Question asked by AL
Any resources available on the following discussion from The Elephant Journal.
This is not possible in higher forms of Buddhism [in response to a famous athlete claiming his marital infidelity was related to him using various women for a tantric practice]. In the highest yoga forms of Buddhism (tantra), no actual physical copulation is necessary to achieve higher attainments. Most advanced practitioners engage in tantric practice are celibate monks in fact. There are lay and monk practitioners. But higher tantra does not involve copulation. Higher achievements are compassion, wisdom, focus, tenacity, consistency and the ability not to project our minds wrongly creating more unhappiness for ourselves and others. Buddha achieved full awakening under the bodhi tree as a celibate monk 2,500 years ago.
Dear Al,
Thank you for your question. His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche is a celibate and fully ordained monk, and Rinpoche is from the Gelug lineage, where the ordained monks and nuns must hold on to their vows very strictly until the end of their life. In fact, the founder of the Gelug lineage, Lama Tsongkhapa, demonstrated that it is possible to achieve ultimate enlightenment without the use of a consort.
To quote from Lama Tsongkhapa’s biography: “He attained enlightenment after his death by—instead of bardo, achieving an illusory body after the clear light of death and then went on from that to enlightenment. And this was to emphasize the need for monks to follow strict celibacy.”
Hope this helps. Thank you.
Pastor Loh Seng Piow