Buddhism and sex

General discussion, particularly exploring the Dharma in the modern world.
idontknow
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Buddhism and sex

Post by idontknow »

hi i am new to life and was just wondering about the general Buddhist attitude towards something that I find to be the most pleasureful and rewarding experience known to our human race.

so I guess my question is, what about consensual sex?
Huseng
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by Huseng »

Samadhi is sweeter.
shaunc
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by shaunc »

It's fine. Plenty of Buddhists are married or in relationships.
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Konchog1
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by Konchog1 »

idontknow wrote:hi i am new to life and was just wondering about the general Buddhist attitude towards something that I find to be the most pleasureful and rewarding experience known to our human race.

so I guess my question is, what about consensual sex?
What about eating favorite foods?

What about listening to favorite music?

What about enjoying favorite company?

Sex is no different than any other pleasure.

Enjoyable, but painful if clung to.
Equanimity is the ground. Love is the moisture. Compassion is the seed. Bodhicitta is the result.

-Paraphrase of Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel citing the Guhyasamaja Tantra

"All memories and thoughts are the union of emptiness and knowing, the Mind.
Without attachment, self-liberating, like a snake in a knot.
Through the qualities of meditating in that way,
Mental obscurations are purified and the dharmakaya is attained."

-Ra Lotsawa, All-pervading Melodious Drumbeats
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lobster
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by lobster »

idontknow wrote:so I guess my question is, what about consensual sex?
What about it. Pretty good eh? And samadhi is sweeter . .
Now . . . to combine the two . . . :woohoo:
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seeker242
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by seeker242 »

Good article on it here. :smile:

Buddhism and Sex
by
M. O'C. Walshe
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/auth ... el225.html
One should not kill any living being, nor cause it to be killed, nor should one incite any other to kill. Do never injure any being, whether strong or weak, in this entire universe!
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Dave The Seeker
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by Dave The Seeker »

:good:

Thanks seekere242

:namaste:
Dave
Everyday problems teach us to have a realistic attitude.
They teach us that life is what life is; flawed.
Yet with tremendous potential for joy and fulfillment.
~Lama Surya Das~

If your path teaches you to act and exert yourself correctly and leads to spiritual realizations such as love, compassion and wisdom then obviously it's worthwhile.
~Lama Thubten Yeshe~

One whose mind is freed does not argue with anyone, he does not dispute with anyone. He makes use of the conventional terms of the world without clinging to them
~The Buddha~
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kuroda
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by kuroda »

always ask yourself this, will it make you happy ? will it make others happy ? won't it harm any living beings ? so do it without any hesitation

this is the meaning of Buddhism
We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.”
-Buddha
MalaBeads
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by MalaBeads »

Indrajala wrote:Samadhi is sweeter.
Yes, of course, what else can a monk say?

But please don't generalize about things beyond your ken.

Not everyone is the same.

Even the sweetest apple is not the same as a ripe cantaloupe.

:namaste:
I am well aware of my idiocy. I am also very aware that you too are an idiot. Therein lies our mutuality.
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flavio81
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by flavio81 »

Both sex and samadhi experiences can be really detrimental to the practice if one clings to them, develops grasping... Paraphrising the late Chögyam Trungpa, ego is constantly trying to acquire every experience and every knowledge for its own benefit.

Otherwise they're fine.
Huseng
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by Huseng »

MalaBeads wrote:
Indrajala wrote:Samadhi is sweeter.
Yes, of course, what else can a monk say?
I wasn't always a monk.
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Wayfarer
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by Wayfarer »

Philosophical analysis: sex is closely related to 'clinging'. Why? Because it is essentially an expression of the desire for continued existence. Of course it might not *seem* like that. As far as you and I are concerned, it is just irresistably attractive. But what drives it? Why is it so powerful? I'm sure it has to do with the nature's drive to exist.

It's also interesting to reflect on the connection between 'carnal' and 'incarnation'. Both words are derived from a common Latin root.

In the ancient world, of course there was no contraception, and so the connection between sex and offspring was pretty hard to avoid. So the duty of the wise was to strive for 'apatheia' or detachment from the instinctual drives. The modern world doesn't see it like that, of course, but I don't know how many people actually think about it philosophically.
'Only practice with no gaining idea' ~ Suzuki Roshi
Ramon1920
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by Ramon1920 »

flavio81 wrote:Both sex and samadhi experiences can be really detrimental to the practice if one clings to them, develops grasping... Paraphrising the late Chögyam Trungpa, ego is constantly trying to acquire every experience and every knowledge for its own benefit.

Otherwise they're fine.
Samadhi is something to be cultivated. Telling people to be afraid of samadhi is what maras do.

What is the danger of becoming attached to samadhi? Ending up in a heavenly realm. Soooo dangerous; better warn everyone!

