The philosophy challenges us to think about sexual ethics very differently from how most of us have been taught. The topic for tonight is the buddhist view toward sexual ethics In general, in buddhism, we always try to follow a middle path, and so regarding sexuality, we want to avoid two extremes One extreme is that of being very strict and severe This view looks at sexuality as something dirty and, basically, bad But, then, we also want to avoid the other extreme, which is the attitude toward sex.
So what is misconduct in buddhist context Broadly, sexual misconduct can be considered as having sex with an underage person, one in spiritual training/sworn on celibacy, married, or engaged person, or any act that is prohibited by the law (e.g The various buddhist traditions of asia have ceremonies for consecrating images of the buddha, in which the spirit of the buddha is invited to descend into the statue or painting, so that when buddhists recite prayers or make offerings to the image, they are making offerings to the buddha himself. When it comes to sex, western buddhists tend to be fairly liberal But as scholar josé cabezón explains, buddhist tradition takes a much more conservative approach, prohibiting, among other things, oral or anal sex, male homosexuality, and even sex during daylight hours He challenges us not to dismiss traditional buddhist views on sexuality but rather to critically examine them, beginning.
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