will be born by it. If it is noted as a distraction then listening to music is merely serving as a tool to avoid something in your life - just observe that and the desire will eventually cease. Watch your mind.

If you want to listen to music for the pleasure of listening to music, then go ahead, listen and enjoy it. But this is just my opinion, and the opinion of 'Buddhists' vary greatly.

Otherwise, it's pretty much just noise.

Yours in Dhamma
Shozen, Metta
http://www.knowbuddhism.info/2009/03/buddhist-monk.html

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James Chen Ball is the founder of the Buddhism IS Community Forum and Know Buddhism Blog. His primary focus is promoting Meditation practise through his websites and establishing an active Buddhist social community on the Internet. James' approach to Buddhism is intuitive and you will rarely find him referring to Sutras or similar ancient Buddhist texts but rather his words come from experience and a natural grasp of Buddhism. A long-time lay practitioner and student of Buddhism who has lived and studied as a lay monastic in all of the three major traditions of Buddhism (Theravada, Mahayana and Tibetan/Vajrayana) practicing alongside Bhikku's and studying under Monks such as Ajahn Sumedho and H.E Lopon Tenzin Jigme Rinpoche III. I am happy to receive any question you have on the vast topic of Buddhism and will endeavor to give you a clear and honest answer where possible.

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I am a long-time lay practitioner and student of Buddhism for over 14 years. I have lived as a lay monastic in many monasteries around the world studying and practicing alongside the Sangha.

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