masturbation what's wrong?
masturbation what's wrong?
What's wrong to masturbate once in a while, what has buddhism got to say about that?
Re: masturbation what's wrong?
Nothing if your a layman
If your a monk its a no no
However it is engaging in lust, so we should work towards going beyond sexual desire, but nothing "evil" with the act itself (as a layman/woman)
metta
If your a monk its a no no
However it is engaging in lust, so we should work towards going beyond sexual desire, but nothing "evil" with the act itself (as a layman/woman)
metta
“Knowing that this body is just like foam,
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
understanding it has the nature of a mirage,
cutting off Māra’s flower-tipped arrows,
one should go beyond the King of Death’s sight.”
Re: masturbation what's wrong?
Well, If you're a layperson there's no rule against it. Plain and simple. The Buddha never made a rule prohibiting the lay person observing the 5 precepts from engaging in masturbation.
From a Dhamma perspective: The process of masturbation and sex relys upon desire, specficially sensual desire.
What is said about sensual pleasures?
From my understanding it is that partaking in sensuality, reinforces sensuality in the future.
To cut it short: It's habit forming, and that habit won't make you happy.
The drawbacks of sensuality are that it binds us to the sensual world, it causes attachment. Craving for sensuality is one of the things that binds one to the wheel of suffering. Furthermore, the pleasure gained from masturbation, or any sensuality for that matter - Is fleeting, inconstant, it is only for a brief time. Why partake in something that offers you only brief pleasure, when far greater happiness awaits, practising the Noble Eightfold Path.
Here is the index of Sutta's relating to this topic:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/index-su ... sensuality" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The sutta's would much better elucidate what I am attempting to convey to you. I also hope you can forgive me for being such a hypocrite. It's one thing to see the truth (however dusty my eyes are), it's another to practise it. I have to admit; I am just as bound to sensuality as the next man. From it, I can say one thing though - It's caused me much more grief than pleasure...
Be well
Jack
From a Dhamma perspective: The process of masturbation and sex relys upon desire, specficially sensual desire.
What is said about sensual pleasures?
From my understanding it is that partaking in sensuality, reinforces sensuality in the future.
To cut it short: It's habit forming, and that habit won't make you happy.
The drawbacks of sensuality are that it binds us to the sensual world, it causes attachment. Craving for sensuality is one of the things that binds one to the wheel of suffering. Furthermore, the pleasure gained from masturbation, or any sensuality for that matter - Is fleeting, inconstant, it is only for a brief time. Why partake in something that offers you only brief pleasure, when far greater happiness awaits, practising the Noble Eightfold Path.
Here is the index of Sutta's relating to this topic:
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/index-su ... sensuality" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The sutta's would much better elucidate what I am attempting to convey to you. I also hope you can forgive me for being such a hypocrite. It's one thing to see the truth (however dusty my eyes are), it's another to practise it. I have to admit; I am just as bound to sensuality as the next man. From it, I can say one thing though - It's caused me much more grief than pleasure...
Be well
Jack
"For a disciple who has conviction in the Teacher's message & lives to penetrate it, what accords with the Dhamma is this:
'The Blessed One is the Teacher, I am a disciple. He is the one who knows, not I." - MN. 70 Kitagiri Sutta
Path Press - Ñāṇavīra Thera Dhamma Page - Ajahn Nyanamoli's Dhamma talks
'The Blessed One is the Teacher, I am a disciple. He is the one who knows, not I." - MN. 70 Kitagiri Sutta
Path Press - Ñāṇavīra Thera Dhamma Page - Ajahn Nyanamoli's Dhamma talks
Re: masturbation what's wrong?
Who said it's wrong?sundara wrote:What's wrong to masturbate once in a while?
- Peter
Be heedful and you will accomplish your goal.
Be heedful and you will accomplish your goal.
Re: masturbation what's wrong?
Perhaps 'wrong' is the wrong word.
At the very least, its unskilful and unwholesome as it creates powerful sankharas of lust that are difficult to eradicate.
My guess is that it is more wholesome to abstain and to develop perfect sila.
Kind regards
Ben
At the very least, its unskilful and unwholesome as it creates powerful sankharas of lust that are difficult to eradicate.
My guess is that it is more wholesome to abstain and to develop perfect sila.
Kind regards
Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
Re: masturbation what's wrong?
I can attest to the scourge that sensual desire - particularly sexual - is on the development of sila, panna and samadhi. Masturbation especially, it is so very habit forming and quite addictive. Not to mention how it leads one to watching pornography which could be interpreted as sexual misconduct, although I'm not totally sure on that one.
Dhammakid
Dhammakid
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Re: masturbation what's wrong?
Hi,
Masterbation is an intoxicating activity. In my experience it reduces my energy for the good. I don't think it is appropriate to vilify it as an activity. There is much which is intoxicating and energy sapping in the unenlightened quest for temporary satisfaction. On the other hand without vilifying this simple mundane but pleasurable activity I think we can uphold the beauty and value of a person who uses restraint and the cultivation of contentment with the purpose of realizing Dhamma for the benefit of us all. In other words we can promote refraining from sexual activity in order to put time and energy into what has true value without having to make people feel bad about what is already a frustrating enough situation. I am referring to the situation of being human.
