Dhr. Seven, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Ashley Wells, E. Askew, Wisdom Quarterly
What have you two been reading? - We can't read, God. We just look at the pictures. - And? |
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Rows and stacks of porno mags, Japan (wiki) |
It is not the terrible thing we in the USA make of it, fearful and uncomfortable as we are about all things sexual, stemming from our Puritanical origins.
A better question might be, Is masturbation (or even sexual ideation with pornography without self-flagellation or completion of the act) bad karma? It's certainly not good karma, merit (punya), or beneficial in the long run. But for ordinary Buddhist practitioners, it need not be a source of shame or chronic guilt giving rise to hypocrisy, self-loathing, punishment, and more bad karma.
Karma (deeds) produce their results, pleasant/unpleasant, by an impersonal natural process. |
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I love ladies so much I never... (Eitan Bernath) |
Some scholars, namely American monk Ven. Thanissaro, might argue that as the term kama ("sensual") in kamesu micchacara (commonly translated as "sexual misconduct" though it really means "sensual misconduct") refers to ALL of the senses.
Hey, may I interest you in some nude drawings of me? |
While that is true, the Buddha used SEX as representing all of the senses (just as "volition" represents all 50 of the mental formations) and defined "sensual misconduct" in SEXUAL terms -- specifically, sexual intercourse with any of ten forbidden persons who are off-limits:
- (1-6) anyone under the protection (support) of a guardian (mother, father, brother, sister, relative, community)
- (7) under protection of the law
- (8) married
- (9) engaged
- (10) promised in marriage.
The Buddha certainly warns against obsessing about sex, which is a hindrance (see Five Hindrances which obstruct the mind/heart and hinder clear seeing) to progress toward awakening from this illusion (maya).
What keeps us in a disappointing world of suffering (dukkha)? Only three things, Three Poisons of the mind:
- craving/clinging (sensual desire, greed)
- aversion/not wanting (disliking, hatred)
- delusion/wrong view (perversion, ignorance).
My lust, craving, and clinging can be overcome? |
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