Buddhistisches Tor Berlin Podcast Can I be a Buddhist and still have fun?
Jul 18, 2025
Can you have fun and be a Buddhist? Absolutely! The discussion reveals how spiritual practices often get misinterpreted as joyless. Historical critiques of physical pleasure and the Buddha's rejection of extreme asceticism pave the way for a balanced approach. Instead of denial or indulgence, the middle way allows for healthy enjoyment. Meditation can lead to wholesome pleasure through relaxed curiosity, alongside dhyana factors that encourage blissful experiences without attachment. Embracing joy enriches the journey of Dharma.
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Grandma's Carrot Test
- Padmasagara recounts his grandma replacing biscuits with carrot and celery sticks after learning he was a Buddhist, then reverting when reassured he could still eat treats.
- He uses this story to show common family misconceptions about what Buddhist practice forbids.
Pleasure Is Problematic When Grasped
- Buddhism critiques sense pleasure not because senses are evil but because craving and grasping cause repeated suffering.
- The 12 links and wheel of life explain how sensory contact leads to craving, habit, and continued cyclic existence.
Regret Over Ascetic Purge
- Padmasagara describes throwing away heirloom items from his grandfather during an ascetic purge and later regretting it.
- He keeps the wooden box but regrets discarding objects that connected him to his ancestors.