Celebrating Celibacy

Ajahn Brahm - How celibacy brings peace, simple contentment and spiritual insight that surpasses that of romance and sexuality. AND makes for a positive response towards an overpopulated and polluted planet...

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• buddhism
• dharma
• celibacy
• peace
• contentment
• sexuality

[MrBennetzen]

I do admit. I am celibate and intend to stay that way for life.

[pissek]

I wish i was a monk

[ketoujin]

@pissek

So do I!

[piushr]

@MrBennetzen what about health risks such as prostate cancer?

[squamish4244]

@composerdoh Thank you, and I like meeting people who are willing to engage multiple viewpoints, that is the true spirit of Buddhist inquiry, not holding to a fixed position.. I am from a Mahayana (Tibetan), background, and monasticism is not as heavily emphasized in Tibetan Buddhism. Many highly advanced practitioners are/were married, including Dilgo Khyentse, Dudjom Rinpoche, Namkhai Norbu, etc.

[composerdoh]

@squamish4244 it as such. Personally, I understand what they say, but think the Mahayanas (and people like you and Kornfield) have good points, and for myself have not ruled anything out yet. I think if one wants to follow the path and embrace sexuality, one must be wary and control it, like the rest of the mind. But that there is no "one size fits all" solution, I think almost everyone here would probably agree.

Peace to you, my friend.

[composerdoh]

@squamish4244 I'm not familiar with Jack Kornfield, but sounds like he makes some excellent and wise points. I can't remember which talk, but I seem to recall Ajahn Br talking about a monk he knew who tried to deal with his lust by avoiding women and not looking at them at all, but as soon as he thought he conquered lust, he looked at a woman again and the lust came right back.

lol

So I think he's aware of the problem. yuttadhammo talks about lust as a physical process, and seeing

[squamish4244]

@composerdoh spent on confronting the real issues that hold us down, like fear, anger, and grief. They get mixed up with sex but also exist independently of it to a large degree as well. Society has also changed immensely since the time of the Buddha. For instance, Ajahn Brahm talks about overpopulation, but that makes no sense because of modern contraception. But I do greatly respect him, and people who choose his life, as long as they are clear on what they are getting into.

[squamish4244]

@composerdoh What I meant is that Western Buddhism (for instance in the writings of Jack Kornfield) is doing a better job at handling sexuality than traditional Buddhism has, by starting from the position that lifelong celibacy is just not practical for most people and can also bring its own issues. For instance, it can be a way of hiding from sexual issues and it can also cause the practitioner to pour a great deal of energy into being celibate that would perhaps be more wisely

[composerdoh]

@squamish4244 I really should have said was "I've been celibate for years during certain stretches in my life."

Not that I'm squeamish about celibacy per se, but don't particularly like to miscommunicate or inadvertently mislead. Although I'm currently not following the same lifestyle choices as Ajahn Br, I haven't ruled it out either, and I respect and admire the monks' lifestyle.

[composerdoh]

@squamish4244 most Western religions have issues with sexuality as well! I tend to think Buddhism has dealt with it better than Christianity and Islam, and other austere responses to the problem. I think your response, in my understanding, is more in line with many of the Mahayana traditions, which of course this Society is not a part of.

Oh, and I should add that I reread my statement the other day and realize I completely misspoke. When I said "I've been celibate for years", what

[composerdoh]

@squamish4244 I'm not sure what you mean by "Western Buddhism is changing the dialogue" exactly, but I think you have an interesting point.

It's my understanding that in certain Tibetan traditions of Buddhism sex is embraced, and there are even sexual tantric practices.

That being said, I can completely understand the "traditional" Buddhist view of sexuality. It is very troublesome and difficult to embrace without getting caught up in craving and wanting more, which is the reason