Hi Dhammapal and alldhammapal wrote:See: Sex, Celibacy and the Spiritual Life by Bhante Gunaratana
I started masturbating again then realized that taking that to its logical conclusion would lead to seeking out pornography which would increase lust.
With metta / dhammapal.
It's possible to masturbate without pornography or fantasizing. It's an interesting experience, actually, de-sexualizes the build-up to orgasm and the orgasm itself, turns it into a physiological experience more akin to urinating or defecating than it is to seeing fireworks. Very refreshing (afterwards) experience, actually, not as mentallly "sticky" as it is usually. You feel that you are rising above the whole carnal entanglement in a way.
Obviously the Buddha didn't teach celibacy to householders, but if we are in a situation (and they do occur) when it is not possible to have sex in a way that would not be against the precepts, or would not blur the line in a way that is technically not mentionned in the precepts but which we know is against our morality (e.g going to prostitutes, or engaging in emotional dishonesty in order to get laid, not outright lying but, you know....) celibacy becomes the necessary option. In such cases, it would be a big mistake not to masturbate, I think, bad for the body (especially the prostate for men, I don't know about for women) bad for the mind because the frustrated sex energy works its way one way or the other. (As for the vinaya, that's another matter I guess.) But it is physically possible and intellectually interesting to wank without the revery...try it, it's a totally non thrilling experience and good for the health!
Metta,
Phil
p.s if it is not possible to wank without the fantasy and/or pornography, I would say you had better wank. The middle way says we shouldn't damage our health for the sake of the practice and research shows that the risk of prostate cancer increases when the testicles are not flushed out periodically. Again, don't know for the ladies....