HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON PROHIBITIONS AGAINST SEXUAL ACTIVITY FOR BUDDHIST MONKS: A CASE STUDY FROM THE VINAYA PITAKA

Abstract

     This academic article aims to analyze sexual narratives found in the Vinaya Pitaka as historical evidence, presenting a reflection of sexual activities within the monastic community during the Buddha’s time. It also examines the relationship between monastic behavior and the socio-cultural context of ancient Indian society by studying both primary and secondary sources. The study reveals that several Vinaya rules explicitly mention the sexual expressions of monks, ranging from conventional sexual behavior to more unconventional acts. This suggests that, despite the monastic institution’s emphasis on celibacy, the natural presence of sexual desire remained among the monks. Furthermore, the study finds that monastic sexual behavior in the past was not significantly different from contemporary scandals involving the clergy. However, the decline of Buddhism is often interpreted through a conceptual framework that views the past as a golden age and the present as a period of deterioration. This perspective aligns with the Hindu concept of the Kalachakra, which divides the world's ages into four eras, with the present Kali Yuga being an age of chaos and moral decline.

     Nonetheless, the detailed regulations on monastic sexual conduct in the Vinaya Pitaka serve as evidence that sexual desire is an inherent and inescapable aspect of human nature, which cannot be entirely suppressed. While religious institutions seek to establish behavioral standards for monks to distinguish them from laypeople and maintain public faith, social and biological factors continue to shape human sexual behavior across different historical periods.