Is masturbation bad in theravada buddhism?

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confusedlayman
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Re: Is masturbation bad in theravada buddhism?

Post by confusedlayman »

It will lead to hell most prpbably because people who dod that might have been to hell...
I may be slow learner but im at least learning...
confusedsoso
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Re: Is masturbation bad in theravada buddhism?

Post by confusedsoso »

The Buddha recommended guarding the senses. Indulging in tactile sense perception is a dart, a poison, ill. The Buddha would not recommend indulging in tactile sensual pleasures. In fact he would recommend renouncing the penis and it’s pleasures. That’s what you should work on.

How do you work on it? :shrug:
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Pondera
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Re: Is masturbation bad in theravada buddhism?

Post by Pondera »

confusedsoso wrote: Tue Sep 27, 2022 6:32 pm The Buddha recommended guarding the senses. Indulging in tactile sense perception is a dart, a poison, ill. The Buddha would not recommend indulging in tactile sensual pleasures. In fact he would recommend renouncing the penis and it’s pleasures. That’s what you should work on.

How do you work on it? :shrug:
Cold turkey. It’s an addiction. Like cigarettes. The addiction continues so long as you give into the craving. The only way to stop smoking is to not have the next cigarette. And then when the craving comes, you do whatever you have in your willpower to not give into the craving.

You stop the first craving, you’re winning. You stop the second craving, you’re still winning. Eventually the cravings go away.

For me, my wife told me I had a choice. Her or porn. I chose her. And never looked back.

You’re likely not in that situation. So, “cold turkey”. You can google “cold turkey” if you’ve never heard of the term. It means “will power alone”.
Like the three marks of conditioned existence, this world in itself is filthy, hostile, and crowded
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justpractice
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Re: Is masturbation bad in theravada buddhism?

Post by justpractice »

confusedsoso wrote: Tue Sep 27, 2022 6:32 pm How do you work on it? :shrug:
In short, the Noble Eightfold Path.

More specifically, if you have not already, establish a baseline of virtue by first taking up the 5 precepts. If possible, take them up permanently. Within that virtue, start reading the suttas and asking yourself why you want to work on giving masturbation/sensuality in the first place. No need to jump to any immediate answers, but instead let that question endure in your experience while you go about your days.

Although it's tempting to try and tackle and put an end to individual habits (like masturbation. or eating too much) through various reactionary techniques, if whatever habit you're doing is not going against the precepts you have taken up, then it's probably more helpful to try and discern the more general mind-state you are cultivating whenever you indulge in these sensual pleasures. Recollect that the Buddha, who discovered the path to the end of suffering, taught us that in order to free ourselves we must be able to see the danger in sensuality in our own experience. That if you were to see the danger yourself, sensual pleasures would be seen as scorching embers (MN 75). Maintaining this questioning and recollected attitude throughout the day, while increasing your knowledge of the Buddha's teaching through the suttas, should provide a solid starting point to undoing the greater sensuality that is the basis for the masturbation.
"Whoever avoids sensual desires
— as he would, with his foot,
the head of a snake —
goes beyond, mindful,
this attachment in the world." - Sn 4.1
confusedsoso
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Re: Is masturbation bad in theravada buddhism?

Post by confusedsoso »

Cold turkey. It’s an addiction. Like cigarettes. The addiction continues so long as you give into the craving. The only way to stop smoking is to not have the next cigarette. And then when the craving comes, you do whatever you have in your willpower to not give into the craving.

You stop the first craving, you’re winning. You stop the second craving, you’re still winning. Eventually the cravings go away.

For me, my wife told me I had a choice. Her or porn. I chose her. And never looked back.

You’re likely not in that situation. So, “cold turkey”. You can google “cold turkey” if you’ve never heard of the term. It means “will power alone”.

I understand what your saying but for me I masturbate when I feel the need to and I think its healthy too. Studies are everywhere that for men if they masturbate 7 times a week it helps against prostate cancer. What happens if you masturbate but dont attach yourself to it? Is that possible or you have to stop it period?
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Pondera
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Re: Is masturbation bad in theravada buddhism?

Post by Pondera »

confusedsoso wrote: Wed Sep 28, 2022 1:03 am Cold turkey. It’s an addiction. Like cigarettes. The addiction continues so long as you give into the craving. The only way to stop smoking is to not have the next cigarette. And then when the craving comes, you do whatever you have in your willpower to not give into the craving.

