The Great Heap of Sex (sutra)

Dhr. Seven, Amber Larson, Ellie Askew (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly, "The Great Heap of Dukkha Discourse" or Mahadukkhakkhandha Sutra (MN 13) based on Ven. Thanissaro (trans.)

Desire for sex is the strongest sensual desire, the strongest craving, the source of dukkha.

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But is sex the same as "sensual desire"?

Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One [the Buddha] was living near Savatthi at Jeta's Grove, in the monastery donated by a Buddhist multi-millionaire.

Then early in the morning several monastics put on their robes and, taking bowls and robes, walked into Savatthi for alms. The thought occurred to them, "It's too early to go into Savatthi for alms, so what if we were to visit the Park of the Wanderers of other Teachings instead?"

They headed to the park, arrived, exchanged courteous greetings with the other wandering ascetics, then sat respectfully to one side. The other wanderers asked:

"Friends, the Wandering Ascetic Gautama [the Buddha] describes the comprehension of sex [i.e., as standing in for all sensual desire]. We also describe the comprehension of sex. He describes the comprehension of forms and feelings. So do we. So what's the difference, what's the distinction, what's the distinguishing factor between him and us in terms of his teaching (Dharma) and ours, his message and ours?"

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The monastics, neither delighting in nor disapproving of their words, got up from their seats [thinking], "We will bring these things up in the Blessed One's presence."

Then they walked for alms in Savatthi, and after their meal, they went to the Blessed One, bowed, sat respectfully to one side, and [told him what had happened].

[The Buddha responded:] "Meditators, when other wandering ascetics say such things, they can be asked: 'Friends, with regard to sex (sensual desire), what is the allure, the drawback, the escape? And the same for forms and feelings?' When they are asked this, they will be unable to answer and will get themselves into trouble. Why? It is because the answer lies beyond their range.
 

There comes a time when Death steps in.

"Meditators, in this world -- with its light beings, menaces, and Gods (devas, maras, and brahmas), in this world with its people, wandering ascetics, and Brahmins, its princes and commoners, I do not see anyone who can provide a satisfactory answer to these questions, other than a tathagata (a "wayfarer" such as the Buddha himself), a tathagata's disciples, or someone who has heard it from them.
 
Allure of sex

Sex is the strongest sensual desire.

"Meditators, what is the allure of sex? There are five strands of sensuality. What are they?

1. visible forms cognizable by the eye -- agreeable, pleasing, charming, endearing, engendering desire, enticing.
2. sounds cognizable by the ear...
3. fragrances cognizable by the nose...
4. flavors cognizable by the tongue...
5. Tactile sensations cognizable by the body -- agreeable, pleasing, charming, endearing, engendering desire, enticing.

"Whatever pleasure or joy arises dependent on these five strands, that is the allure of sex.
 
Drawback

I lie for my livelihood, but listen to me anyway.

"What is the drawback? A person (such as a member of the extended family clan) may engage in some livelihood -- checking, accounting, calculating, plowing, trade, cattle-tending, archery, working for a royal, or whatever occupation it may be -- facing cold, facing heat, being annoyed by mosquitoes and gadflies, wind, sun, creeping things, who hungers and thirsts.

• [COMMENT: One craves/thirsts for sex/sensual pleasure; therefore, one works hard to earn a livelihood to be able to afford them, suffering much, starving and feeling parched in their constant pursuit, working oneself to death to gain them.]

"This is the drawback of sex, a heap of disappointment (suffering) visible here and now. It has sex as its reason, sex as its source, sex as its cause, the reason being simply sensual desire.

"And if that person gains no wealth while working, striving, making effort, that person sorrows, grieves, laments, beats his or her breast, and becomes distraught: 'My work is for nothing! My efforts are fruitless!' This drawback comes about in the case of sex. This heap of disappointment, visible here and now, has sex as its reason, sex as its source, sex as its cause, the reason being simply sensual desire.

"If that person gains wealth while working, striving, making effort, that person nevertheless experiences pain and disappointment in protecting it: 'How will neither rulers nor thieves make off with my property -- nor fire consume it, nor water sweep it away, nor greedy heirs make off with it?'

"Although one watches over and guards property, rulers or thieves nevertheless make off with it. Fire consumes it, water sweeps it away, or greedy heirs make off with it. One sorrows, grieves, and laments, beats one's breast, and becomes distraught: 'What was mine is no longer mine!'

