AN 7 The Book of the Sevens – Sattakanipāta > AN 7.50 Sex

Numbered Discourses 7.50 – Aṅguttara Nikāya 7.50

5. A Great Sacrifice – 5. Mahāyaññavagga

AN 7.50 Sex – Methunasutta

1.1

Then the brahmin Jāṇussoṇi went up to the Buddha, and exchanged greetings with him.

Atha kho jāṇussoṇi brāhmaṇo yena bhagavā tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā bhagavatā saddhiṁ sammodi.

1.2

When the greetings and polite conversation were over, he sat down to one side and said to the Buddha,

Sammodanīyaṁ kathaṁ sāraṇīyaṁ vītisāretvā ekamantaṁ nisīdi. Ekamantaṁ nisinno kho jāṇussoṇi brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

1.3

“Does Master Gotama claim to be celibate?”

“bhavampi no gotamo brahmacārī paṭijānātī”ti?

1.4

“Brahmin, if anyone should be rightly said to

“Yañhi taṁ, brāhmaṇa, sammā vadamāno vadeyya:

1.5

live the celibate life unbroken, impeccable, spotless, and unmarred, full and pure, it’s me.”

‘akhaṇḍaṁ acchiddaṁ asabalaṁ akammāsaṁ paripuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ caratī’ti, mameva taṁ, brāhmaṇa, sammā vadamāno vadeyya:

1.6

‘ahañhi, brāhmaṇa, akhaṇḍaṁ acchiddaṁ asabalaṁ akammāsaṁ paripuṇṇaṁ parisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ carāmī’”ti.

1.7

“But what, Master Gotama, is a break, taint, stain, or mar in celibacy?”

“Kiṁ pana, bho gotama, brahmacariyassa khaṇḍampi chiddampi sabalampi kammāsampī”ti?

2.1

“Firstly, an ascetic or brahmin who claims to be perfectly celibate does not mutually engage in sex with a female.

“Idha, brāhmaṇa, ekacco samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā sammā brahmacārī paṭijānamāno na heva kho mātugāmena saddhiṁ dvayaṁdvayasamāpattiṁ samāpajjati;

2.2

However, they consent to being anointed, massaged, bathed, and rubbed by a female.

api ca kho mātugāmassa ucchādanaparimaddananhāpanasambāhanaṁ sādiyati.

2.3

They enjoy it and like it and find it satisfying.

So taṁ assādeti, taṁ nikāmeti, tena ca vittiṁ āpajjati.

2.4

This is a break, taint, stain, or mar in celibacy.

Idampi kho, brāhmaṇa, brahmacariyassa khaṇḍampi chiddampi sabalampi kammāsampi.

2.5

This is called one who lives the celibate life impurely, tied to the fetter of sex. They’re not freed from rebirth, old age, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. They’re not freed from suffering, I say.

Ayaṁ vuccati, brāhmaṇa, aparisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ carati, saṁyutto methunena saṁyogena na parimuccati jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, na parimuccati dukkhasmāti vadāmi.

3.1

Furthermore, an ascetic or brahmin who claims to be perfectly celibate does not mutually engage in sex with a female. Nor do they consent to massage and bathing.

Puna caparaṁ, brāhmaṇa, idhekacco samaṇo vā brāhmaṇo vā sammā brahmacārī paṭijānamāno na heva kho mātugāmena saddhiṁ dvayaṁdvayasamāpattiṁ samāpajjati, napi mātugāmassa ucchādanaparimaddananhāpanasambāhanaṁ sādiyati;

3.2

However, they giggle and play and have fun with females. …

api ca kho mātugāmena saddhiṁ sañjagghati saṅkīḷati saṅkelāyati …pe….

4.1

Napi mātugāmena saddhiṁ sañjagghati saṅkīḷati saṅkelāyati;

4.2

they gaze into a female’s eyes. …

api ca kho mātugāmassa cakkhunā cakkhuṁ upanijjhāyati pekkhati …pe….

5.1

Napi mātugāmassa cakkhunā cakkhuṁ upanijjhāyati pekkhati;

5.2

they listen through a wall or rampart to the sound of females laughing or chatting or singing or crying. …

api ca kho mātugāmassa saddaṁ suṇāti tirokuṭṭaṁ vā tiropākāraṁ vā hasantiyā vā bhaṇantiyā vā gāyantiyā vā rodantiyā vā …pe….

