Dhammapada Sutra, Chapter 9, Verse 2 - Curbing sexual
desire
Once there was a monk by the name of Seyyasaka, who was
not happy with the religious life and was in the habit of
stimulating himself sexually.
When the Buddha heard about his, he admonished the monk to
refrain from acts that would lead him farther away from the gaining
of purity.
At the same time, the Buddha introduced the disciplinary
rule for bhikkhus to abstain from such indulgence in sensual
pleasure. He called them offices which require
censure.
Then, the Buddha added, “This kind of act can lead to
suffering.”
法句经 –
第九品，第二句
克制性欲
从前有一个比丘叫亚沙卡，他对出家修行的生活不满意，并且有*自慰的习惯。
当佛陀知道他的行为时，告诫他不要做会导致他远离清净修持的行为。
佛陀也因此制定比丘不可沉溺于感官享乐的戒律。佛陀说这种行为要加以谴责。
[这种行为会使人产生苦痛。] 佛陀说。
自慰 (generally refers to
masturbation)：自慰是用手抚弄自己的生殖器官满足性欲的自慰行为，也包括不限于生殖器官的自我性刺激。通过手淫可以释放内心积聚的性冲动的能量，以缓解性冲动的矛盾。
[性 学
家：每月自慰1-2次，并不会有碍健康。
心理学家：自慰的危害并不在自慰本身，而是由于它引起的心理负担。
对待自慰的正确态度：不以好奇去尝试，不以发生而懊恼。]
http://health.sohu.com/39/13/hchblank17201339.shtml
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My views (本人意见)
Although the above refrain about curbing sexual desire is
explained from a monastic context, I personally think it can be
applied to layman as well, where the same high awareness and
prevention is required of us.
Regardless of whether you are a Buddhist or non-Buddhist, any
thought or action that progressively increases your sexual desire
and dependency, will not bring about long-term physical and
emotional benefits for you (male or female).
Sexual stimulation of any kind (including masturbation) should
not be encouraged or allowed, regardless of age, sex and sexual
need.
Cos sexual stimulation essentially, ultimately, is a form of
self-addiction. And addictions are easy to cultivate but extremely
hard to wean off totally from.
What worries me most are the various and countless sexual
messages or sexual heath advice dispensed through the mass media
and medical professionals. It is not easy for everyone to discern
what or which kind of advice is the most useful and beneficial in
the long term to follow. This is especially true for young children
and teens.
Hopefull one day someone (Buddhist or non-Buddhist) will be
brave and compassionate enough to want to guide anyone, by sharing
their own experiences of how they succeed in weaning off the habit.
Even though this may or cannot be publicly disseminated at the end,
but at least those affected should preferably be able to receive
the full guidance of such recovered addicts. They are indeed the
true real-life models for us all to follow, or at least carefully
listen to.
虽然以上故事是以出家人为题，但本人认为在家人也须自我警惕和防止。毕竟不管是佛教或非佛家徒也好，凡是能增长性欲的种种想法与行为，都难以给我们（男或女）带来长期的身心利益。
寻求和满足各种性幻想、冲动，追根究底仍是“迷于自我”的毒瘾。而“瘾”本来就是易养难戒的恶习，更谈不上说要在短期间把它从身心中根除。
本人最担心的是，媒体与医学界所发表的种种意见或建议。大多数说，只要自慰时不至于发生感到疼痛的情况，则无妨继续。希望有曾经走过这段路但已成功戒掉的人（佛教徒或非佛教徒），能愿现身做为年轻人和其他年龄等人的善知识、良友、导师。（虽然不能公开，但可私地下与有自慰等性欲上的烦恼的人分享迈向健康身心的艰辛奋斗史，作为良性、实际性的参考与模范）
Full sexual abstainance is not something that every lay person
can do/are willing to do, so I do not think it is helpful to tell
people to stop all sexual activities. All we can do is to
discourage indulgance. We should also offer assistance and guidance
to those struggling with such addictions. For monks it is a little
different because they have taken the vow of complete celibacy,
which is the complete abstainance of any sexual activities
whatsoever.
What is important is inner cultivation and learning how to
overcome sexual lust, and this requires years of practice using
various Buddhism cultivation methods, but it can definitely work.
It is said those who reach Anagami level have risen above the
influences of sexual lust.
