Masturbation: Does it break the 3rd precept?

If you hold the 5 precepts, it will not break the precept.

Otherwise it breaks the 3rd of 8,10 precepts.

But if others give you, that will break all the 3rd of 5,8 and 10 precept.

Depending on your goals with Buddhism, frequent masturbation is generally violating that precept because it harms the body.

Frequent masturbation is all sorts of sexual misconduct and harms the body-mind:

• Taoist bioenergetics standpoint: "losing jing"
• Usually accompanied by p**n, this trains the mind is various erroneous ways

...

That being said, masturbation performed with the intention to cultivate one's biophysical energies rather than lose them, e.g. kegel practice, multiple o*g**m self-training, is good for oneself in the long-run.

Look, from what I experienced during vipassana, is this: and after a masturbation session after the retreat was done:

• Step 1: You look at some romantic p**n
• Step 2: Your sense lightens up or some emotion, and the mind creates, "oh wow I want that kind of romantic sex, I need a girl friend".
• Step 3: In reality you are not searching for an authentic relationship because the mind was clouded by judgment because you were not observing what was happening when you felt horny and needed to expulse some toxic waste. In truth, that sensation is the you want to just have sex for personal gain, and to numb that pain if you feel lonely for example (my case) ANICCA. For this reason, I CANNOT mast**bate, and need to continue cleaning myself until I find an authentic girlfriend or wife for the right reasons. Sex and masturbation in marriage and with a GF is OK if the person and you have pure love and both judgments are not clouded, but usually in Traditional Chinese medicine there has to be exchange of yin and yang, so, if you do expulse makes sure you are observing what is happening on the surface and inside of the body...

I now understood why I could not just find a girlfriend: because it would have caused her a lot emotional pain and it was not right, and p**nography and masturbation caused a lot of suffering which I was ignorant from, just like a drug addict or a carrot addict.

Don't be surprised you fall in love with women all the time, but make sure to do vipassana and read the Ananda sutta to see more insight. Sex and love are terms that are very well clouded because of our unawarness... which leads to SUFFERING.. I mean look, I am typing something, and boom! the urge to just launch off some nuclear sperm comes to my mind with a tons of PORNO, and wanting a wife. what to do if your a vipatator ( vipassana meditator)?

-1 I accept that face that I am horny and cannot do anything about besides be EQUANIMOUS... -2 My sensation of hornyness is on my stomach and chest, -3 Heart Beats 130 Round per minute lol, breathing becomes faster -4 I decide if I want to or not, but I observe and I am aware, and no shame... -5 it disappears after a while, 10 minutes later comes back again! ANNICCA, same process... observe. Nothing ever lasts, everything changes.....

Sleeping with random women too, creates suffering for them and you.

Masturbation in and of itself is neither harmful, not not harmful. It becomes misconduct and breaks the precept when it involves thoughts of harm to others. If you look at p**nography carefully, you realize the purpose of this form of sexually charged communication is mostly about degradation, disrespect for others, a desire to revel in filth, or to rape, harm others, to act against their wishes, the violation of another person, of a child, or of a mother for example, these are inherently harmful in and of themselves. To make that a part of the self-gratification experience is a violation. Supporting sexual slavey in the p**nographic industry, sex workers, etc.

"Kamesumichachara" means avoiding sexual misconduct, specifically adultery. Men should not engage in sexual activity with women who are protected by their mother, father, relative, or community, women who are already married or engaged, as it can cause distress their husband. Married women should also avoid sexual activity with other men.

There is another type of woman that men should not engage in sexual activity with: "saparidanda" women, who entail punishment. Some interpret this as referring to "women prisoners" (undergoing punishment). Men should also avoid sexual activity with women who are protected by religious sects, such as nuns.

The term "protected" can be understood in different ways. However, ‘atuwa’ is considered a trusted source for interpreting these words.

According to ‘atuwa,’ the concept of protected females is interpreted as follows: for example, Mathu Rakkitha: when her father passed away, her elderly mother provided her with food, clothing, and other necessities with the expectation of arranging her marriage to someone in the future. Similarly, ‘pithu rakkitha,’ goththa rakkitha,’ and others are also interpreted in a similar manner. In ancient Indian times, females usually got married at the ages of 14, 15, or 16. However, the interpretation provided above for ‘atuwa’ does not mention any specific age.

If a guardian behaves in a protective manner (e.g., not allowing her to do what she wants, giving her advice on what she should and should not do, trying to shield her from male attention), she is considered "protected."("teeka" definition)

The following are other interpretations of "protected mean" given by monks:

Age is not a factor; if a female lives under the care of her parents or guardian (lives, depends), she is considered "protected."

if some one engage sex without females' guardian permission, it will break the precept. (age/maturity/independent doesn't matter)

Mature adult females are not considered or belong to the “protected" category.

