How did the Buddha define 'Sexual Misconduct'?

last SG · 2007-07-11T13:21:01+00:00

pardon me but i guess… he wans to knw abt pre-marital…?

An Eternal Now SG

Masturbation itself does not constitute a sexual misconduct for a lay person, though masturbation in the monastic order is not allowed and constitutes and offense which requires the monk to confess to the sangha (monastic community). But anyway the difference is because monks are supposed to uphold celibacy -- that means avoiding ALL sexual activities. For lay persons we do not need to uphold celibacy, but we have to follow the third precept of 'no sexual misconduct'.

Which are,

Wrong partner-- a married person, a minor, someone in a relationship, an incompetent.

Wrong time -- day time

Wrong place -- in public, in shrine, etc.

Wrong orifice -- oral, anal.

Gender is not specified. These above can be found in the Abhidharmakosha. I do not think masturbation is mentioned.

But we must take note that it depends on your mind state. Masturbation is not only a physical act, it depends on your mental state as well, as it usually involves strong craving and sometimes lustful thoughts of sexual misconduct. This is creating a form of mental karma. Do know that karma has three forms: Mind karma, Speech karma, and Action karma. All these are volitional action (karma) and will have its karmic consequences in the future.

Negative unwholesome seeds and habit energy are planted into our 8th consciousness and may become a habit and might eventually become a monster in future or even future lifetimes as well.

An Eternal Now SG

Originally posted by mahawarrior:
I think the other four of the Five Precept are relatively straight-forward.

But how did the [b]Buddha (not you) define 'sexual misconduct' exactly? And did his defination, which may have been applicable for the situation/society of that time (i.e. more conservative, different sets of socially accepted morals, etc), applicable in modern society?[/b]

So anyway, I just answered your question more detailed-ly in the post just above this.

bohiruci SG

hey scania ,masturbation isnt a healthy stuff

so the best is to follow many patriach advice to see the uselessness of such desire , which u will enjoy the happiness and later suffer

Wink Wink

mahawarrior SG

Wrong partner -- I can understand

Wrong time -- Why? What's wrong with having sex in day time as long as it's done in private and between consenting adults (the usual) ?

Wrong place -- I think I can understand.

Wrong orifice -- Same thing...why is this wrong? It doesn't seem to hurt anyone/anything to me.

An Eternal Now SG

An explanation of Loppon Namdrol in E-Sangha (http://www.lioncity.net/buddhism/index.php?showtopic=5439&hl=) states:

It has to do with the fact that the anus and penis/vagina/urethra serve as organs of elimination; while the mouth is an organ of consuming.

Therefore, it is considered inappropriate for the mouth to touch the penis or vagina.

The anus is considered very unclean in general, and so it is considered to be an inappropriate orifice for sexual conduct.

I feel however the main intent behind the prohibition of sexual misconduct is non-harming.

Incidentally, according to Vasubandhu, if one does not observe the vow against intoxicating drinks, one also does not observe the vow against sexual misconduct, the latter being dependent on the former.

He also elaborated elsewhere: "The orifice thing has very much to do with notions of clean and unclean, and in a society where cholera and other fecally transmitted diseases were common, such prohibitions about mouth/genital sexual stimulation, and so on, make hygenic sense."

I'm not exactly sure of the reason for 'no daytime'.

hisoka SG

last time no curtains and the buildings got holes de so daytime might be seen? Laughing

An Eternal Now SG

That's right. So Namdrol also said,

The Abhidharmakoshabhasyam certainly qualifies as ancient [4th century CE].

In general, more important aspects of sexual misconduct are issues around are appropriate partners [no minors, spouses of others, and so on], and social decorum [no screwing in temples, in public, during the day when you can be seen] in a society that had very different standards of privacy then we do [read, not much privacy].

LinYu SG

http://www.buddhanet.net/11-gqga.htm

mahawarrior SG

are we so ashamed about sex that we're unwilling to be seen doing that?

TheGoodEarth SG

This is an interesting thread, and this precept is one which most people try to avoid. Save for another day to dwell .... but this one

Originally posted by 798:
believe it or not, i once practise in temple at KL, i read this book, it stated dat,
having sex during thunder storm is consider as sexual misconduct too.

Hahahah, you have not watch movies? When forbidden lovers meet, at some discreet, secret rendezvous, usually a deserted house or abandoned temple, what happens?
Passion rises, the ground swells, the heaven opens, the earth shakes, ...... the bra loosen, the pants drop, the windows flew shut, patter on roof, distant lightning, sky darkens ..... THUNDERSTORM.

Singapore60 SG

I am just wondering why there are so few Buddhist voices in the other forums where the Christians and Homos are battling for or against decriminalization of S377A! Are Buddhist not against all the impurities that are flooding in? Why is there an ex-bishop on that forum? Where are our Ven's? Maybe by the time we look out, the homos have taken over outside the temples already! Embarassed

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