You stop the first craving, you’re winning. You stop the second craving, you’re still winning. Eventually the cravings go away.

For me, my wife told me I had a choice. Her or porn. I chose her. And never looked back.

You’re likely not in that situation. So, “cold turkey”. You can google “cold turkey” if you’ve never heard of the term. It means “will power alone”.

I understand what your saying but for me I masturbate when I feel the need to and I think its healthy too. Studies are everywhere that for men if they masturbate 7 times a week it helps against prostate cancer. What happens if you masturbate but dont attach yourself to it? Is that possible or you have to stop it period?
I’m not going to be a hypocrite. I only stopped masturbating at the age of 35.

I’m not going to tell anyone under 38 that it’s an embarrassing habit to prefer your hand over the real thing.

But for someone your age (I’m guessing you’re in your twenties) basically nothing is going to stop you. You’ve simply got so much testosterone swimming in your veins and unlimited free access to porn - that you’re going to masturbate.

Unless you REALLY regret it and think it would be healthier for you to stop, at your age, it’s impossible not too. “Impossible”.

But look. For monks, it’s unbecoming. For married men, it’s bad for the relationship. Possibly destroying the relationship. For men over 40, it’s embarrassing. If you’re single at 40 and you’re still masturbating every day - expect to remain single for the rest of your life.

BTW - there’s an icon at the top of each post which allows you to quote the post. It looks like “
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confusedsoso
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Re: Is masturbation bad in theravada buddhism?

Post by confusedsoso »

I’m not going to be a hypocrite. I only stopped masturbating at the age of 35.

I’m not going to tell anyone under 38 that it’s an embarrassing habit to prefer your hand over the real thing.

But for someone your age (I’m guessing you’re in your twenties) basically nothing is going to stop you. You’ve simply got so much testosterone swimming in your veins and unlimited free access to porn - that you’re going to masturbate.

Unless you REALLY regret it and think it would be healthier for you to stop, at your age, it’s impossible not too. “Impossible”.

But look. For monks, it’s unbecoming. For married men, it’s bad for the relationship. Possibly destroying the relationship. For men over 40, it’s embarrassing. If you’re single at 40 and you’re still masturbating every day - expect to remain single for the rest of your life.

LOL I am over 40. I definitely dont want to be single the rest of my life.
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Pondera
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Re: Is masturbation bad in theravada buddhism?

Post by Pondera »

confusedsoso wrote: Wed Sep 28, 2022 2:45 am I’m not going to be a hypocrite. I only stopped masturbating at the age of 35.

I’m not going to tell anyone under 38 that it’s an embarrassing habit to prefer your hand over the real thing.

But for someone your age (I’m guessing you’re in your twenties) basically nothing is going to stop you. You’ve simply got so much testosterone swimming in your veins and unlimited free access to porn - that you’re going to masturbate.

Unless you REALLY regret it and think it would be healthier for you to stop, at your age, it’s impossible not too. “Impossible”.

But look. For monks, it’s unbecoming. For married men, it’s bad for the relationship. Possibly destroying the relationship. For men over 40, it’s embarrassing. If you’re single at 40 and you’re still masturbating every day - expect to remain single for the rest of your life.

LOL I am over 40. I definitely dont want to be single the rest of my life.
Might be a good time to stop, mate.

Save that testosterone for the ladies.
Like the three marks of conditioned existence, this world in itself is filthy, hostile, and crowded
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Mahabrahma
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Re: Is masturbation bad in theravada buddhism?

Post by Mahabrahma »

For people in severe pain there is such thing as sexual healing if True Love is involved and Sacred Marriage.

Masturbation for a Buddhist who is seriously on the Path like a Bodhisattva can be compulsed into the act of masturbation out of some demon's lust or threat towards someone. Some Buddhists bite their nails and don't have a clear answer to why they bite their nails, let alone to their lusty thoughts, coming from within them or from intrusive demons that attack the mind. That is why confessing to the Sangha is important if one masturbates, for personal protection against lust and demons.

