Of course, the laity has a more superficial relationship with the Vinaya Discipline – and the Buddha taught soldiers, prostitutes, butchers, and even murderers, amongst many others. The Buddhist rules are NOT punishments inflicted by a disembodied sky-spirit (theistic god entity) – but exists to guide the psychological and physical energy that comprises an individual. The Buddha was scientific in that he emphasised cause and effect. We are responsible for the way we experience the inner (psychological) or outer (material) world. If you are happy suffering the consequences of the manner in which you live – and you never complain to anyone else about it – then why bother inflicting this form of Buddhist self-discipline upon yourself? There is no point. There are all kinds of reasons why people pursue the lives they do – and this is nothing to do with others – as we possess our own unique karma. Finally, status-hunting in the West – pretending to be a bhikkhu or being a genuine bhikkhu for the wrong reasons – is an offence and will bring its own hellish karma. The Vinaya Discipline is a very powerful and life-affirming vehicle that permits an individual to meet each manifestation of life with tranquillity and wisdom (in-depth).
