San Mg Bu Pm Pj 1Sexual Intercourse
Pāli / Sanskrit:Methunadhamma
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Commentary on Methunadhamma (The Discourse on Sexual Intercourse)
Background
Methunadhamma (methuna = sexual intercourse; dhamma = phenomenon, rule of law) is one of the fundamental regulations recorded in the Vinaya Piṭaka of the Pāli Canon. This text appears in the Pārajika (defeat) section of the Bhikkhunī Vibhaṅga, which sets forth the most strictly prohibited conduct for Buddhist monastics.
The historical context of this discourse is the time when the Blessed One Śākyamuni was still present in the world and the Saṅgha had been established, necessitating clear rules for communal life. He promulgated these regulations not on account of any arbitrarily constructed danger, but in order to protect monastics from the coarsest forms of sensual passion—things regarded as standing in direct opposition to the celibate life in search of liberation (brahmacarya).
Principal Content
In the Vinaya Piṭaka, engaging in sexual conduct (sexual intercourse with any kind of being whatsoever) is classified as Pārajika—an offense of defeat. Should a monastic commit any of these acts, they are immediately expelled from the Saṅgha and may not return as a full member.
The discourse does not merely prohibit these actions; it stipulates with great clarity that regardless of intention or circumstance, any participation in sexual conduct constitutes an unconditional violation. This stringency reflects the understanding that sensuality is the greatest obstacle on the path of practice, being the craving (taṇhā) that leads beings into suffering and rebirth.
Methunadhamma is regarded as the weightiest offense among the four Pārajika rules, because it represents the complete abandonment of the celibate life that the monastic has vowed to uphold. It is not merely a transgression of pleasure but a betrayal of the fundamental vow: "The bhikkhunī who is devoted to the training renounces sexual intercourse—renounces sensual sexual pleasure, remains far removed, separated from such things."
Practical Significance
Even for those who are not monastics who have gone forth from household life, Methunadhamma offers a profound lesson regarding the nature of sensual desire and the way in which it governs one's existence.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.