Personally, I believe that the third (and last) interpretation

HOWEVER, THAT THIRD PRECEPT BREAKS WHEN MEN OR WOMEN ENGAGE IN SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH THE WRONG PARTNERS (BECAUSE THEIR SPOUSE OR GURDIAN DOES NOT LIKE IT). BUT IT DOES NOT BREAK WITHOUT DOING SEX...BUT ACCORDING TO SEXUAL RELATE ACTIVITY (WITHOUT ACUAL SEX) THAT PRECEPT CAN DAMAGE.

IF SOMEONE MASTRUBATE THINKS ABOUT THE WRONG TYPE PARTNER, IT MAY BE LITTLE DAMAGE TO PRECEPT.That means COLLECT LITTLE karmas. BUT NOT BREAK PRECEPT.

This is an issue you really have to investigate for yourself whilst being mindful of what has been said elsewhere. Masturbation should be meditated upon and an attempt made to analyse what you are doing. Partly that is also about the rights and wrongs of it.

Imagine a man sees a woman who is a complete stranger to him during the day and is aroused, or sees an online picture, and later mast**bates by bringing the image of her into his mind. Having never had the opportunity to have met the woman and found out if she resonated with him on other levels of being such as the emotional, is this then really just pure lust for her physical form?

After all suppose they actually met face to face. Perhaps they would have nothing in common, didn't actually like each other etc etc.

It helps to consider the reality that the form is just one aspect of the woman, and that relationship with her in reality would not just involve the form that is known about, but those other aspects of her being which are not known about.

That is the woman is considered in her totality.

Furthermore relationship in reality is a two - way thing. In reality she just might not be interested in the least.

It helps to try and draw reality into the created fantasy.

Anyway I think I've given a flavour of the kind of considerations that might be helpful.

Masturbation does not transgress the 3rd precept.

Yet, pursuing thoughts of sexuality is considered unskillful as they contribute to further becoming (bhava), which in turn leads to further dukkha.

However, long term forced sexual repression only for the sake of keeping a precept is also counterproductive. I have met a few people who have decided to be brahmachari while living a household life and developed very negative and hostile views towards women.

Sexual desire should be uprooted from the root with wisdom and compassion, not suppressed because of a rule.

Monastics have to abstain from all sexual activity. This is extremely difficult for the average man. This requires a proper environment, internal (mind) and external, proper preparation, developing proper views and thoughts, and proper support.

For lay people, the Buddha recommended abstaining from all sexual activity including masturbation, any sort of entertainment, at least once a week by under taking the Uposatha precepts.

"For all their lives the arahants dwell having abandoned unchaste conduct, they are of chaste conduct, living aloof, refrain from sex which is the way of common society; so today I dwell, for this night and day, having abandoned unchaste conduct, I am of chaste conduct, living aloof, refraining from sex which is the common way of society. By this practice, following after the arahants, the Uposatha will be entered on by me"

Visakhuposatha Sutta: The Discourse to Visakha on the Uposatha with the Eight Practices

"It's no gain for you, it's ill-gotten, that in this life so endangered by grief, in this life so endangered by death, you sometimes observe the eight-factored uposatha and sometimes don't."

The Sakka Sutta where the Buddha strongly urges the keeping of the Uposatha

There are multiple answers in the link you posted that explain what sexual misconduct is and masturbation cannot be considered among the ranks of actions named sexual misconduct.

Now you MAY have a case if you use the word sensual misconduct as the translation, then actions like over eating and excessive masturbation could be considered abuse of the senses.

Masturbation does not alter the mind state. If you look deep enough, masturbation is done BECAUSE of a mind state. Masturbation is only an issue for monastics, and is not something the laity need to go fret too much about, at least until such time as the practice starts to show them the futility of sexual actions, then it naturally falls away.

From what I've heard, masturbation or fantasizing about people other than your partner won't break the 3rd precept. But it weakens it. Just like harming animals doesn't break the 1st precept until you actually kill. But it will weaken any merits you get by keeping to the 1st precept apart from creating lot of bad Karma for yourself.

Masturbation is unwholesome just like getting angry is unwholesome. Getting angry is not recommended, but it is not against a precept.

I think there is confusion with abrahmacariya precept taken with 8 and 10 precepts. This precept replaces the third sexual misconduct precept of regular followers and requires complete celibacy. Abstinence from sensual pleasures are covered in this rule and also in the other higher precepts included in the eight/ten group. These precepts are taken by serious lay followers and novice monks.

Bhikkhus must do manata/parivasa (probation) if they do such an act. It is very serious for a monk to do such a thing and very serious legal act to rehabilitate. Often, separate "prison monasteries" are set up for this purpose in Asia because of the difficulties in the logistics to carry out such a task.

Novice monks ask to do chores (danda kamma) if they break this. It should be noted that the only difference in precepts of a layperson and a novice monk is the tenth precept of not using the money. As far as the third precept (sexual misconduct) is concerned for the five precept yogi; "It takes two to tango."