The Buddha’s Philosophy On Sex

The Buddha’s Philosophy On Sex

Buddha can be said to have lots of interesting, and sometimes even controversial, views. After all, a spiritual leader doesn’t have the luxury of just talking about “fluff” all day long.

They have to talk about things that’re difficult, things that might rock the boat…and more importantly, things people can relate to. Buddha certainly wasn’t a stranger to this.

He understood that the more accessible and relatable his message was, the more people would follow his teachings. And one of the most controversial and fundamental aspects of life- sex- was certainly one of the most relatable and interesting things to discuss.

Buddha (before he became Buddha) had Sex

Most people fail to realize that Buddha was first and foremost a man.

He was a prince, a husband, and a father…so he underwent all the things a normal man goes through sexually.

This meant as a monk and renunciant, he fully understood what a householder underwent.

But he also ended his sexual desire in nirvana.

The Problem with Sex

The problem with sex, from a Buddhist standpoint, is not the activity of sex; rather it’s the desire for sex. You could have sex 10,000 times, and still want it 10,001. That’s because the activity of sex will never satisfy the underlying desire.

Desire is never ending and can never be fulfilled. But nirvana is different. Nirvana is the cessation of desire, because through that uplifted consciousness, all other sensory attachments become less important.

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Acknowledgement

Is it a sin to have sex for pleasure in Buddhism?

Not at all.

But it is limiting.

It’s limiting just like other desires, because we are capable of so much more.

Desire begins with the assumption that you are incomplete, and that you must add something to your life to make you happier- but Buddha taught that you are already whole and complete, you just have to remember it. He also taught that you must acknowledge your desires. Be honest with yourself. No suppression.

Once you learn to see how desires can’t give you true happiness, they start to lose control over you. Then you begin to see the path to real fulfillment…and eventually enlightenment.