Xct Mu Bu Pm Ss 1Masturbation
Pāli / Sanskrit:Sukkavisaṭṭhi
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Sukkavisaṭṭhi Sutta: Exposition on Sexual Misconduct
Context
In the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, the Vinaya Piṭaka is the collection of rules and training instructions for the fourfold assembly of disciples, especially bhikkhus and bhikkhunīs. The Sukkavisaṭṭhi Sutta appears in the Pācittiya section, offenses requiring confession and purification. This sutta was taught by the Buddha to protect the purity of the Sangha and guide practitioners in maintaining purity of body, speech, and mind.
The context of the sutta concerns a bhikkhu who violated discipline through the act of touching his own sexual organ. Seeing that this had occurred, the Buddha established a training rule in order to instruct. This is not discrimination or harsh condemnation, but a means of wise guidance, helping practitioners clearly recognize that such actions run contrary to the aim of the life of practice.
Main Content
Sukkavisaṭṭhi literally means “the touching of one’s own sexual organ” (sukka = urine, semen; visaṭṭhi = touching, contact). In the Pācittiya, the sutta teaches that if a bhikkhu performs this act, whether for any reason such as seeking pleasure or cleaning, he commits a Pācittiya offense, that is, an offense requiring confession before the Sangha.
The important point is that the sutta does not condemn only the physical act, but emphasizes the state of mind (citta). The act of sexual self-touching reflects a failure to restrain desire (kāma-taṇhā) and to guard the sense faculties (indriya-saṃvara). These are basic factors that a practitioner must develop in order to move toward liberation.
The sutta also contains the principle that purity is not shown only in appearance or custom, but must arise from the cleanliness of the mind. When discipline is violated, the practitioner must undertake confession (patthanissagga) and learn again the ethical standards.
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