6.1

Napi mātugāmassa saddaṁ suṇāti tirokuṭṭaṁ vā tiropākāraṁ vā hasantiyā vā bhaṇantiyā vā gāyantiyā vā rodantiyā vā;

6.2

they recall when they used to laugh, chat, and have fun with females …

api ca kho yānissa tāni pubbe mātugāmena saddhiṁ hasitalapitakīḷitāni tāni anussarati …pe….

7.1

Napi yānissa tāni pubbe mātugāmena saddhiṁ hasitalapitakīḷitāni tāni anussarati;

7.2

they see a householder or their child amusing themselves, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation. …

api ca kho passati gahapatiṁ vā gahapatiputtaṁ vā pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappitaṁ samaṅgībhūtaṁ paricārayamānaṁ …pe….

8.1

They don’t see a householder or their child amusing themselves, supplied and provided with the five kinds of sensual stimulation.

Napi passati gahapatiṁ vā gahapatiputtaṁ vā pañcahi kāmaguṇehi samappitaṁ samaṅgībhūtaṁ paricārayamānaṁ;

8.2

However, they live the celibate life wishing to be reborn in one of the orders of gods. They think: ‘By this precept or observance or mortification or spiritual life, may I become one of the gods!’

api ca kho aññataraṁ devanikāyaṁ paṇidhāya brahmacariyaṁ carati imināhaṁ sīlena vā vatena vā tapena vā brahmacariyena vā devo vā bhavissāmi devaññataro vāti.

8.3

They enjoy it and like it and find it satisfying.

So taṁ assādeti, taṁ nikāmeti, tena ca vittiṁ āpajjati.

8.4

This is a break, taint, stain, or mar in celibacy.

Idampi kho, brāhmaṇa, brahmacariyassa khaṇḍampi chiddampi sabalampi kammāsampi.

8.5

This is called one who lives the celibate life impurely, tied to the fetter of sex. They’re not free from rebirth, old age, death, sorrow, lamentation, pain, sadness, and distress. They’re not free from suffering, I say.

Ayaṁ vuccati, brāhmaṇa, aparisuddhaṁ brahmacariyaṁ carati saṁyutto methunena saṁyogena, na parimuccati jātiyā jarāya maraṇena sokehi paridevehi dukkhehi domanassehi upāyāsehi, na parimuccati dukkhasmāti vadāmi.

9.1

As long as I saw that these seven sexual fetters—or even one of them—had not been given up in me, I didn’t announce my supreme perfect awakening in this world with its gods, Māras, and Brahmās, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans.

Yāvakīvañcāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imesaṁ sattannaṁ methunasaṁyogānaṁ aññataraññataramethunasaṁyogaṁ attani appahīnaṁ samanupassiṁ, neva tāvāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya anuttaraṁ sammāsambodhiṁ abhisambuddhoti paccaññāsiṁ.

10.1

But when I saw that these seven sexual fetters—every one of them—had been given up in me, I announced my supreme perfect awakening in this world with its gods, Māras, and Brahmās, this population with its ascetics and brahmins, its gods and humans.

Yato ca khohaṁ, brāhmaṇa, imesaṁ sattannaṁ methunasaṁyogānaṁ aññataraññataramethunasaṁyogaṁ attani appahīnaṁ na samanupassiṁ, athāhaṁ, brāhmaṇa, sadevake loke samārake sabrahmake sassamaṇabrāhmaṇiyā pajāya sadevamanussāya anuttaraṁ sammāsambodhiṁ abhisambuddhoti paccaññāsiṁ.

10.2

Knowledge and vision arose in me:

‘Ñāṇañca pana me dassanaṁ udapādi,

10.3

‘My freedom is unshakable; this is my last rebirth; now there’ll be no more future lives.’”

akuppā me vimutti, ayamantimā jāti, natthi dāni punabbhavo’”ti.

11.1

When he said this, the brahmin Jāṇussoṇi said to the Buddha,

Evaṁ vutte, jāṇussoṇi brāhmaṇo bhagavantaṁ etadavoca:

11.2

“Excellent, Master Gotama! Excellent! …

“abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama, abhikkantaṁ, bho gotama …pe…

11.3

From this day forth, may Master Gotama remember me as a lay follower who has gone for refuge for life.”

upāsakaṁ maṁ bhavaṁ gotamo dhāretu ajjatagge pāṇupetaṁ saraṇaṁ gatan”ti.

11.4

Sattamaṁ.