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Exploring Theravāda's connections to other paths - what can we learn from other traditions, religions and philosophies?
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Mr Man
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Re: Masturbation:A sensitive topic( need more discussions)!

Post by Mr Man »

If you practice "letting go" masturbation will cease.
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Enlightenment0106
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Re: Masturbation:A sensitive topic( need more discussions)!

Post by Enlightenment0106 »

Mr Man wrote:If you practice "letting go" masturbation will cease.
:goodpost: i love this post
Would like to hear more from ya '
Form is emptiness. Emptiness is form--- Heart sutra
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manas
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Re: Masturbation:A sensitive topic( need more discussions)!

Post by manas »

Hi vicimba,

by practicing the Noble Eightfold Path, one gradually gets more control over one's thoughts, speech and actions. Keeping the five basic precepts for laypersons helps alot too (they are implicit in the Path itself, but we do need to pay particular attention to them as a set).

I followed the link you provided, and thought I had better bring something to your attention:
Question:
I am a male who wishes to kick a long habit of masturbation. My efforts have resulted in cutting down from daily to weekly. Still, the habit continues. I find I am most vulnerable to fall into the act when my I am not fully conscious, i.e. when I am going to sleep or upon waking up.

What would you suggest to prevent my thoughts from becoming lustful and for kicking my undesirable habit altogether.

Answer:

I am going to start off by asking you why is it undesirable? Believe it or not, Buddhism doesn’t condemn masturbation, unless you’re a monk, which I doubt is the case.

The physical aspect of masturbation is harmless. That being said, that may not be the case where karma is concerned. Desire (more specifically in this case, lust), as the Four Noble Truths tell us, leads to suffering. A Buddhist’s main desire is to eliminate suffering.

This is a very debatable topic, and I hope someone will address it in the comment section below, but in my opinion, the real question is what goes on in your mind while you’re doing it. If you can do it without lust, then my Buddhist answer would be to go ahead with it.
Sounds like the person doing the answering had good intentions etc, but they misunderstood something. Regarding the part I bolded (I will be a bit explicit here): if a person is masturbating with their body in arousal, then lust is already present. The pleasurable sensation leads directly to delight in that sensation (ie to desire / lust). He was however correct in that it's not mandatory for a layman to give up masturbation; but it's still a good idea to at least be heading in that direction (which you said is your intention). So my Buddhist answer would not be 'to go ahead with it' but rather to work towards bringing it under increasing control, and, eventually, to complete elimination. But much patience & self-forgiveness will be required along the way, because the overcoming of lust is long-term work for most.

:anjali:
To the Buddha-refuge i go; to the Dhamma-refuge i go; to the Sangha-refuge i go.
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Enlightenment0106
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Re: Masturbation:A sensitive topic( need more discussions)!

Post by Enlightenment0106 »

manas wrote:Hi vicimba,

by practicing the Noble Eightfold Path, one gradually gets more control over one's thoughts, speech and actions. Keeping the five basic precepts for laypersons helps alot too (they are implicit in the Path itself, but we do need to pay particular attention to them as a set).

I followed the link you provided, and thought I had better bring something to your attention:
Question:
I am a male who wishes to kick a long habit of masturbation. My efforts have resulted in cutting down from daily to weekly. Still, the habit continues. I find I am most vulnerable to fall into the act when my I am not fully conscious, i.e. when I am going to sleep or upon waking up.

What would you suggest to prevent my thoughts from becoming lustful and for kicking my undesirable habit altogether.

Answer:

I am going to start off by asking you why is it undesirable? Believe it or not, Buddhism doesn’t condemn masturbation, unless you’re a monk, which I doubt is the case.

The physical aspect of masturbation is harmless. That being said, that may not be the case where karma is concerned. Desire (more specifically in this case, lust), as the Four Noble Truths tell us, leads to suffering. A Buddhist’s main desire is to eliminate suffering.

This is a very debatable topic, and I hope someone will address it in the comment section below, but in my opinion, the real question is what goes on in your mind while you’re doing it. If you can do it without lust, then my Buddhist answer would be to go ahead with it.
Sounds like the person doing the answering had good intentions etc, but they misunderstood something. Regarding the part I bolded (I will be a bit explicit here): if a person is masturbating with their body in arousal, then lust is already present. The pleasurable sensation leads directly to delight in that sensation (ie to desire / lust). He was however correct in that it's not mandatory for a layman to give up masturbation; but it's still a good idea to at least be heading in that direction (which you said is your intention). So my Buddhist answer would not be 'to go ahead with it' but rather to work towards bringing it under increasing control, and, eventually, to complete elimination. But much patience & self-forgiveness will be required along the way, because the overcoming of lust is long-term work for most.

:anjali:
Thanks for your advice and well you basically opened up my mind :smile: I always tauhgt that masturbation without lust is the way to go . But it didnt work. As you said, theres still pleasure behind it. I would really be honoured if you would read and commend on my guide once its out . :anjali: For the tiem beeing , i hope this forum is not dead yet, but :offtopic: would like to thank the moderator from merging this two topics as it provides quite additional and good information for me :tongue:
Form is emptiness. Emptiness is form--- Heart sutra
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Enlightenment0106
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The science and karma of masturbation

Post by Enlightenment0106 »

Like the topic states, after doing some research , i found out that people who masturbate are most likely to have 34 percent less chances of getting prostate cancer. Well , heres the irony, an average men has only a 16 percent chance of getting prostate cancer in his life, and thats fairly low. Furthurmore, 98 percent of men who get prostate cancer doesnt die, and quite a number of them recover without treatment at all. Masturbation reduces high sex drive, reducess stress, puts your into sleep easily, and so on.

