The Disadvantages of Sex Sutra (Snp 4.7)

Who is the ultimate Hollywood sex symbol promoted by the movie industry? Elvis?

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CONTEXT: Tissa (7) had a friend named Metteyya ("Friend"). Together they visited the Buddha at Jetavana and, having listened to the Teaching, entered the monastic order. Metteyya went into seclusion in the forest with his new teacher. Not long after, he became fully enlightened.

Tall, dark, and handsome bad boy, sex symbol?

Tissa, on the other hand, lived in the city of Sāvatthi. And when his elder brother died, he returned home and was persuaded by his relations to revert to the lay life.

Later, Metteyya, on a journey with the Buddha, passed through the village and visited Tissa. He brought him once more to the Buddha. And the Buddha taught them the "Tissa-Metteyya Sutra," at the end of which Tissa became a stream-winner (sotāpanna, the first stage of enlightenment), later reaching full enlightenment (SN., p.160f; SNA.ii.535f, NidA.184). What did the Buddha say?

To Tissa Metteyya on the Disadvantages of Sex

I feel lust. - That's art. - I thought we were depicting truth and beauty. - Nah, just beauty.

• [Tissa asked:]

Attachment to sexual intercourse:

Sir, what are its disadvantages?

Having heard this Teaching then,

secluded, we will train ourselves.

• [The Buddha replied:]

Attached to sexual intercourse,

forgetful of the Teaching then,

wrong things that person practices,

and does what is ignoble.

• [*Not conducive to enlightenment; noble ones = Aryans = "the enlightened."]

Who formerly fared on alone

But again in sex indulges,

“Low” they call, a common worldling,

like transport that swerves off the track.

That one who had renown and fame —

it now surely diminishes.

Having seen this then train yourselves:

renounce sexual intercourse.

• What are the steps of training in detail?

Overcome by [low lustful] thoughts,

one slow broods, as a beggar does,

and hearing reproach of others,

such a person dejected is.

But for yourselves creating “arms”

of others’ reprimanding words,

so with great entanglement

sinks down into untruthfulness.

Well-known and called “one who is wise,”

who vows and lives the left-home life

but again engages in sex,

will then be called “a fool defiled.”

• There are other enumerations of mental defilements.

Disadvantages having seen,

the sage, to start and thereafter,

establishes the left-home life,

now no more resorting to sex.

So train yourselves in solitude,

for that’s the life of noble ones,

not conceiving yourselves as “best” —

having seen indeed nirvana.

• Noble ones (in any of the four stages of enlightenment) have glimpsed nirvana and no longer conceive of themselves as better then, worse than, nor equal to others.

The sage who’s rid of sense-cravings,

and to them is indifferent,

who’s crossed the flood, is envied then,

by those enmeshed in pleasures of sense.

• Some follow the Buddha, while others ordain and practice full-time
• G.P. Malalasekera, Pali Proper Names; Laurence (formerly Ven. Khantipalo) Mills (trans.), Tissametteyya Sutta (Sutta Nipata, 4.7) via suttacentral.net; compiled and edited by Dhr. Seven for Wisdom Quarterly