Do you have any taboos?

I had to think about this for awhile. I think I have a taboo against the destruction of sacred items. I am very respectful with my thangka, my meditation cushions and blankets, my mala beads, etc. And I get annoyed when people treat belongings I have reserved for meditation carelessly — or even just casually, like to just take my zafu and sit on it to watch TV. Wierd? And even though I don’t consider myself Christian, it would also “feel taboo” for me to, ie: take a crucifix and smash it or something like that.

Then again, I just had a memory - the other day I was walking to work and thought about how fucked up it is that ancient Buddhist shrines have been destroyed lately in the Middle East. I found myself cringing at the thought of a beautiful old Buddha statue being smashed. But — then I noticed the space between the pieces of stone, breaking apart — and I laughed.

I think my taboos tend to disappear under scrutiny.