But heres the question, budhhism states that lust causes suffering, which i believe in too. A normal person, after masturbating, always feels empty and guilt, and this causes other physcological problems, and they are eager to quit after that. This is definately scientifically proven, as our brain finds out that masturbating isnt real sex after ejaculation. There are many ways to reduce prostate cancer, like aerobic excercices, reducing it through diet and so on. And through buddhism we can actually reduce our high sex drive, reduces our stress, and of course food aids and meditation helps sleeping too, So Is masturbating needed in our lives? for me my answer is no , how bout yours? :anjali:

Sources:
http://www.askmen.com/sports/health_400 ... ancer.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.google.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Please note that the facts and figures above are all from trustable sources and are sciencetifically proven. The numbers may not be completely accurate but are all near. Statistics may not be a trustable source but it does prove something.
Last edited by Enlightenment0106 on Thu Jul 19, 2012 5:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
Form is emptiness. Emptiness is form--- Heart sutra
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Enlightenment0106
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Re: Porn Free for 90 Days

Post by Enlightenment0106 »

http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=13214" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Did some research on masturbation and this is what i got
Form is emptiness. Emptiness is form--- Heart sutra
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tiltbillings
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Re: The science and karma of masturbation

Post by tiltbillings »

Vlcimba wrote:A normal person, after masturbating, always feels empty and guilt, and this causes other physcological problems, and they are eager to quit after that.
A normal person? And you know this how?
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
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tiltbillings
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Re: Porn Free for 90 Days

Post by tiltbillings »

Vlcimba wrote:http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=13214

Did some research on masturbation and this is what i got
I merged your "The science and karma of masturbation" into this thread. We do not need numerous threads covering the same ground.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
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Enlightenment0106
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Re: The science and karma of masturbation

Post by Enlightenment0106 »

tiltbillings wrote:
Vlcimba wrote:A normal person, after masturbating, always feels empty and guilt, and this causes other physcological problems, and they are eager to quit after that.
A normal person? And you know this how?
Some random sources like yahoo answers and theres actually a website for it . will check that out for you.

Ps: could not find it , but i remember scrolling through it somewhere
Form is emptiness. Emptiness is form--- Heart sutra
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Enlightenment0106
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Re: Porn Free for 90 Days

Post by Enlightenment0106 »

Would need more help getting the facts in guys.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patikulamanasikara" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This is the meditation way of stopping it
Form is emptiness. Emptiness is form--- Heart sutra
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tiltbillings
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Re: Porn Free for 90 Days

Post by tiltbillings »

Vlcimba wrote:Would need more help getting the facts in guys.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patikulamanasikara" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This is the meditation way of stopping it
Have you read through this thread? I suggest you start here:

http://www.dhammawheel.com/viewtopic.ph ... 20#p185112" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and continue reading.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
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Sokehi
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Re: Porn Free for 90 Days

Post by Sokehi »

It is good to speak openly about an "issue" that is burdensome to all serious practicioners... especially if they spend a longer time for example on retreats or even more if they ordain and live a celibate life.

It is often discussed how hard it is to overcome the craving for food on such occassions and through my time in thailand there was happily quite an open atmosphere to talk to an elderly monk about the other BIG sensual dukkha, sexual lust, that one experiences in a celibate community.

I appreciate your posting OP and hope a lot will find guidance by it.
Get the wanting out of waiting

What does womanhood matter at all, when the mind is concentrated well, when knowledge flows on steadily as one sees correctly into Dhamma. One to whom it might occur, ‘I am a woman’ or ‘I am a man’ or ‘I’m anything at all’ is fit for Mara to address. – SN 5.2

If they take what's yours, tell yourself that you're making it a gift.
Otherwise there will be no end to the animosity. - Ajahn Fuang Jotiko

https://www.youtube.com/user/Repeataarrr
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manas
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Re: Porn Free for 90 Days

Post by manas »

I have gotten rid of my previous post here. I will just say that overcoming sexual lust is a long-term challenge for most, but one we must eventually face up to if we desire to gain liberation from Samsara.

with metta.
Last edited by manas on Mon Jul 23, 2012 12:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
To the Buddha-refuge i go; to the Dhamma-refuge i go; to the Sangha-refuge i go.
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Sokehi
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Re: Porn Free for 90 Days

Post by Sokehi »

I once heard this saying, forgot where.

The definition of puritanism: the fear that someone somewhere could have fun ;)

Sexuality is an essential part of our existence. To overcome lust if you're celibate or to transform it into something more wholesome if you live in a relationship so you don't cheat on your partner... well it's not that easy for some if not most. So it's great to read in this forum about this topic even if it's just that profane porn level. Actually I found the neuroscience aspect in those videos very interesting.
Get the wanting out of waiting

What does womanhood matter at all, when the mind is concentrated well, when knowledge flows on steadily as one sees correctly into Dhamma. One to whom it might occur, ‘I am a woman’ or ‘I am a man’ or ‘I’m anything at all’ is fit for Mara to address. – SN 5.2

If they take what's yours, tell yourself that you're making it a gift.
Otherwise there will be no end to the animosity. - Ajahn Fuang Jotiko

https://www.youtube.com/user/Repeataarrr
twelph
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Re: Porn Free for 90 Days

Post by twelph »

I am joining this endeavor, so I might as well put it into writing here. Porn annihilates my mindfulness, so it's been obvious that I need to give it up. I'm also giving up caffeine while I'm at it, as it seems to cause heedlessness in me. :anjali:
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