Lust

• Isis

  13 Apr 11, 14:32

  This is a recurring topic in this forum. I read that it is essential to cut lust if one wants to be liberated from birth and death. How do you deal with this feeling of lust in a wise way ? Lust is a very strong defilement.

  1) Is having too much lust conducive for lasting happiness?

  2) Why are there gays / lesbian / bisexual and sexual perverts around?

  3) Any solutions to deal with lust in a wise way.

   

   

   

   

• ahtiong

  13 Apr 11, 20:30

  hmmm how come you lump "gays / lesbian / bisexual" with "sexual perverts" ?

• Isis

  13 Apr 11, 21:13

  eh .... i can group 1 to 4 ....... if u want me to?

• Weychin

  13 Apr 11, 22:39

  Lust is a strong craving, start by being aware of it as preoccupation, and it as a source of unhappiness. 

  Accepting that lust is causing unhappiness, and therefore unsatisfactory, is the first step.

• Fcukpap

  13 Apr 11, 22:49

  middle way in all things would serve as the best motto...

   

• Summer120706

  13 Apr 11, 22:57

  Be surrounded by positve people and good actvities. Once your mind is not filled with filth from internet, t.v, movies... you won't be overwhelmed wth lust .

  It all begins in the mind.

  Curb that.

• Fcukpap

  13 Apr 11, 22:57

  some passion could be misdirected after an extremely tragic or sad relationship

• Fcukpap

  13 Apr 11, 23:00

  one needs to be human to achieve certain human understanding 

• An Eternal Now

  14 Apr 11, 07:25

  1) too much lust is not only not conducive for happiness, it is conducive for rebirth in the animal and hungry ghost realm

  2) wide host of factors like environmental influence. genetics play a part too

  3) practice seeing others as your brothers and sisters or uncles and aunties. practice contemplating the impurity of the body. practice guarding your six sense doors

• An Eternal Now

  14 Apr 11, 07:36

  http://buddhism.sgforums.com/forums/1728/topics/268057
• Isis

  14 Apr 11, 18:54

  Lust is like any form of attachment which can be very difficult to look after. “Combating” lust that accompanys with aversion  may not be the most correct way. Contemplating on 32 parts of the body helps in dealing with attachment of form. But I need is diligence in practicing it and building on my reserve of strength & wisdom

  When lust arises very strongly, sometime it can be very difficult to be mindful of. As of these few days, I come across some dharma materials which resonate with me that most of us run after TV / Music / games , any form of external pleasure for comfort. It just temporarily covers up the suffering which has always been inside us. 

  As accordance to 4 noble truth, there is a way out of suffering and so we shall not despair when we have despair...

  Anyway, I found this when I was browsing for some inspiration online:

  “ The advice is always the same: watch the emotion arise, notice that there was a time when it was not and know that there is a time when it will no longer be. Let it flow through you as you notice your breath as it comes and goes. Let it become gentle.

  Of course there is a lot said and written about lust, anger, greed, etc., but they are all the same, in the end: transitory events.

  As ever, the choice is yours whether to give in and wallow in the feeling or to stay balanced and gently amused by the ingenuity of our body/mind to distract us from equanimity.”

  And

  “ Lust is managed with right view regarding sexuality. Right view regarding sexuality is based in the perception of what his harmful sexual conduct and what is not. If we do not have a clear perception of what is harmful and not harmful in regards to sexuality, it will be difficult to manage lust.”

  And

  “In accordance to Venerable Hsuan Hua, it is important to cut off lust if one is sincere in getting out cycle of birth and death.”

   

• Almond Cookies

  14 Apr 11, 19:30

   

• Almond Cookies

  14 Apr 11, 19:33

  How to reduce lust?

• Almond Cookies

  14 Apr 11, 19:35

  Originally posted by Isis:

  Lust is like any form of attachment which can be very difficult to look after. “Combating” lust that accompanys with aversion  may not be the most correct way. Contemplating on 32 parts of the body helps in dealing with attachment of form. But I need is diligence in practicing it and building on my reserve of strength & wisdom

  When lust arises very strongly, sometime it can be very difficult to be mindful of. As of these few days, I come across some dharma materials which resonate with me that most of us run after TV / Music / games , any form of external pleasure for comfort. It just temporarily covers up the suffering which has always been inside us. 

  As accordance to 4 noble truth, there is a way out of suffering and so we shall not despair when we have despair...

  Anyway, I found this when I was browsing for some inspiration online:

   

  “ The advice is always the same: watch the emotion arise, notice that there was a time when it was not and know that there is a time when it will no longer be. Let it flow through you as you notice your breath as it comes and goes. Let it become gentle.

  Of course there is a lot said and written about lust, anger, greed, etc., but they are all the same, in the end: transitory events.

  As ever, the choice is yours whether to give in and wallow in the feeling or to stay balanced and gently amused by the ingenuity of our body/mind to distract us from equanimity.”