"This is also the drawback in the case of sex. This heap of disappointment, visible here and now, has sensual desire as its reason, sensual desire as its source, sensual desire as its cause, the reason being simply sensual desire.
 

We were more animal than human at times, like shapeshifting ogres, monsters, who suffer.

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We love our craving and addictions.

"Again, it is with sensual desire as the reason, sensual desire as the source, sensual desire as the cause -- the reason being simply sensual desire -- that rulers quarrel with rulers, warriors with warriors, Brahmins with Brahmins, householders with householders, mother with child, child with mother, father with child, child with father, brother with brother, sister with sister, brother with sister, sister with brother, friend with friend.

"Then during their quarrels, brawls, and disputes, they attack one another with fists or clods, sticks or knives, and they suffer deadly pain or death. This is the drawback in case of sensual desire. This heap of disappointment, visible here and now, has sensual desire as its reason, sensual desire as its source, sensual desire as its cause, the reason being simply sensual desire.

"Again, it is with sensual desire as the reason, sensual desire as the source... that some, taking up swords and shields and strapping on bows and arrows, charge into battle amassed in double array as arrows and spears go flying with swords flashing. They are wounded by arrows and spears, their heads cut off by swords, and they incur deadly pain or death.

"This is a drawback of sensual desire. This heap of disappointment, visible here and now, has sensual desire as its reason, sensual desire as its source, sensual desire as its cause, the reason being simply sensual desire.

"Again, with sensual desire as reason, sensual desire as source... some, taking up swords and shields and strapping on bows and arrows, charge toward slippery bastions while arrows and spears go flying and swords  flashing. They are splashed with boiling cow dung or crushed by heavy weights, their heads cut are off by swords, and they incur deadly pain or death.

"This is also a drawback in the case of sensual desire. This heap of disappointment, visible here and now, has sensual desire as its reason, sensual desire as its source, sensual desire as its cause, the reason being simply sensual desire.

"Again, with sensual desire as the reason, sensual desire as the source... some break in through windows, seize plunder, commit burglary, ambush people on highways, engage in adultery. And when they are captured, rulers have them tortured in many ways:

"They have them flogged with whips, beaten with canes, beaten with clubs. They have their heads cut off, their feet, both their hands and feet. They have their ears, noses, ears and noses cut off. They subject them to:

• the 'porridge pot,'
• the 'polished-shell shave,'
• the 'mouth of Rahu,'
• the 'flaming garland,'
• the 'blazing hand,'
• the 'grass-duty (ascetic),'
• the 'bark-dress (ascetic),'
• the 'burning antelope,'
• the 'meat hooks,'
• the 'coin-gouging,'
• the 'lye pickling,'
• the 'pivot on a stake,'
• the 'rolled-up bed.'

"They have them splashed with boiling oil, devoured by dogs, impaled alive on stakes. They have their heads cut off with swords, so they incur deadly pain or death.

"This is a drawback in the case of sensual desire. This heap of disappointment, visible here and now, has sensual desire as its reason, sensual desire as its source, sensual desire as its cause, the reason being simply sensual desire.

"Again, it is with sensual desire as reason, sensual desire as source... that some engage in bodily misconduct, verbal misconduct, mental misconduct. Having engaged in bodily, verbal, and/or mental misconduct, they -- on the breakup of the body, after death -- reappear in the plane of deprivation, the woeful destination, the lower realms, [even] in hell (avici).

"This is also a drawback in the case of sensual desire. This heap of disappointment (suffering) in future lives has sensual desire as its reason, sensual desire as its source, sensual desire as its cause, the reason being simply sensual desire.
 
Escape

Stop this merry-go-round; I want to get off.

"Meditators, what is the escape from sex? Overcoming and abandoning craving/passion for sex (five strand sensual desire) is the escape from it.

"That any Brahmin or wandering ascetic who fails to discern, as it actually is, the allure of sex as allure, the drawback of sex as drawback, the escape from sex as escape would comprehend sex or would rouse another person with the truth so that, in line with what one has practiced, that person would comprehend sensual desire, that is impossible!

"But that any Brahmin or wandering ascetic who discerns, as it actually is, the allure of sex as allure, the drawback of sex as drawback, the escape from sex as escape would comprehend sensual desire or would rouse another person with the truth so that, in line with what one has practiced, one would comprehend sensual desire, that is possible. More