Aṅguttara Nikāya
Sattaka Nipāta
Mahāyañña-Vagga
Sutta 47
Methuna Suttaɱ
Sexuality
Translated from the Pali
by Sister Upalavanna
[1][pts][olds] The Brāhman Jānussoṇi approached The Blessed One, exchanged friendly greetings, sat on a side and said:
Good Gotama, do you acknowledge leading a holy life?
Brāhman, saying it correctly, The holy life should be lead pure and complete without a break, defects, spots and consistently.
I live the holy life pure and complete, without a break, without defects, spots and consistently.
Good Gotama, what are the breaks, defects, spots and inconsistencies in the holy life?
Here, Brāhman, a certain recluse or Brāhman promising to live the holy life rightfully, does not enter into a secret association with a woman but enjoys rubbing, massaging, shampooing and other negligences.
He enjoys them, strives for them and prospers with them.
Brāhman, these are interruptions, defects, spots and inconsistencies of the holy life.
Brāhman to this I say, leading an impure holy life enjoying sexuality not released from birth, decay, death, grief, wailing, unpleasantness displeasure and distress.
Again, Brāhman a certain recluse or Brāhman promising to live the holy life rightfully, does not enter into a secret association with a woman. Does not enjoy rubbing, massaging, shampooing and other negligences. Yet jokes and jests, sports, amuses himself, ... re ...
Does not joke, jest, sport or amuse himself with a woman. Yet eye to eye meets with a woman. ... re ...
Does not meet with a woman eye to eye. Yet hears the sound of a woman, across a wall, an embankment, either laughing, talking, singing or crying ... re ...
Does not hear the sound of a woman across a wall or embankment, laughing, talking, singing or crying. Yet recalls laughing, talking and sporting in the past ... re ...
Does not recall laughing, talking, and sporting in the past. Yet sees a householder or the son of a householder endowed and attended by the five strands of sense pleasures ... re ...
Does not see a householder or the son of a householder endowed and attended with the five strands of sense pleasures. Yet leads the holy life aspiring birth in a certain clan of gods. With my virtues, observances, austerities, and leading of the holy life I should be a god, or a certain god.
He enjoys, strives and prospers in it.
Brāhman these are interruptions, defects, spots and inconsistencies of the holy life.
Brāhman to this I say, leading an impure holy life enjoying sexuality not released from birth, decay, death, grief, wailing, unpleasantness displeasure and distress.
Brāhman, as long as these seven ways of enjoying sexuality were not dispelled in me I did not declare my rightful attainment of noble enlightenment to the world, together with gods and men, Māra, Brahma recluses and Brahmins and the Community of recluses and Brahmins.[1]
Knowledge and vision arose to me, unshakable is my release, this sis my last birth, now there is no more rebirth.
When this was said the Brāhman Jānussoṇi said to The Blessed One:
Good Gotama, I understand! Remember me as a lay disciple who has taken refuge from today until life lasts.
[1] S.U. omits the converse here.