  And

  “ Lust is managed with right view regarding sexuality. Right view regarding sexuality is based in the perception of what his harmful sexual conduct and what is not. If we do not have a clear perception of what is harmful and not harmful in regards to sexuality, it will be difficult to manage lust.”

  And

  “In accordance to Venerable Hsuan Hua, it is important to cut off lust if one is sincere in getting out cycle of birth and death.”

   

  
  32 parts of the body????

• Isis

  14 Apr 11, 22:34

  Originally posted by Almond Cookies:

  
  32 parts of the body????

  
  it is a form of meditation

• Amitayus48

  15 Apr 11, 23:27

  Practice Amitabha buddha / Goddess of Mercy's name recitation / remembrance, and vow to Amitabha Land of ulitmate bliss.

• sinweiy

  16 Apr 11, 12:47

  true, i read a chinese book all stressing on lust that one can seek the help of Guan Yin bodhisattva. one way is visualise Guan Yin bodhisattva using His ç”˜éœ²"holy" water to extinguish one's sexual fire/desire/passion in oneself.

  also can don't eat garlic, onion etc of the five pungent spices.

• Isis

  17 Apr 11, 00:22

  Yes indeed. There are many methods but sometime has to stick to one main practice.

  I know i have nuture my compassion more and by chanting Om Mani Padme Hum will helps as accordance to the sutta :)

• Almond Cookies

  20 Apr 11, 19:46

  How can buddhism help me on dirty thoughts?

  I practise meditation/chanting can help me on this?

• Lotusea

  20 Apr 11, 22:21

  It is helpful to meditate/chant on thought instead of dirty.
• sinweiy

  23 Apr 11, 09:37

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• 2009novice

  23 Apr 11, 12:25

  Yes nian fo can distract you away from lustful thoughts.. It is because when our mind can only have one thought at one second, while you nianfo, u are actually distracting or pulling yourself away from these unwholesome thoughts... (lol that was learnt in the Amitabha introductory class)

  for those who don't nianfo... think of Di Zang Bodhisattva's warning in the sutras

  若�邪淫者，说雀鸽鸳鸯报 (http://www.bfnn.org/bookgb/books/0016.htm)

  Cause I fear of hells.... I always imagine the doors of hell opening each time i have evil thoughts....

  if those who still don't believe in Hells, please look at science now. Medical science is advanced but could not heal all diseases... don't regret until it is too late....

• Almond Cookies

  23 Apr 11, 15:20

  Originally posted by 2009novice:

  Yes nian fo can distract you away from lustful thoughts.. It is because when our mind can only have one thought at one second, while you nianfo, u are actually distracting or pulling yourself away from these unwholesome thoughts... (lol that was learnt in the Amitabha introductory class)

  for those who don't nianfo... think of Di Zang Bodhisattva's warning in the sutras

  若�邪淫者，说雀鸽鸳鸯报 (http://www.bfnn.org/bookgb/books/0016.htm)

  Cause I fear of hells.... I always imagine the doors of hell opening each time i have evil thoughts....

  if those who still don't believe in Hells, please look at science now. Medical science is advanced but could not heal all diseases... don't regret until it is too late....

  But you can't constantly nian fo ma.

   

• An Eternal Now

  23 Apr 11, 18:52

  you must understand that whatever you practice, you cant expect results like removal of lust just overnight. it takes gradual practice and attainment. if you are able to overcome lust, that means you no longer have the cause to be reborn in the sensual plane. it means you have attained the stage of anagami. if overcoming cravings were that easy, everyone would have accomplished the four noble truths by now and become liberated. but thusness has spoken from experience that it is totally possible to overcome lust. but you need to have deep insights into anatta and impermanence until dispassion (lack of passionate feelings) arises.

  the attainment of insight and samadhi is able to permanently burn away fetters

  that is why insight meditation is so important

  before that, we can only apply measures to temporarily treat arising lust. whatever ways you try to lessen lust is merely a skillful measure to treat the problem, suppress the symptoms, but it does not uproot the source of craving. chanting is one way as mentioned by people.

  chanting is like putting a stone on the grass so it stops sprouting. like i said, you cant expect results just overnight. but when your chanting builds a momentum, you will be able to go on auto chanting mode throughout your waking and sleep states. even if you have nightmares in dreams, your chanting is able to serve as a positive force and momentum for you to overcome problems and remain calm. and of course the same goes for waking life and facing lust.

  that said chanting does not uproot the problem, like i said chanting is like a stone put on grass/weed to stop it from going. but to uproot the fetters from its roots, you need realization, experience, right view, and samadhi. at that point you can attain the stage of overcoming the fetters and be freed from samsara.

• Almond Cookies

  23 Apr 11, 19:21

  Of course chanting temporarily divert the attention away from thoughts ( not only lust other thoughts too).

  But chanting is meritorious still.

  Of cos accordingly to buddhism,only enlightened people are free from such problem.