Bob Guccione founded Penthouse -- a magazine that was part politics (exposing 9/11), part art, and part gynecology. Before that, he studied to be a Catholic priest by attending seminary. He also spent years trying to make it as an artist.
*It is unwholesome karma to purposely and provocatively entice others. When we promote lust, we ourselves are engaged in unskillful actions that bear unpleasant results in the future. Viewers of such material are responsible for their own lustful intentions, of course. But those out to promote such sentiments are preparing that karma as their inheritance. It may be easier to understand by analogy. Lies often harm those who believe them, but they always harm those who speak them, not right away of course. And so it is with promoting lust, anger (fear), or delusion.
Masturbation
WISDOM QUARTERLY (COMMENTARY)
This invites discussion of the delicate subject of masturbation. In brief, viewing pornography that results in self-gratification stimulates lust, delusion, and (often) frustration. Those things rooted in greed, hatred, and delusion are by definition unwholesome, unprofitable, unskillful, morally blameworthy, and not praised by the wise. The results are painful. BUT until such results are met with, one regards them as self-evidently pleasurable.
Viewing pornography and masturbating are intentional actions (karma). The results and fruits (vipaka and phala) of such actions have yet to ripen. They might not in this life. Therefore, to say that there is "no harm in masturbating" is premature.An enlightened individual, or one with insight-knowledge, is in a position to know.
We do not have a means of knowing other than gaining insight-knowledge or resorting to the words of enlightened teachers like the Buddha. They can address whether or not such karma (actions) will have unwelcome, unwished for, unpleasant results. Those engaged in the activity are naturally biased and unaware of what will happen when the results come around.
Of course, on the scale of things, masturbation might not be much to worry about or experience remorse over. (Worry and remorse are themselves unwholesome and do not help the situation). The Buddha did not take up this sensitive subject directly with regard to ordinary people, so far as we at Wisdom Quarterly know.
Founders of other world religions were also wise to sidestep the issue. (Christianity's onanism is not a reference to masturbation; it's just misused that way because the Bible has so little to say on the subject).
The Buddha did, however, take it up with male and female members of the Sangha. It is an offense, not nearly so serious as sex, but an offense nonetheless. Why should it be? It should be at least a minor offense because it obstructs and impedes and acts as a hindrance and an obstacle, to serenity and insight.
The masturbating mind (or the one obsessed with thoughts of sex, lust, pornography) is not the meditating mind. It is not the mind that leads to enlightenment and liberation. It leads again and again to sense sphere (kama-loka) becoming. When it serves as the basis of sexual misconduct (acting out), its results can be tragic and catastrophic -- rebirth in the woeful realms (apaya).
Granted, nearly every single person has done it or does do it; there is no need for shame or for criticizing oneself or others. Criticism leads to hypocrisy. It is enough to know that when enlightenment is the goal, lustful-masturbation is not the path.
GhettoPhysics: Will the Real Pimps and Hos Please Stand Up
William H. Arntz ["What the Bleep Do We Know?"] and E. Raymond Brown's GhettoPhysics belabors the metaphorical implications of the pimp-prostitute relationship. The filmmakers seem to think that it had never occurred to anyone before that this relationship could be taken as symbolic of virtually all human interactions — any situation in which any individual or institution, corporation, government, religion, or nation... Brand X
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