Kindly
Gabe
Masterbation is an intoxicating activity. In my experience it reduces my energy for the good. I don't think it is appropriate to vilify it as an activity. There is much which is intoxicating and energy sapping in the unenlightened quest for temporary satisfaction. On the other hand without vilifying this simple mundane but pleasurable activity I think we can uphold the beauty and value of a person who uses restraint and the cultivation of contentment with the purpose of realizing Dhamma for the benefit of us all. In other words we can promote refraining from sexual activity in order to put time and energy into what has true value without having to make people feel bad about what is already a frustrating enough situation. I am referring to the situation of being human.
Kindly
Gabe
"Beautifully taught is the Lord's Dhamma, immediately apparent, timeless, of the nature of a personal invitation, progressive, to be attained by the wise, each for himself." Anguttara Nikaya V.332
Re: masturbation what's wrong?
I agree. It's not "wrong" but it's a time-wasting and rather useless activity. As with many other activities, if it becomes obsessive then it really is a problem and can mess up the way you view the opposite sex. Not to mention messing up your meditation...gabrielbranbury wrote: Masterbation is an intoxicating activity. In my experience it reduces my energy for the good. I don't think it is appropriate to vilify it as an activity....
If you do masturbate then be careful what your fantasy objects are. It would be judicious to not have fantasies that would be misconduct in "real life".
Metta
Mike
Re: masturbation what's wrong?
Great advice
Metta
Ben
I'd even go so far Mike to say its probably better to not have any fantasy at all, and try and maintain awareness of the physical sensation while trying to develop equanimity towards it. Try and see it as it actually is.mikenz66 wrote:I agree. It's not "wrong" but it's a time-wasting and rather useless activity. As with many other activities, if it becomes obsessive then it really is a problem and can mess up the way you view the opposite sex. Not to mention messing up your meditation...gabrielbranbury wrote: Masterbation is an intoxicating activity. In my experience it reduces my energy for the good. I don't think it is appropriate to vilify it as an activity....
If you do masturbate then be careful what your fantasy objects are. It would be judicious to not have fantasies that would be misconduct in "real life".
Metta
Mike
Metta
Ben
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
Re: masturbation what's wrong?
True, that would be the ideal (short of complete abstinence). However, that would be a rather "advanced practise" for most of us...Ben wrote: I'd even go so far Mike to say its probably better to not have any fantasy at all, and try and maintain awareness of the physical sensation while trying to develop equanimity towards it. Try and see it as it actually is.
In my experience, the development of concentration and mindfulness is very helpful in preventing the arising (or at least the continuation) of unwanted desires. And some basic body contemplation can be quite effective in an emergency, such as during a meditation session. I don't find any need to go beyond the "Skin Pentad": Head hair, body hair, nails, skin, teeth.
Metta
Mike
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- Posts: 1970
- Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 2:19 am
Re: masturbation what's wrong?
Sexual activity encourages sensual desire. For laypeople, it is expected that they will engage in such behavior, but monks fully devote themselves to enlightenment and are therefore abstinent.sundara wrote:What's wrong to masturbate once in a while, what has buddhism got to say about that?
Re: masturbation what's wrong?
Says who?Individual wrote: For laypeople, it is expected that they will engage in such behavior...
I know plenty of lay-people who are completely celebate!
“No lists of things to be done. The day providential to itself. The hour. There is no later. This is later. All things of grace and beauty such that one holds them to one's heart have a common provenance in pain. Their birth in grief and ashes.”
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
- Cormac McCarthy, The Road
Learn this from the waters:
in mountain clefts and chasms,
loud gush the streamlets,
but great rivers flow silently.
- Sutta Nipata 3.725
Compassionate Hands Foundation (Buddhist aid in Myanmar) • Buddhist Global Relief • UNHCR
e: [email protected]..
Re: masturbation what's wrong?
While the answers given so far have been spot on Dhamma, I'm still waiting for a clarification of the question from the original poster (OP). I'm certain the question is based on some misunderstanding or something misheard or taken out of context.
- Peter
Be heedful and you will accomplish your goal.
Be heedful and you will accomplish your goal.
- Prasadachitta
- Posts: 974
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 6:52 am
- Location: San Francisco (The Mission) Ca USA
- Contact:
Re: masturbation what's wrong?
Has this been your experience Mike?mikenz66 wrote:
I agree. It's not "wrong" but it's a time-wasting and rather useless activity. As with many other activities, if it becomes obsessive then it really is a problem and can mess up the way you view the opposite sex. Not to mention messing up your meditation...
Mike
[/quote]mikenz66 wrote: If you do masturbate then be careful what your fantasy objects are. It would be judicious to not have fantasies that would be misconduct in "real life".
Metta
Mike
Of course I readily agree with this. This is what I believe to be the more acutely problematic issue and it is closely related to masturbation but not one and the same.
Kindly
Gabriel
"Beautifully taught is the Lord's Dhamma, immediately apparent, timeless, of the nature of a personal invitation, progressive, to be attained by the wise, each for himself." Anguttara Nikaya V.332
Re: masturbation what's wrong?
At times, and it's related to the issue of what your fantasy objects are...gabrielbranbury wrote: Has this been your experience Mike?
Mike