So in a real Sangha, certain practices must be practiced in order for so sex and masturbation don't arise. I am personally in a Vajrayana Sangha that doesn't require Celibacy, but I choose to stay Celebate in pursuance of my Practice (And I am also a follower of Theravada Buddhism) yet the only place Eternal Celibacy exists is in the Pure Lands, and there are so many things greater than sex there that Celibacy feels infinitely better than sex in the correct form of Meditation. If you don't have the right type of Buddhist Practice, and haven't progressed, you will masturbate if you are in a state of despair or lust. Or at least it is a certain possibility of it. So join a Sangha and don't judge them for their rules!

My best Advice is to follow all of the Rules of the Sangha you are in. Think deeply about what's fair too. I don't judge anyone for their personal weaknesses and neither will an Authentic Sangha. But for Spiritual Progress to go on, certain unwholesome things must be stopped. Make your own decisions, but work wholeheartedly towards Buddhahood. It may be just a Breath away!

Om.
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at the summit of spiritual perfection:
that’s who I call a brahmin.

-Dhammapada.
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Re: Is masturbation bad in theravada buddhism?

Post by dhammapal »

Venerable Sāriputta wrote:
“And what is skillful? Abstaining from taking life is skillful, abstaining from taking what is not given… from sexual misconduct… from lying… from divisive speech… from harsh speech… abstaining from idle chatter is skillful. Lack of covetousness… lack of ill will… right views are skillful. These things are called skillful.

“And what are the roots of what is skillful? Lack of greed is a root of what is skillful, lack of aversion… lack of delusion is a root of what is skillful. These are called the roots of what is skillful.”

~ Venerable Sāriputta, The Discourse on Right View, transl. Thanissaro
For a lay Buddhist, masturbation is abstaining from sexual misconduct. But I've found it impossible to achieve orgasm with mettā (goodwill) instead of lust (greed).
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Pondera
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Re: Is masturbation bad in theravada buddhism?

Post by Pondera »

confusedsoso wrote: Wed Sep 28, 2022 1:03 am Cold turkey. It’s an addiction. Like cigarettes. The addiction continues so long as you give into the craving. The only way to stop smoking is to not have the next cigarette. And then when the craving comes, you do whatever you have in your willpower to not give into the craving.

You stop the first craving, you’re winning. You stop the second craving, you’re still winning. Eventually the cravings go away.

For me, my wife told me I had a choice. Her or porn. I chose her. And never looked back.

You’re likely not in that situation. So, “cold turkey”. You can google “cold turkey” if you’ve never heard of the term. It means “will power alone”.

I understand what your saying but for me I masturbate when I feel the need to and I think its healthy too. Studies are everywhere that for men if they masturbate 7 times a week it helps against prostate cancer. What happens if you masturbate but dont attach yourself to it? Is that possible or you have to stop it period?
And what about studies in men who DON’T masturbate? I suppose it’s extremely difficult to find a large enough data base.

There are numerous advantages to not masturbating. Imagine that you can make one little moral difference in your life everyday. Eventually, all of those little victories add up to something very good and wholesome ahead of you.

Now imagine that you give in to craving everyday. Those great circumstances in life will never materialize.
Like the three marks of conditioned existence, this world in itself is filthy, hostile, and crowded
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confusedlayman
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Re: Is masturbation bad in theravada buddhism?

Post by confusedlayman »

If someone attained jhana, can they masthrbrate and be lax as surely next birth will be brahma even if they masturbrate daily... as heavy karma overtakes habitual karma
I may be slow learner but im at least learning...
santa100
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Re: Is masturbation bad in theravada buddhism?

Post by santa100 »

confusedlayman wrote: Tue Nov 08, 2022 7:00 pm If someone attained jhana, can they masthrbrate and be lax as surely next birth will be brahma even if they masturbrate daily... as heavy karma overtakes habitual karma
Well, once one has experienced that superior kind of bliss the jhanas provide, the bliss of sensual pleasures's probably already become way too coarse, ugly, and fleeting to their taste. Sorta like the switch of perspective prince Nanda experienced when the Buddha took him up on a trip to the Tavatimsa Heaven
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Pondera
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Re: Is masturbation bad in theravada buddhism?

Post by Pondera »

Here’s a more scientific take on the issue

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Donnyy
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Re: Is masturbation bad in theravada buddhism?

Post by Donnyy »

This is actually a really serious question, and thank you all for participating in the discussion. In our time, it is difficult to fight temptations and distinguish your thoughts from those of others.
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