I concur with Indra, samadhi is sweeter.
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flavio81
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by flavio81 »

Ramon1920 wrote:
flavio81 wrote:Both sex and samadhi experiences can be really detrimental to the practice if one clings to them, develops grasping... Paraphrising the late Chögyam Trungpa, ego is constantly trying to acquire every experience and every knowledge for its own benefit.

Otherwise they're fine.
Samadhi is something to be cultivated. Telling people to be afraid of samadhi is what maras do.
I'm not telling anyone to be "afraid" of samadhi. I'm warning not to be attached.
Ramon1920 wrote:What is the danger of becoming attached to samadhi? Ending up in a heavenly realm.
And then through this attachment the person passes through the deva realm and then straight to the hell realm.
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Grigoris
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by Grigoris »

flavio81 wrote:And then through this attachment the person passes through the deva realm and then straight to the hell realm.
Not necessarily, depends on their karma. If they cultivated attachment to samadhi AND engaged in virtuous acts then (after rebirth and death as a god) they may be reborn in a human existence with all the freedoms and riches.
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE

"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
Ramon1920
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by Ramon1920 »

flavio81 wrote:
And then through this attachment the person passes through the deva realm and then straight to the hell realm.
So you recommend not caring about whether or not you get samadhi even though every legitimate Buddhist school stresses putting effort into gaining samadhi?

That is what you mean by not being attached right?
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Grigoris
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by Grigoris »

Ramon1920 wrote:So you recommend not caring about whether or not you get samadhi even though every legitimate Buddhist school stresses putting effort into gaining samadhi?

That is what you mean by not being attached right?
It seems to me that is how you define "not being attached".
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE

"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
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Wayfarer
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by Wayfarer »

Konchog1 wrote:
idontknow wrote:hi i am new to life and was just wondering about the general Buddhist attitude towards something that I find to be the most pleasureful and rewarding experience known to our human race.

so I guess my question is, what about consensual sex?
What about eating favorite foods?

What about listening to favorite music?

What about enjoying favorite company?

Sex is no different than any other pleasure.

Enjoyable, but painful if clung to.
Well, it is different when it gives rise to babies - so there are far greater consequences than those arising from the enjoyment of food and music. And besides, I think if it is treated simply as a source of pleasure this is where many problems arise, isn't it? One would hope there would be rather more to it.
'Only practice with no gaining idea' ~ Suzuki Roshi
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Konchog1
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by Konchog1 »

jeeprs wrote:
Konchog1 wrote:
idontknow wrote:hi i am new to life and was just wondering about the general Buddhist attitude towards something that I find to be the most pleasureful and rewarding experience known to our human race.

so I guess my question is, what about consensual sex?
What about eating favorite foods?

What about listening to favorite music?

What about enjoying favorite company?

Sex is no different than any other pleasure.

Enjoyable, but painful if clung to.
Well, it is different when it gives rise to babies - so there are far greater consequences than those arising from the enjoyment of food and music. And besides, I think if it is treated simply as a source of pleasure this is where many problems arise, isn't it? One would hope there would be rather more to it.
True, but based on the context I think idontknow was referring to the pleasure of sex, not sex in general.
Equanimity is the ground. Love is the moisture. Compassion is the seed. Bodhicitta is the result.

-Paraphrase of Khensur Rinpoche Lobsang Tsephel citing the Guhyasamaja Tantra

"All memories and thoughts are the union of emptiness and knowing, the Mind.
Without attachment, self-liberating, like a snake in a knot.
Through the qualities of meditating in that way,
Mental obscurations are purified and the dharmakaya is attained."

-Ra Lotsawa, All-pervading Melodious Drumbeats
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Luke
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Re: Buddhism and sex

Post by Luke »

Ramon1920 wrote: So you recommend not caring about whether or not you get samadhi even though every legitimate Buddhist school stresses putting effort into gaining samadhi?
While I can't know which schools of Buddhism you personally find legitimate, I can tell you that quite a few Buddhist school warn students about the dangers of becoming too proud of and attached to different types of samadhis they have experienced.

Soto Zen Buddhists, for example, don't seek after any special meditation experiences at all and simply practice a meditation without object which continuously involves letting go of all grasping.

Tibetan Buddhism specifically warns about these things. Here is a quote from "The Words of My Perfect Teacher," page 250:
"Concentration is of three kinds: the concentration practiced by ordinary beings, concentration which clearly discerns and the excellent concentration of the Tathagatas.

The concentration practiced by ordinary beings. When you are attached to the experiences of bliss, clarity and absence of thought in meditation and intentionally seek them, or your practice is colored by any affinity for experiences, that is called the concentration practiced by ordinary beings.

Clearly discerning concentration. When you are free from any attachment to meditative experiences and are no longer fascinated by concentration, but still cling to emptiness as an antidote, that is called clearly discerning concentration.

The excellent concentration of the Tathagatas When you no longer have any concept of emptiness as an antidote, but remain in a concept-free concentration on the nature of reality, that is called the excellent concentration of the Tathagatas."
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