Expert: Anandapanyo Bhikkhu - 5/24/2010

Question
Hi,

Thank you for offering your services on Buddhism and its application to daily life.  I very much appreciate it.  

I have been meditating for about 2 years and have become more entrenched in Buddhist teachings and their applications to my life over the past year or so.  It has made start to look at my life and see where roots of greed and craving exist.  I recently have taken a look at my hobbies.  I enjoy playing poker online for real money.  I can make modest side money playing and am getting better and better.  I am beginning to have a conflict, however, with poker and Buddhist teachings.  Is poker compatible with Buddhist teachings?

I have experimented with taking a different approach to Poker.  Whereas the traditional approach is mainly chocked full of greed for others money, which of course will lead to attachment and eventually suffering.  I have tried to make the game completely decision based where I determine how well I played based on if my decision was correct and try to ignore the money aspect of it.  Also, trying to present with each decision and mindful of feelings as they arise, such as excitement, disappointment when I lose, and any other feelings.

Although i dedicate time to mediation  and study, the thought also comes across that I could use the time i spend playing poker to study teachings or just elimiate poker in order to simplify my life.

I plan to return to school in a few years and poker might be a way to make ends meet while I am in school, so it could have a pracitcal purpose in my life.  The thought also crossed my mind that once school is done, I could play for enjoyment and give away half of what I make in order to lessen any chance of greed sneeking in.

I really appreciate any thoughts on this.

Thanks,
Parke

Answer
Dear Parke,

Thank you for the opportunity to answer your questions.

"Is poker compatible with Buddhist teachings?"

Poker is no different than any other vices...drugs, alcohol, swimming, reading, eating, sleeping, sex, extreme sports, knitting.....anything done beyond moderation generates suffering, no matter what it is. Even thinking beyond moderation will lead to suffering. Everything can be good and teach you a lesson, if done to the right amount, however, once you surpass the moderation line, then you encounter suffering. It doesn't matter if the thing you do is considered "good", if you do it beyond moderation, you will suffer. Period. Even in charitable giving. If you have 100 dollars and you give 90, 95, 97, 98, 99 or even $100 dollars. You might initially feel good. But now you have no money left to pay rent, buy food, get home...This is not moderation. Therefore, suffering arises. So, to directly answer your question, poker can be dangerous...depending on the amount and intensity of the player.

How do you know if you are moderating or not? Ask yourself, honestly....if you didn't play again for the rest of your life, as of now, would you care? When you are not playing, do you ever think of playing? When you know you are going to play, do you get excited? Have you ever played and completely lost track of time? Have you played and realized you should have stopped, but couldn't? When someone asks you about whether you were playing, or whether you lost money, have you ever lied about it?

Point of fact is, most if not all people do not know moderation. Moderation is not a universal line, it is a personal line that changes with us. Your moderation is different from mine. Mine is different from other people. So, you cannot compare your moderation with others. You must look to the results of your actions.

Doing something like poker and trying to learn while you go is commendable. But it is also highly dangerous. It is like learning how to juggle with flaming sharp knives. If you make a mistake, you might not have a opportunity to make another one.

Some things are easier to learn from. But some things are more risky. However, if you feel you cannot stop or do not want to. I would definitely recommend you to learn from your ventures, hand by hand, feeling by feeling, dollar by dollar. However, what is comes down to is...what did you learn? Is it worth the lesson cost? Are you just seeing the feeling arise and fall? Or are you destroying then at the cause? Are you aware of your faults, but keep doing them? Or are you fixing them. Do you still make the same mistakes?

I hope I have answered your questions. If I have not, please feel free to ask a follow-up. I would more than happy to clear anything up or answer any other questions.

Sincerely,

Phra Anandapanyo