Is Meditation better than Sex and drugs?

Jinxed P, modified 12 Years ago at 11/9/12 7:13 PM
Created 12 Years ago at 11/9/12 7:13 PM

Is Meditation better than Sex and drugs?

Posts: 347 Join Date: 8/29/11 Recent Posts
I've been reading Ajahn Brahm's book "Mindfulness, Bliss, and Beyond" and in the opening paragraph he claims that meditation is better than sex.

Do you find this to be true? Are the Jhana's the best pleasure known to man? Better than making love to a supermodel, better than taking a hit few hits of quality MDMA?
Tom Tom, modified 12 Years ago at 11/9/12 9:46 PM
Created 12 Years ago at 11/9/12 9:46 PM

RE: Is Meditation better than Sex and drugs?

Posts: 466 Join Date: 9/19/09 Recent Posts
All of these things comprise of sensations that arise and vanish. Regardless of the context, there is dukkha in them - done with meditation or not. It is possible to simulate these exact sensations using meditation. The "karmic consequences" are likely less if done using meditation.
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Fitter Stoke, modified 12 Years ago at 11/10/12 8:41 AM
Created 12 Years ago at 11/10/12 8:41 AM

RE: Is Meditation better than Sex and drugs?

Posts: 487 Join Date: 1/23/12 Recent Posts
Depends what you/he means by "better". The good sensations of meditation aren't more pleasurable (and the bad sensations of meditation aren't worse). But meditation can be thrilling, and the risks are far less.
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fivebells , modified 12 Years ago at 11/10/12 2:58 PM
Created 12 Years ago at 11/10/12 2:58 PM

RE: Is Meditation better than Sex and drugs?

Posts: 563 Join Date: 2/25/11 Recent Posts
Yes, 3rd jhana is better than sex. More stable, more restful, and generally simplifies your relationship to life rather than complicating it.
Jinxed P, modified 12 Years ago at 11/10/12 4:58 PM
Created 12 Years ago at 11/10/12 4:58 PM

RE: Is Meditation better than Sex and drugs?

Posts: 347 Join Date: 8/29/11 Recent Posts
fivebells .:
Yes, 3rd jhana is better than sex. More stable, more restful, and generally simplifies your relationship to life rather than complicating it.


Is third jhana the best there is?
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fivebells , modified 12 Years ago at 11/10/12 10:25 PM
Created 12 Years ago at 11/10/12 10:25 PM

RE: Is Meditation better than Sex and drugs?

Posts: 563 Join Date: 2/25/11 Recent Posts
I've stumbled into 3rd jhana and 7th jhana a few times by accident, and my mastery of 1st jhana is quite sketchy. If by best you mean pleasantness, there is more bliss in 3rd than 1st. There is nothing in 7th. In terms of utility for awakening, I can only speak theoretically, but I understand that mastering the whole sequence is valuable from that perspective.

I'm pretty sure I could hit 3rd again if I meditated 7 or 8 hours a day, like I was the times I was hitting it before. But I don't spend 7 or 8 hours a day chasing sex, either. emoticon

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