BUDDHIST MONASTIC CODE I

Saṅghādisesa Chapter 5and Cowper's glands prior to ejaculation — there is nothing in the Vibhaṅga toprove the Commentary wrong.Intention. The Vibhaṅga defines intentionally as "having willed, having made thedecision knowingly and consciously." The Commentary explains these terms asfollows: Having willed means having willed, having planned, with the intention ofenjoying bringing about an emission. Having made the decision means havingsummoned up a reckless mind state, "crushing" through the power of an attack.(These are the same terms it uses to explain the same phrase under Pr 3, Pc 61,and Pc 77. The meaning is that one is not simply toying with the idea. One hasdefinitely made up one's mind to overcome all hesitation by aggressively settingupon an action aimed at causing emission.) Knowingly means knowing that, "I ammaking an exertion" — which the Sub-commentary explains as knowing that, "I ammaking an exertion for the sake of an emission." Consciously means being awarethat one's efforts are bringing about an emission of semen.The Commentary's definition of "having willed" is where it deviates from theVibhaṅga's discussion of the factor of intention. The Vibhaṅga, throughout itsanalysis, expresses this factor simply as "aiming at causing an emission," and it liststen possible motives for wanting to bring the emission about:for the sake of health,for the sake of pleasure,for the sake of a medicine,for the sake of a gift (to insects, says the Commentary, although producingsemen as a gift to one's partner in a tantric ritual would also come under thiscategory),for the sake of merit,for the sake of a sacrifice,for the sake of heaven,for the sake of seed (to produce a child — a bhikkhu who gave semen to beused in artificial insemination would fit in this category),for the sake of seed (to produce a child — a bhikkhu who gave semen to beused in artificial insemination would fit in this category),for the sake of investigating (e.g., to diagnose one's health), orfor the sake of playfulness or fun.Each of these motives, the Vibhaṅga says, fulfills the factor of intention here. Thusfor the Commentary to limit the question of "deliberate intention" strictly to theenjoyment of the act of bringing about an emission (numbers 2 and 10 in theVibhaṅga's list) has no basis in the Canon. This means that the factor of intentionunder this rule is defined by deliberateness and immediate aim — causing anemission of semen — regardless of impulse or motive.79