Sex or Celibacy? (sutra)

Bhikkhu Sujato (trans.), SuttaCentral.net, 5. A Great Sacrifice (AN 7.50); Dhr. Seven, Ananda (Dharma Buddhist Meditation), Pat Macpherson (eds.), Wisdom Quarterly

The Brahmin Jāṇussoṇi went up to the Buddha and exchanged courteous greetings. When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat respectfully to one side and said to the Buddha:

“Does Master Gautama claim to be celibate?”

“Brahmin, if anyone were to rightly be said to live the celibate life unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unmarred, full and pure, it is the Tathagata [the Wayfarer, the Buddha].”

“But what, Master Gautama, is a break of, a taint, stain, or mar on celibacy?”

“Firstly, a wandering ascetic or Brahmin who claims to be perfectly celibate does not mutually engage in sex with a female but consents to being anointed, massaged, bathed, and/or rubbed by a female. One enjoys it and likes it and finds it satisfying.

“This is a break of, a taint, stain, or mar on celibacy. This is called one who lives the celibate life impurely, tied to the fetter of sex. One is not freed from birth, old age, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and disappointment. One is not freed from suffering, I say.

Furthermore, a wandering ascetic or Brahmin who claims to be perfectly celibate does not mutually engage in sex with a female. Nor does one consent to massage or bathing. However, one giggles and plays and has fun with females.…

• one gazes into a female’s eyes. …
• one listens through a wall or rampart to the sound of females laughing or chatting or singing or crying. …
• one recalls when one used to laugh, chat, or have fun with females…
• one sees householders or their children amusing themselves, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation. …

One may not see householders or their children amusing themselves, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation, but one lives the celibate life (brahmachariya) wishing to be reborn in one of the orders of devas [shining ones].

One thinks, "By this precept or observance or mortification or spiritual life, may I become one of the devas!’ They enjoy it and like it and find it satisfying. This is a break of, taint, stain, or mar on celibacy.

"This is called one who lives the celibate life impurely, tied to the fetter of sex. They’re not free from rebirth, old age, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. They’re not free from suffering, I say.

This leads to nirvana here and now.

"As long as I saw that these seven sexual fetters — or even one of them — had not yet been given up, I did not announce my supreme perfect awakening (enlightenment) in this world with its devas, māras, and brahmās, this population with its wandering ascetics and Brahmins, its devas and human beings.

"But when I saw that these seven sexual fetters — every one of them — had been given up, I announced my supreme perfect awakening in this world with its devas, māras, and brahmās, this population with its wandering ascetics and Brahmins, its devas and human beings. Knowledge and vision arose in me: ‘My freedom is unshakable; this is my last rebirth; now there will be no more future births.’”

When the Buddha said this, the Brahmin Jāṇussoṇi said, “Excellent, Master Gautama, excellent! … From this day forth, may Master Gautama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for guidance for life.”