Lzh Sarv Bu Pm 2 Ss 1Masturbation
Pāli / Sanskrit:Sukkavisaṭṭhi
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The Sukkavisaṭṭhi Sutta (Self-Gratification Through Desire)
Background
Sukkavisaṭṭhi, self-gratification through desire, is an issue addressed by the Buddha and his disciples in the context of monastic practice. This sutta appears in the Vinaya Piṭaka, especially among the rules governing the conduct of members of the Sangha. According to the Theravāda tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka consists of practical guidelines that help members of the monastery maintain spiritual discipline and create conditions for progress in training.
The issue of self-gratification through desire is considered not from the standpoint of absolute moralism, but in the context of the renunciant’s commitment to controlling the faculties (indriya). For those who have undertaken the precepts, especially bhikkhus (monks) and bhikkhunīs (nuns), this act is considered a violation of the rules of purity (brahmacariya), because it violates the commitment to restrain the senses and keep away from sensual pleasures (kāma).
Main Content
The Vinaya Piṭaka treats the act of self-gratification through desire as an offense to be corrected according to the procedure of the Sangha. This act is considered wrong because it directly contradicts the vow of one gone forth to live under the discipline that restrains the bodily faculties (kāyaviggaha).
In the context of the Pāli Canon, controlling sexual desire is not meant to condemn the body or human sexuality, but is a tool of practice for freeing the mind from the bonds of craving and sensual pleasure. The Buddha’s method is to understand clearly the nature of desire (taṇhā), rather than to suppress it mechanically.
The Vinaya Piṭaka instructs monks to approach the offending person with compassion and education. Rather than merely punishing, the Buddha encourages a restructuring of understanding and motivation. Those gone forth are encouraged to see self-gratification through desire as a sign of loss of mental control, and as an opportunity to deepen their study of self-discipline.
Practical Meaning
For modern practitioners, this sutta is not relevant only to those who have gone forth, but also carries a broader meaning.
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