[Buddha-l] crazy wisdom

[Hugo]

>From the Vinaya, Sanghadisesa #4:

    4. Should any bhikkhu, overcome by lust, with altered mind, speak
in the presence of a woman in praise of ministering to his own
sensuality thus: "This, sister, is the highest ministration, that of
ministering to a virtuous, fine-natured follower of the celibate life
such as myself with this act" — alluding to sexual intercourse — it
entails initial and subsequent meetings of the Community.

[...]

"Giving," in the Buddha's time, was a common term for having sex. If a
woman gave to a man, that meant that she was willing to have sexual
intercourse with him. Now, Buddhism was not the only religion of the
time to teach that gifts — of a more innocent sort — given to
contemplatives produced great reward to those who gave them, and
ultimately somebody somewhere came up with the bright idea that since
sex was the highest gift, giving it to a contemplative would produce
the highest reward. Whether this idea was first formulated by faithful
women or by clever contemplatives is hard to say. There are several
cases in the Vinita Vatthu to Parajika 1 telling of bhikkhus
approached or attacked by women professing this belief, which shows
that it had some currency: that sex was somehow seen as a way to
higher benefits through the law of kamma.

Since the preceding rule gives exemptions for bhikkhus speaking
"aiming at (spiritual) welfare (attha), aiming at Dhamma," some
misguided souls who did not comprehend the Buddha's teachings on
sensuality might believe that welfare of this sort might fit under the
exemption. Even today, although the rationale might be different,
there are people who believe that having sex with spiritual teachers
is beneficial for one's spiritual well-being. Thus we have this
separate rule to show that the Buddha would have no part in such a
notion, and that a bhikkhu who tries to suggest that his listener
would benefit from having sex with him is not exempt from an offense.


Source:
http://accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/thanissaro/bmc1/ch05.html

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Hugo