Dukkhanirodha wrote:
I guess you're assuming that since there is a matter of sexual sensations during the meditation, this technique should be used. As far as I understand this section of mhstp sutta, it is a starting point only, involving specific thoughts making (quite gross way of practicing), and is meant for people who could not start with another section, for example anapanasati. Such people who can't stop thinking about sexual affairs or matters of beauty of the body, and for whom the breath is too subtle as an object of concentration. They need to get their mind settled.
The idea that focusing on the perception of the unattractive (asubha saññā) is inferior to something like ānāpānasati is prevalent because not many people teach it as a theme since it's not the best introduction to meditation. But if you look at the suttas, they are more clear about its benefits. Please don't knock on a particular theme just because you prefer one over the other.
AN 7.46: Saññāsutta
"'The perception of the unattractive, when developed & pursued, is of great fruit, of great benefit. It gains a footing in the Deathless, has the Deathless as its final end': Thus was it said."
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Kenshou wrote:I don't find sexual activity any more of a hindrance than any other pleasure. Personally I find no correlation between that and the frequency of good meditations, provided that is promptly dropped and does not show up during meditation.
Although sexual desire is part of kāmataṇhā it's unlike other pursuits of sensuality in that the Buddha explicitly says that it should be given up:
AN 4.159: Bhikkhunisutta
"This body comes into being through sexual intercourse. Sexual intercourse is to be abandoned. With regard to sexual intercourse, the Buddha declares the cutting off of the bridge."
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Dukkhanirodha wrote:I should probably rather say that in order to remain in first jhana, it is necessary to give it up. My experience (which may not be everyone's) is that the rapture very quickly makes sankharas of craving come up. Very soon the effect of these sankharas overpower the rapture and the jhana is lost (and there is a very wholesome and very unpleasant experience on account of that). So it may be that you can reach it, but you can't really dwell in it if you're not detached enough from sexuality.
If you find yourself tempted by sensual thoughts while you are in jhāna, then you might want to reconsider whether you are actually in
right jhāna:
MN 108: Gopakamoggallānasutta
"It wasn't the case, brahman, that the Blessed One praised mental absorption of every sort, nor did he criticize mental absorption of every sort. And what sort of mental absorption did he not praise? There is the case where a certain person dwells with his awareness overcome by sensual passion, seized with sensual passion. He does not discern the escape, as it actually is present, from sensual passion once it has arisen. Making that sensual passion the focal point, he absorbs himself with it, besorbs, resorbs, & supersorbs himself with it.
"And what sort of mental absorption did he praise? There is the case where a monk — quite withdrawn from sensuality, withdrawn from unskillful (mental) qualities — enters & remains in the first jhana: rapture & pleasure born from withdrawal, accompanied by directed thought & evaluation. ... This is the sort of mental absorption that the Blessed One praised."
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Jhāna (of the sort without the hindrances) is used as the pleasure that enables one to overcome temptation to sensuality:
MN 14: Cūḷadukkhakkhandhasutta
"But when he has clearly seen as it actually is with right discernment that sensuality is of much stress, much despair, & greater drawbacks, and he has attained a rapture & pleasure apart from sensuality, apart from unskillful mental qualities, or something more peaceful than that, he cannot be tempted by sensuality."
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Freawaru wrote:Sex is a matter of biology. Hormones and so on. To meddle with them can lead to depression and such. Just google for it on some medicinal sites. Of course the Buddha didn't say it but that is because the term translated today as "sex" was not meant in a biological way by him in the first place. Both, uninstructed ordinary person and instructed Noble Disciple, can experience sex or desire for sex and the pleasure of sex because these are the objects of the contact. The difference is whether the contact leads to clinging or to Liberation. Look, it is okay if you don't want sex. It is up to you. But, please, don't claim the Buddha said what He didn't say.
I'm sorry but this is clearly adhamma (not dhamma). I would suggest actually reading what the Buddha said about sex.