tiltbillings wrote:ihrjordan wrote:
The fact of the matter is that the more sex a male has the shorter his life will be.
And your basis for this statement?
Perhaps the statement wasn't meant for you? But if you must know...
Bhikkhus, there are these five things that reduce vitality. What five? One does what is harmful; one does not observe moderation in what is beneficial; one has poor digestion; one walks [for alms] at an improper time; one is not celibate. These are the five things that reduce vitality.
“Know that in this world there is nothing that cannot be attained by one who remains from birth to death a perfect celibate ….. In one person, knowledge of the four Vedas, and in another, perfect celibacy- of these, the latter is superior to the former who is wanting in celibacy.”
– The Mahabharata
“A man develops a subtle power as a result of the strict observance of celibacy for twelve years. Then he can understand and grasp very subtle things which otherwise elude his intellect. Through that understanding the aspirant can have direct vision of God. That pure understanding alone enables him to realize Truth.”
– Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
“As for myself, I look upon all women as my Mother. This is a very pure attitude of mind. There is no risk or danger in it. To look upon a woman as one’s sister is also not bad. But the other attitudes are very difficult and dangerous. It is almost impossible to keep to the purity of the ideal.”
– Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa
Tapussa the householder, here, has said to me, 'Venerable Ananda, sir, we are householders who indulge in sensuality, delight in sensuality, enjoy sensuality, rejoice in sensuality. For us — indulging in sensuality, delighting in sensuality, enjoying sensuality, rejoicing in sensuality — renunciation seems like a sheer drop-off. Yet I've heard that in this doctrine & discipline the hearts of the very young monks leap up at renunciation, grow confident, steadfast, & firm, seeing it as peace. So right here is where this doctrine & discipline is contrary to the great mass of people: i.e., [this issue of] renunciation.'"
"So it is, Ananda. So it is. Even I myself, before my Awakening, when I was still an unawakened Bodhisatta, thought: 'Renunciation is good. Seclusion is good.' But my heart didn't leap up at renunciation, didn't grow confident, steadfast, or firm, seeing it as peace. The thought occurred to me: 'What is the cause, what is the reason, why my heart doesn't leap up at renunciation, doesn't grow confident, steadfast, or firm, seeing it as peace?' Then the thought occurred to me: 'I haven't seen the drawback of sensual pleasures; I haven't pursued [that theme]. I haven't understood the reward of renunciation; I haven't familiarized myself with it. That's why my heart doesn't leap up at renunciation, doesn't grow confident, steadfast, or firm, seeing it as peace.' AN 9.41
What's important to understand is that Vedanta philosophy and Buddhism only differ when it comes to intricacies such as ultimate view of self. It's not the case that the Buddha viewed all of his contemporaries as idiots, quite the opposite. There were some with little dust in their eyes who were merely seeking the proper framework by which to finally push through to release. Rather than ask "how can I realize self hood?" They'd ask "how can I put an end to suffering?" Ancient Indians were not idiots, it's easy to fall into this trap but what one will notice by comparing Teachings in Yogic philosophy, Ayurveda, and Buddhism is that they operate from the same foundations.
All three hold the exact same understanding of how the body works. It is understood to be created from the 5 elements of water, wind, fire, earth and ether. In Ayurveda disease is understood to be created by 1 of 3 causes "under use" "over use" and "wrong usage" and their relation to seasonal changes. In the vinaya one will find allusions to phrases like "Fell ill with a disease of the autumn season" "I allow you monks to make use of sugar as much as you like" "Garlic except for when used as a medicine is not allowed" "Set out water for washing the feet" the need to wear wooden sandals but to go bear foot during alms round"... Have you ever stopped and questioned what all this was about? All of these things are references to and remedies for putting the 5 pranas or "life forces" into balance e.g. avoid sickness and dis-ease. Why sugar? Because it's anabolic. It prevents disease in 10/12 months. Or why Traditional cultures eat white rice and tend to feed brown rice to chickens? Because A food is no good if you can't digest it. If you eat something you can't digest it turns into toxic sludge which is ripe to make cancers and other diseases. Why no garlic? Yes because it stinks but also because it contains 5/6 tastes except for salty which stimulate the mind of one who eats and incites lust. Why do they wash their feet? To remove dirt and in-auspiciousness and to calm their nerves and because it's good for the eyesight.
It's interesting to hear people say that the Buddha never taught Asana or Pranayama but this actually isn't true. The vinaya is yoga through and through. With every precept complimenting the previous one so as to lead the one who follows it to the T to good health in both body and mind. Take for example the precept against taking a vehicle; This prevents traveling long distances as traveling is one of the primary causes of disease due to rapid shifts in climate but yet how many actually take this precept to heart? This body IS the weather in every sense of the meaning and it stands to reason that a rapid shift in climate would produce confusion on the cellular level of the human being. Asana in yoga is for the purpose of finding balance within the body so as to ready it for Pranyama and meditation. True pranayama is when the breath ceases (as is the case in the 4th Jhana) you see the ancient sages noticed that the slower one breaths, the longer one lives as is the case with Elephants, Tortises and Pythons. The opposite is true as well the faster one breaths the shorter one will live as is the case with birds, dogs etc. All of the precepts are designed to calm the mind, free the being from disease and SLOW DOWN/EVENTUALLY STOP THE BREATHING this is why a being is classified as invincible in the 4th Jhana, his breath has stopped and his physical form is temporarily dead.
Now to the point I'm trying to make: Yogic philosophy and Buddhism only differed in the minor details. The idea that the wastage of semen would lead to an early death or disease was common knowledge at the time of the Buddha so he didn't have to explicitly state it. Athimittuna or excessive sex is classified as more than once a month during certain seasons and anything more than this or the improper conduct therein would cause disease. It's a little more tricky to observe nowadays with unlimited medicines which can supress symptoms an cut one off from the results of their previous actions but they always find a way to make themselves known if not early then when one is older. It's not a coincidence that young men nowadays are balding at 23 y/o and that Alzeimer's and dementia rates are skyrocketing as sexual restraint has gone out the window. The male body WILL produce semen no matter what and if we've released so many times then the body has to get the raw materials somewhere...And so the brain starts to decay, the bones become fragile, the muscles whither. It takes life to create life. An entire tree will born from a single seed and so too will an entire Human being complete with emotions, thoughts, physical traits be born from a single sperm cell. How is this hard to understand? A human being is the single most complex thing in the observable universe and the single most intelligent being in all 31 planes of existence. It's a disgrace the level apathy that we've reached in regards to our own human worth...
But to any male reading: Don't take my word for it. Run an experiment. Attempt to go 3 months completely abstinent and tell me that the ancients were wrong about the power that it grants you. Only then can you be sure.