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Buddhist leader believes violent video games can be therapeutic

Posted Sep 20, 2009 at 9:55AM EST by Glenn M.

Listed in: Tags: China, India, interviews, Jack Thompson, Tekken

Don't let his robes fool you - you may have more in common with Trinley Dorje than you think. He's only 24, listens to hip-hop on his iPod, and enjoys a good round violent video games.

Yes, you read that right - this Buddhist leader enjoys good old-fashioned pwnage as much as the next guy. In fact, despite his disposition, Dorje believes that this type of games can even be therapeutic.

See? He's a pretty cool guy. He's not much different from you and me, except that he's the Karmapa Lama, the only senior Buddhist leader recognized by the governments of Tibet, India, and China. He may even succeed the Dalai Lama one day.

As a Buddhist leader and a human being, Dorje doesn't believe that playing violent games goes against his beliefs. "Well, I view video games as something of an emotional therapy, a mundane level of emotional therapy for me. We all have emotions whether we're Buddhist practitioners or not, all of us have emotions, happy emotions, sad emotions, displeased emotions and we need to figure out a way to deal with them when they arise," he said.

He goes on:

So, for me sometimes it can be a relief, a kind of decompression to just play some video games. If I'm having some negative thoughts or negative feelings, video games are one way in which I can release that energy in the context of the illusion of the game. I feel better afterwards.

The aggression that comes out in the video game satiates whatever desire I might have to express that feeling. For me, that's very skillful because when I do that I don't have to go and hit anyone over the head.

When asked if meditation should be taking care of the negative feelings, Dorje simply replies, "No, video games are just a skillful method." The interview with The Times of India didn't yield which games the Karmapa Lama prefers playing and what system he plays them on, but it can be fun guessing. I'd sure like to try his monk mad skills on Tekken!

This guy is really something, he ought to have a little chat with Jack Thompson. It's a refreshing change to all the anti-violent game sentiments we usually get. What do you guys think?

More on violent video games:

Via The Times India

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Yes, refrain from taking a REAL life....video games involve no such thing.

Also, refrain from playing music (an indulgence in this world of desire) there is nothing wrong with hearing music. Moreso, if you can listen to music and not feel any connection to it, then that is a form of meditation/self control.

The only arguement that I could direct at him is that he is still using an "empty" or "unreal" tool of this world in order to control his desires.

Fundamentally Buddhism is the attempt to rid yourself of all desires, through thought and meditation. Using a video game to do so may not be the worst, but is also not the best thing for a devout Buddhist.

I have a feeling he is talking more about the masses and not really about devout Buddhists.

Not to mention, that there is a flaw in Buddhism anyways (or maybe it is the ultimate confirmation of Buddhism) in that even if you want to rid yourself of all desires....you are still desiring to rid yourself of desires....a catch 22 at its best....

# Ha — Digitus 2009-09-20 23:17

Lets see Bhudist soccer moms top that (lol)

# AWESOME — Nsta 2009-09-21 00:30

man now this guy is cool :) i support him

# I'm with you karmapa Lama — braindead 2009-09-21 04:35

I used to love coming home after work ready to kill someone, put on my ole ps1 and a copy of vigilante 8 and shoot the ***** out of some school buses and trucks, deep joy, and not angry anymore.

You've got to release your anger somehow, without harming anyone.

Peace Lama man

# I totally agree — Walo 2009-09-21 05:40

I totally agree with the monk, sometimes a good frag fest on COD4 is enough to stop to make me stop thinking about hitting my boss in the head with a bat. Videogames can be an excellent stress theraphy indeed.

# Good — symbal 2009-09-21 06:18

Always good to see a religious leader willing to help evolve a religion for the better, closed minded religions can be bad and sometimes dangerous.

# vs — KakashiSaiyan 2009-09-21 06:25

i would like to see Jack thompson vs Karmapa lama

# GAMES=THE DEVIL — -Jack Thompson- 2009-09-21 10:14

The guy is clearly on crack . There's no way possible that violent video can be good for you. Bhudist F@G . get a real religion

# ... — JohnnyMcKinney 2009-09-21 11:23

You suck.

# :/ — papajag 2009-09-21 11:50

Yeah like Christianity is a good religion. It's the religion that caused so much death all so that everyone can be converted into one of them.

GO SUCK A ****.

# ahh jack thompson — Dorkus-1983 2009-09-21 17:40

my favorite big dumb animal... you done based your carrer on a frickin' failed thesis

# ... — FelisCatusLover 2009-09-21 18:14

I haven't looked but somehow I know Jack Thompson is a conservative.

# I think.. — danielakadanny 2009-09-21 19:01

DA NOOB lost in tekken to Dorje and she is taking it too seriously since she is on her period

# » — DSpider 2009-09-22 02:49

I think what Mr. Thompson said was that CHILDREN shouldn't play violent video games. And it's true. It messes with the psychic. There was a Russian study done on kindergarten children who were allowed to play games such as Counter Strike (which is now turning "retro"), Wacraft III, etc. Very mild games, imo. Anyway. The children were then drawing people killing and stabbing other people in art classes. How cool is that ? ... 9 year olds telling teachers they plan on stabbing their siblings/neighbors/etc. No wonder he made a fuss about Manhunt 2. More power to him.

Whoever replies to this comment should first imagine what it would be like if their kids were suddenly starting to play with knifes at an early age or if they suddenly beating other kids at school for trivial reasons or no reason at all.

# kids games — braindead 2009-09-22 09:51

All games ps2/3, xbox, wii, psp you name it have an age rating, as far as I'm concerned, that age rating is a guide to me as a parent and gives me back up when I say "no you're not playing/getting that"

if your kids are playing with knives or hitting other kids don't blame video games, films or tv, you the parent decide what your kids can and can't watch/play

agreed you can't supervise your children 24 hours a day but you can instil a sense of right and wrong and an understanding that a video game is not real, that in a sense is all a video game is about, unreality (have I just made up a new word) lol

# lol — hush404 2009-09-22 10:00

Sewer banging queer!!! That's inventive.

# Monk — darkfluffy 2009-09-22 11:23

I agree with the monk.

Video games in no way CREATE violence behavior.

Yes it might cause young children to experiment with knifes, and weapons. But children are smart enough to know that hurting each other can only be fun for so long.

But people who are VIOLENT are emotionally disturbed, which usually stems from phycological trauma & abuse, and can not come from playing 3D video games.

# RE: Buddhist leader believes violent video games can be therapeutic — Winning 2012-03-01 11:50

I like this guy

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