What Might Become Of Those Severely Lustful?
In this day and age, s_x(uality) is overtly portrayed through all kinds of lustful and suggestive expressions in popular media. This can have two effects. Some might become numb and unmoved by them, as they are more or less the same. However, some others might be addicted to their imagery, becoming hooked on p_rnography. What might happen to those severely addicted in their next lives?
With strong attachment to any body, a human might be reborn as an animal, including a simple insect. This is so as of the three poisons (of greed, hatred and delusion) that power the rounds of rebirth karmically, other than delusion, animals are also strong in greed, as based on their basic instincts, which lust is an aspect of. This explains why lustful humans are similar to wild and beastly creatures of habit.
As animals are mainly preoccupied with desires for food and s_x, and have no higher purposes, if a human is likewise overwhelmed by similar lust habitually now, s/he can thus fall to become an animal in the next life, to live mostly shortened lives with much suffering. Animals have so much deluded lust that they often have s_x with family members, which is incestuous, thus messing up proper relationships.
Animals thus easily confuse lust with love. This is the case for many lustful and promiscuous humans in our world too, who get into much trouble due to trust and commitment issues, resulting in serial lying, multiple affairs and breakups with their spouses and children. Lifelong chaos ensues. Beyond inability to form and sustain healthy relationships, their insatiable lust might even lead to s_x crimes eventually.
Just as a woman who was infatuated with her own body’s beauty was reborn as a maggot crawling on her own rotting corpse, attachment to another’s body can lead to rebirth as a parasitical insect living in/on the body, be it dead or alive. (Be mindful of what you wish for, as you might get it/there in unexpected ways!) This is but one of many negative karmic effects from overly s_xualising and objectifying bodies.
Thus is it important to keep lust in check, to not let it grow without limit. Excess lust expressed via too many s_xual activities is draining, for extremely short-lived highs. Sapping physical energy and time, they also distract us from furthering our spiritual lives, to advance towards the purity of Buddhahood. Remember… True liberation is not the freedom to desire anything, but freedom from desires that actually bind us.
What Are Some Buddhist Practices For Curbing Lust?
[1] Impurities: It should be remembered that the body is just a smelly skin bag (臭皮囊) due to its recurring sweat, grease and such. It holds only filthy substances within, such as muscles, fat, sinews, bones, blood, pus, pee and poo. Thus, there is absolutely nothing beautiful or pleasant inside at all.
[2] Superficiality: The seemingly ‘beautiful’ appearances we readily see are literally only skin deep, which is not very deep at all. For example, the most attractive face without a small piece of skin on the nose itself immediately makes it look ugly. Why cling to such superficial and fragile appearances then?
[3] Family: We have been reborn in all kinds of relationships with one another. Thus, if lusting after many, we can imagine younger wo/men to be our younger siblings and older ones to be our older siblings. Such reframing helps to prevent lust from arising, to not go beyond brotherly or sisterly love in terms of care and concern.
[4] Mindfulness Of Buddha: Once aware that a lustful thought has arisen, there can be utmost sincere recitation of the Buddha’s name (阿弥陀佛: Āmítuófó) verbally or mentally. As the mind can only have one thought in each moment, when wholeheartedly mindful, a lustful thought will not arise in the same moment.
Mindfulness of Buddha can be done till the momentum of lust dissipates. When this is practised regularly with discipline, the impure habit of lust will lessen and even dissolve for good. The easiest way to overcome a bad habit is to create not just a good, but pure habit to replace it. As the saying goes, ‘One nail drives out another.’
[5] Spiritual Bliss: With even more sincere mindfulness, peace and bliss (安乐) from connection to the Buddha’s blessings will arise. Such spiritual joy is more sublime and lasting than crude and fleeting physical highs. It is usually because this is not known that the latter is falsely imagined to be the ‘greatest’ pleasure possible.
More can be seen in the first Related Article below.
Related Articles:
以三种想，涤除淫心
[124] With Three Kinds Of Contemplations, Wash Away Sexual Conduct’s Mind
https://purelanders.com/2025/02/21/124-with-three-kinds-of-contemplations-wash-away-sexual-conducts-mind
How A Monk Became A Bug
https://thedailyenlightenment.com/2015/09/how-a-monk-became-a-bug
How To Start Practising Mindfulness Of Buddha
https://purelanders.com/start
