Thoughts About A Primal Human Desire—Sex

Two weeks ago two news articles from the Internet attracted my attention(The latest one is Tiger Woods sex scandal news) . One happened in the USA involving Governor Eliot Spitzer. “He is a man who gained national prominence by relentlessly pursuing Wall Street wrongdoing but now has been caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute at a Washington hotel. This is according to a law enforcement official and a person briefed on the investigation” (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/nyregion/10cnd-spitzer.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin). The other article was concerning events in Taiwan involving Khenpo Pema Chopel Rinpoche. He was caught having sex with another man’s wife. It is obvious both problems arose from sexual desire.
Today I don’t want to talk about the American politician’s behaviour. I was the most shocked from reading the scandal about Khenpo Pema Chopel Rinpoche. Rinpoche is a Tibetan Buddhist religious/theological honorific title, literally meaning “precious one.” The title is generally reserved for tulkus (incarnate lamas) and those recognized by the proper authorities within a lineage as “choje lamas” (“superior dharma masters”) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rinpoche).
Pema Chopel Rinpoche is thirty-five years old and was born in Kanba, Tibet. When he was eight years old, his parents sent him to the Buddhist temple to learn Tibetan Buddhism. He learned from many lamas, but His Holiness Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penor_Rinpoche) was his Za Wuo Lama or Essential Lama (one who can help you reach enlightenment). He trained Pema Chopel hard and with great strictness making it possible for Pema Chopel to achieve Dzogchen (Great Perfection). “According to some schools of Tibetan Buddhism and Bön/Bonn, Dzogchen is the natural, primordial state or natural condition of every sentient being, including every human being. [The qualities of perfection] include indestructibility, incorruptible purity, non-discriminating openness, flawless clarity, profound simplicity, all-pervading presence and equality within all beings (i.e., the quality, quantity and functionality of this awareness is exactly the same in every being in the universe). Dzogchen, or ‘Great Perfection’ is the central teaching of the Nyingma school [of thought] and is considered by them to be the highest and most definitive path to enlightenment.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dzogchen). So when I read about this news I couldn’t understand why a Rinpoche, who had practiced very hard in Tibetan Buddhism, would also made the same mistake as an ordinary person.

But we know that before Sakyamuni Buddha reached enlightenment he also needed to pass the trial of sexual desire set by Mara (as personified in Buddhist mythology). Even after he became Buddha and started to preach philosophy, he still was tested. He starting to get popular which caused other religions to start worrying about him, and become jealous. They sent a beautiful woman to Buddha with orders for her to become his follower. One night this woman hid in Buddha’s living place. The next morning, when people came there to listen to Buddha talk about Dharma, she just walked out of the gate and told people that she (a lone, unescorted woman) had stayed with the Buddha last night. After eight months this woman again showed up at Buddha’s place, this time with a big belly. She claimed her baby was his and wanted him to claim responsibility for it. Buddha didn’t say anything. His disciples began to believe what the woman was saying. As the arguments continued a sash under the woman’s robe became loose and a big pillow fell to the floor. In the end her plan to discredit him didn’t succeed.
Then I read an article that talked about sexual behaviour in the greater world. Natalie Angiers wrote an article called “In Most Species, Faithfulness Is a Fantasy” (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/18/science/18angi.html). Quoting research and studies she states, “It’s been done by many other creatures, tens of thousands of other species, by male and female representatives of every taxonomic twig on the great tree of life. Sexual promiscuity is rampant throughout nature, and true faithfulness a fond fantasy…Commonplace though adultery may be, and as avidly as animals engage in it when given the opportunity, nobody seems to approve of it in others, and humans are hardly the only species that will rise up in outrage against wantonness real or perceived…In the case of the territorial red-backed salamander, males and females alike are inclined to zealous partner policing and will punish partners they believe to have strayed: with threat displays, mouth nips and throat bites, and most coldblooded of all, a withdrawal of affection, a refusal to engage.” So sexual desire may be rampant in nature but, as in human society, there are still rules that must be followed.

People who want to practice Buddhism or Taoism have to be aware that, at anytime and anywhere, temptation might arise. It is important to resist it. Desire causes suffering. But resisting primal human desire can be very hard. Even after realizing how to exist beyond desire you can’t assume it won’t happen to you.

–Danny

Related posts:

1. Desire
2. Hell And Heaven Are In Human’s Hearts
3. Thoughts About Pancabhijna/Supernatural Powers
4. Thoughts About An Extremely Enjoyable World