Ask A Monk: Pornography and Masturbation (and Addiction in General)
Why Buddhism Stack Exchange recommends it
Buddhism Stack Exchange answerers point people to it when asked how to deal with lust, porn, masturbation or other addictions from a Theravada perspective, since it gives a step-by-step approach.
Recommended by 4 people across 10 different months, 2015 to 2025.
What it is
A 37-minute Q&A talk from Yuttadhammo Bhikkhu's 'Ask A Monk' series, answering a viewer who feels addicted to pornography and masturbation. He explains addiction through Dependent Origination and ignorance, and offers insight-meditation methods for watching triggers and seeing the object of craving clearly.
What people said
Recommends user2424 · 2015-03 · Buddhism Stack Exchange · on “As per buddism, how is it possible to leave behind my obsession with drugs?”
I do not feel qualified to answer your question in depth. That is why i would like to point you towards these video talks by Ven. Yuttadhammo : Drug and Alcohol addiction: [LINK] Strong attachments: [LINK] Pornography and masturbation (addiction in general): [this video] These are very informative videos and i think they could help you out and cast some light onto this topic from a theravada buddhist perspective. Are you familiar with the doctrine of dependent origination ? It would be a good idea to study that doctrine since it will tell you how the links in addiction is created and how they can be broken and stopped at various parts of the cycle. Of course this studying needs to be combined wit
Recommends OidaOudenEidos · 2016-01 · Buddhism Stack Exchange · on “Did the Buddha have special instructions to deal with masturbation?”
I think this will be helpful: Ask A Monk: Pornography and Masturbation (and Addiction in General) [this video] Here is a summary what's said in the video (heavily paraphrased): The first way to overcome an addiction is re-evaluate it: the Buddha started his talk on DO with 'ignorance'; it's not addiction that's the problem, why do we crave? It's because of ignorance, i.e. misunderstanding the object of our desires. It's not that we have to cut something out, what we have to do is see the object clearly. We're addicted because we don't understand (if we did understand then we wouldn't cling). Your thinking that it's a problem means that you don't want to think about it. Instead of not thinking abo
Recommends user2424 · 2017-05 · Buddhism Stack Exchange · on “Sexual Desire, Masturbating and Asuba Bawana”
What should i do at such times? Should i just satisfy myself mindfully or just keep killing the thoughts? I would recommend watching the video; "Ask A Monk: Pornography and Masturbation (and Addiction in General)" [this video] by Ven. Yuttadhammo. He gives an in-depth and detailed teaching on exactly this topic both from a theoretical perspective and a practical insight meditational perspective. A step-by-step guide on how to deal with these defilements is provided in the video.
Recommends ruben2020 · 2017-09 · Buddhism Stack Exchange · on “Dealing with Lust”
The YouTube video " Ask A Monk: Pornography and Masturbation (and Addiction in General) [this video] " by Ven. Yuttadhammo [LINK] may be helpful to you. He discusses "interior causes for such lust" from the perspective of Dependent Origination [LINK] in the video. He says that we can break the cause of the arising of lust through wisdom. One way suggested by him is to mentally take apart and analyze the parts of the body (the so-called contemplation on unattractiveness or asubha). You can find some info in this question [LINK] and this question [LINK] . But also see this answer [LINK] - this type of contemplation should be replaced with the mindfulness of breathing if it triggers negative thought
Recommends user2424 · 2018-01 · Buddhism Stack Exchange · on “Does Buddhism have an answer to disturbing sexual fantasies?”
Does Buddhism have a solution to cure these sexual disorders? I would recommend watching the video; "Ask A Monk: Pornography and Masturbation (and Addiction in General)" [this video] by Ven. Yuttadhammo. He gives an in-depth and detailed teaching on exactly this topic both from a theoretical perspective and a practical, insight meditational , perspective. A step-by-step guide on how to deal with these defilements is provided in the video. May this be of use to you.
Recommends Murathan1 · 2019-03 · Buddhism Stack Exchange · on “Sensory Pleasure as a Hindrance on the Path”
Being at least temporarily celibate is required for intensive practise which can lead a person to enlightenment in a short period of time. Temporary celibacy and intensive mindfulness practise all day long with effort can lead a person to enlightenment in a short period of time. So refraining from sexuality and sensuality in general can make the spiritual progress easier. Ven. Yuttadhammo's teachings can be helpful for the people who has an intention to start an intensive practise: [this video] But most of the human actions can't stop progressing in the path or even attaining enlightenment(except things like hurting others etc. can lead a person to hell or hell-like future lifes instead of Nibban
Recommends ruben2020 · 2020-08 · Buddhism Stack Exchange · on “For an "advanced practitioner" (sorry), how to view "addictions" (or bad habits) correctly? How to practice?”
If those "addictions" are very mild and do not have any significant consequences, then just let it go when you transgress your rules, but try to stick to them the next time. They should not cause you remorse and mental anguish. After all, if you're post stream-entry, then you're free of the fetter of attachment or clinging to mere rules and ritual ( silabbata-paramasa ), in the way mentioned in Andrei's answer. Being a stickler to following minor rules to the letter, is an expression of this fetter, in my opinion. Your question also appear to hint at perfectionism - but this I think is part of the higher fetter of conceit ( māna ). Having desire for good food sometimes is also part of the fe
Recommends ruben2020 · 2022-10 · Buddhism Stack Exchange · on “self using intoxicants”
Please see this answer [LINK] about a video [this video] by Ven. Yuttadhammo on addiction to pornography and addiction in general. That answer also states: The other technique he proposes is to watch your mind for triggers and observe how lust arises in the mind and recognize it (basically insight meditation). You can find more info on this in his chapter entitled " Daily Life [LINK] " of his booklet " How To Meditate [LINK] ". I would say that the same technique could be applied to intoxicants addiction as well. Please watch the video [this video] .
Recommends ruben2020 · 2023-10 · Buddhism Stack Exchange · on “Help with alcoholism?”
Please see this answer [LINK] about a video [this video] by Ven. Yuttadhammo on addiction to pornography and addiction in general. That answer also states: The other technique he proposes is to watch your mind for triggers and observe how lust arises in the mind and recognize it (basically insight meditation). You can find more info on this in his chapter entitled " Daily Life [LINK] " of his booklet " How To Meditate [LINK] ". I would say that the same technique could be applied to alcohol addiction as well. Please watch the video [this video] .
Recommends ruben2020 · 2025-05 · Buddhism Stack Exchange · on “What are buddhist thoughts on masterbation and pornography?”
Please see this answer [LINK] about a video [this video] by Ven. Yuttadhammo on addiction to pornography and addiction in general. That answer also states: The other technique he proposes is to watch your mind for triggers and observe how lust arises in the mind and recognize it (basically insight meditation). You can find more info on this in his chapter entitled " Daily Life [LINK] " of his booklet " How To Meditate [LINK] ". I would say that the same technique could be applied to other addictions as well. Please watch the video [this video] .