Why is music (sorta) frowned upon in Buddhism? Or it isn't? For people like me, music really helped me get into spirituality. What I'm really trying to understand here is, is there any specific format or type of music that we're not supposed to listen to, or is it just music in general? -Noob here. All help appreciated :)

Do Arahants or Buddhas still enjoy music they liked as lay people? Can anyone share their thoughts on why enlightened beings would or would not enjoy the music they used to listen to when they were laypeople? What if the lyrics contained defiled language but the music was appreciated before the process of enlightenment? What can we learn from the appreciation or lack of appreciation that an enlightened being has for music? If the lyrics contain defiled language, would an enlightened one wish to consider the impact it may have on their mind, could there be an impact and if so what is that impact? Can enlightened beings appreciate music without clinging to the music? What if the music and lyrics were in harmony with the Dhamma?

I've read a question here on music, which caused me to ponder the relationship of *effortful, productive* behaviours and of *consummatory* behaviours. I wonder: **Are productive, beneficial behaviours such as spiritual practice, intellectual pursuits, or artistic endeavours benefitted by entertainment as music, films or games?** Or do such forms of entertainment detract from other more meaningful goals? I'm wondering because I surmise maybe entertainment produces positive emotions, which are positive in themselves. However, I am uncertain of my conclusion; **what is the Buddhist view on these topics?** **Are positive emotions only virtuous if accompanied by an underlying motivation towards a meaningful aim?** Thank you

Do music help? Why sometimes it feels equal to meditation in terms of achieving bliss (may be for short span of period) Or music is just an another time wasting thing? Text with links and pictorials in your answer are the most welcome. All are welcome. Thanks

Music can be used to uplift one's mood and alleviate depression, as depicted in this article : > In Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness American author William > Styron's autobiographical account of his struggle with depression he > describes how in desperation he planned to shoot himself, but at the > last minute he heard the music of the German composer Johannes Brahms > and this saved him. > > His life began to mean something and he found solace in the > melancholic and uplifting moods of Brahms's German Requiem. In other religions like Christianity (like this song ) or Hinduism (like this song ), music (both lyrics and melody) is used to boost one's devotion to God, and could be uplifting too. However, in Buddhism, this is against the seventh of the Eight Precepts : > I undertake the precept to refrain from **dancing, singing, music**, going > to see entertainments, wearing garlands, using perfumes, and > beautifying the body with cosmetics. The Gitassara Sutta (AN5.209) also states: > There are, bhikkhus, these five drawbacks of reciting the Dhamma with > a sustained melodic intonation. Which five? > > **Oneself gets attached to that intonation, others get attached to that > intonation**, householders get angry: 'Those ascetics who are followers > of the Sakyans' son sing in the same way that we do!', there is a > break in concentration for those striving [to produce] musicality, and > the upcoming generations imitate what they see. > > These, bhikkhus, are the five drawbacks of reciting the Dhamma with a > sustained melodic intonation. Questions: 1. Is it ok to use music to induce positive states of mind, especially to uplift one's mood and alleviate depression? 2. If music can be used to uplift one's mood, then why is it considered unwholesome and against the seventh precept? 3. How does music cause attachment or craving?

Does Buddhism say anything about a relationship between greatness in art, music or other creative areas, and spiritual development? For example, consider the well-known great composers: is there anything to say about how they are able to produce astoundingly complex and beautiful works, like symphonies? (Answers from any tradition are fine.) **Addition:** I mean being **actively creative**, not just listening to music. Is being active and creative valued in Buddhism, or is the point to extinguish everything? What is the purpose of life *besides* trying to scream and run away? (OK, getting a bit frustrated here.) If life arose for any reason, would it not be to enjoy being in all its forms, and all activities? Or is that a Vexing Question?

The way I see it, music (like everything else?) is empty of inherent existence. This is not obvious. Plato and Aristotle believed that harmonies and rythm express/represents "charachters" . Contrary to the Greek champions, I do not think musical harmonies and rythms express or represent anything in and of themselves. The "meaning" and interpretation of music is dependent on causes and conditions, dependent on its parts, and imputed by mind. Music is empty. My question is how this emptiness of music can be incorporated into my practice. In stead of giving up music because I want to spend my time with meditation, I am wondering if the emptiness of music might in stead and in addition be used as a "mantric device" in mediatative practice. Here's the idea. I play bass. Me and my fellow musicians love minimalist repetition. Some say practicing an instrument is boring because you have to to the same thing again and again, but I don't agree. I think playing the same bass line over and over (alone or with others) is giving the same experience as meditation with mantras. When you play a simple line hundresds of times, you don't have to think about playing. And after a while you don't know where the line starts and ends, it's circular. The mantra is in my fingers and not my mouth. In the end, both mouth and fingers are in the mind anyway. It may be a long shot, but I wonder if this way of using repetition is used as a meditation device in any Buddhist practices. What schools of Buddhism is most open to this kind of idea?

My own experience with meditation is that it works best when I'm alone and it's quiet. But in the dharma center they sell lot of cd's and many of them are titled "for meditation". Is it absolutely and definitely not "Comme il faut" to meditate with music? Is this music they sell for meditation more for rituals etc? Or is there some kinds of music that can be used for meditation? By "music" I don't necessarily mean melodic compositions, but ambient sounds like fex theta waves. Any experiences and/or advice?