How does higher virtue lead to sexier heavenly sensual rebirth?

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Accepted answer

The one asked this question misunderstood what is "superior". Superior means finer, inferior coarser (vulgar). For instance, classical ballet is finer, Beyonce & Lady Gaga dances vulgar. All sensual pleasure are born by greed, finer pleasure with lesser greed whilst coarser with stronger greed. Therefore, "superior sensual pleasure means high level of greed & lust" a wrong analogy - from someone who doesn't have a clear mind or logic got his/er thinking entangled by words misleading himself/herself also others.

The Sutras (likely also found in the Pali canon) mention there six Celestial Realms of Desire. The lowest and Trayastriṃśa (Pali: Tāvatiṃsa) get their xxx pleasures like the humans (while humans shared part similar to the Animal Realm); the 3rd by embracing; in Tuṣita only by holding hands. The highest Desire Realm Parinirmita-vaśavartin gets supreme OGSM simply by looking at each other in the eyes, no physical contact at all.

If one doesn't abide in his/er sincerity to understand the Buddhavacana, but leashed to certain bias that pleased him/er, cherry-picking here there, likely s/he unable to interpret the teaching correctly. Vocalizing Anatta doesn't endorse one the realization of Anatta hence there none "Nibanna" to enter - so to speak; likewise one bolted unconsciously onto his/er pride of superiority even to the point fooled his/er very self - equanimity a far cry, how could this person enter any Jhana?

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Postscript:

One who thinks there *sexier heavenly sensual rebirth*, sorry, no Beyonce for Devas, only the Flying Apsaras performance!

I wonder those masters need anyone to provide any answer; for those their minds already full, no room there! However, other readers may be interested. The question has already had the less undesired answer selected, my post merely for those descendants who got the genes for satire and capable of laugh ~ :D

Upvote:-1

Until one reaches Awakening, there is a pull towards the specific realm that one has achieved in one's culivation.

Each realm has a gradient of corresponding rebirths. Desire realms have increasingly subtle forms of pleasure until one pops out into the Form Realm.

Formless Realm Form Realm Desire Realm (devas, humans, ghosts, animals, etc.)

Most importantly: each realm has a downward pull.

These and more rules of Buddhist cosmological rebirth are explained in the brilliant Buddhist summary: "The Mind Experiment" by professor Bavo Lievens.

Upvote:-1

The problem with this question is the assumption that sensuality by itself always leads to bad outcomes. That's not entirely true. It leads to suffering, but suffering has both good and bad outcomes, which are temporary.

Sensuality combined with good conduct or virtue (sila) leads to good outcomes. This can be seen in AN5.43:

Long life, beauty, status, honor, heaven, high birth: To those who delight in aspiring for these things in great measure, continuously, the wise praise heedfulness in making merit.

The wise person, heedful, acquires a two-fold welfare: welfare in this life & welfare in the next. By breaking through to his welfare he's called prudent, wise.

This theme is continued in DN31:

The wise endowed with virtue shine forth like a burning fire, Gathering wealth as bees do honey And heaping it up like an ant hill. Once wealth is accumulated, Family and household life may follow. By dividing wealth into four parts, True friendships are bound; One part should be enjoyed; Two parts invested in business; And the fourth set aside Against future misfortunes."

Enjoyment of wealth, beauty, status etc. are all sensual experiences that can be positive, if one pursues a meritorious and virtuous life. But of course, nothing is permanent. Suffering continues. All wealth, beauty, status, heavan etc. are not permanent.

After all, sensual desires (kāmachanda), one of the ten fetters, still applies to stream winners and once-returners. So it's not bad in itself.

We can say that sensuality (kāmachanda) combined with virtues (sila) is part of the middle way. To say all sensuality is bad, falls into over-asceticism, away from the middle way.

Upvote:0

I am still baffled by your confusion of pleasure with sexy pleasure! Not all forms are sex, and if they were, then one would be in a pickle! Sometimes even good things can be pleasurable, such as cooking a good meal for someone else.

Upvote:1

According to MN 75, it is the "having conducted himself well" that results in "a happy destination".

  • sensuality + misconduct => unhappy destination
  • sensuality + good conduct => happy destination

Maybe see also What is effluent?

Upvote:2

I would suggest looking at some of the narratives found in the Vimānavatthu of the Khuddakanikāya for some elucidation on this point. There the heavenly rewards granted to laypersons for positive ethical conduct are outlined. Laypersons who provide for the sangha with material requisites and observe the precepts are reborn in heavenly realms where they enjoy various sensual pleasures. These include, for example, having an exquisite golden complexions, dwelling in resplendent mansions, enjoying sweet scents, and hearing divine music, etc. These would all be reckoned as "deva-like sensual pleasures".

Note, however, how in these narratives sexual pleasure is entirely lacking. There are many "nymphs" spoken of in these narratives, but their contribution in affording sensual pleasure to heaven-dwellers is primarily through the use of song, dance, etc., not through sexual intercourse.

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