What Does Your Religion Say About Masturbation
25/07/2019
Masturbation is a taboo subject among religious people. Some religions despise masturbation while others allow it. There are some religions that are more stricture in sexuality and the differences of the various teachings give varied points when it comes to masturbation.
After seen my previous articles about masturbation and porn becoming hits, I have decided to write this article in to discussing what other religions other that Islam have to say about masturbation
Been a student of comparative religion I have decided to dedicate this article by including the views expressed by ten of the major world religions on masturbation. Although there are many religions out there, I decided only to include ten of them based on the influence and controversy it holds on this topic.
Christianity.
There are various biblical verses used by Christian anti masturbationists to prove that masturbation is a sin. After reading the bible myself and being a student of comparative religion, I can conclude very clearly that there is not a single direct verse in the bible to prove that masturbation is forbidden. All the verses quoted have being twisted to mean something else. Christians are obsessed with the word lust and many Christians and their denominations argue that lust outside of marriage is a sin. This argument is based on the following verse in the bible where Jesus says:
“But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart”.
(Matthew 5:28)
The above verse is wrongly interpreted to mean that to think lustfully. This verse mentions only about lusting while looking at a woman. This verse is taken wrongly and argued that it is impossible to masturbate without thinking. The above verse only says about looking at a women and not thinking of her hence bringing the anti-masturbation argument in to a mere misinterpretation. The other argument is based on the story of Onan. Masturbation is also referred to as onanism. The story of Onan has nothing to do with masturbation.
“Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother. “But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also”.
(Genesis 38:8-10)
This story only talks of Onan withdrawing his penis with the wife of his brother and not masturbation. This entire story of him spilling his seed to the ground has been misinterpreted.
Judaism.
The entire prohibition of in Judaism is based on the the story of Onan (Genesis 38:8-10) this misinterpreted argument in Genesis is used as law in the other Jewish books. In the Talmud it says;
"But why all these precautions? Because otherwise one might emit semen in vain, and R. Johanan stated: Whosoever emits semen in vain deserves death, for it is said in Scripture,
'And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of the LORD; and He slew him also.' (Genesis 38:10)"
(Talmud, Tractate Niddah, p. 13a)
R. Johanan’s wrong opinion is based on the verses in Genesis which has nothing to do with masturbation.
Hinduism
Is masturbation a sin in Hinduism? The Hindu argument against masturbation is based on the concept of Brahmachrya.
“Now what people call yajña (sacrifice) is really Brahmacharya, for only by means of Brahmacharya does the knower attain that world (of Brahman). And what people call Ishta (worship) is really Brahmacharya, for only worshipping by means of Brahmacarya does one attain the Atman (the liberated Self). Now, what people call the Sattrayana (sacrificial session) is really Brahmacharya, for only by means of Brahmacharya does one obtain one's salvation from Sat (Being). And what people call the Mauna (vow of silence) is really Brahmacharya for only through Brahmacharya does one understand the Atman and then meditate. Now, what people call an Anasakayana (vow of fasting) is really Brahmacharya, for this Atman never perishes which one attains by means of Brahmacharya. And what people call the Aranyayana (life of a hermit) is really Brahmacharya, for the world of Brahman belongs to those who by means of Brahmacharya attain the seas Ara and Nya in the world of Brahman. For them there is freedom in all the worlds”.
(Chandogya Upanishad, VIII.5.1 - VIII.5.4)
Brahmacharya is only a virtue and is not a must. Brahmacharya is interpreted based on various opinions of sages. In the book of Manu smriti the Brahmans are forbidden from wasting ones manhood.
“Let him always sleep alone, let him never waste his manhood; for he who voluntarily wastes his manhood, breaks his vow”.
(Manu Smriti 2.180).
The following verse or Sloka is used by Hindus to argue that masturbation is also forbidden for non-Brahmin castes as well.
“If a householder willingly causes the discharge of his virile seed otherwise than in sexual intercourse, he should recite the Gayathri verse one thousand times, and should perform three Pranayamas”.
(Parashara Smriti, Chapter 12, Sloka 63).
These verses or in other words, Slokas forbid masturbation. But in the Kamasutra which was compiled by Vatsyayana somewhere between 400 BCE and 200 CE it mentions masturbation in a positive light.
“The nurse's daughter, female companions, and slaves, dressed as men, take the men's place and use carrots, fruits, and other objects to satisfy their desire”
(Kamasutra by Vatsyayana page 376 English translation by Alan Danielou)
“When men have no women to sleep with, they satisfy themselves with other kinds of vulvas, or with dolls, or else masturbate”.
(Kamasutra by Vatsyayana page 377 English translation by Alan Danielou)
What is mentioned in the Kamasutra cannot be taken as Hindu law because the above instances mentioned are what was practiced by certain individuals and kings. There are sixty four sexual positions the Hindus are encouraged to learn and practice in the Kamasutra which according to Vatsyayana was the methods bestowed by the Hindu deities. But the above instances mentioned in the Kamasutra are not the sixty four methods mentioned.
Rather they are the actions done by kings, courtesan and others which are not laws of Hinduism hence cannot be regarded as a religious code.
What is mentioned in the Manu smriti or the laws of Manu is more accepted as its believed to be the instructions given by Manu the progenitor of humankind according to Hindu mythology stated in the Mahabharata Book 1:Adi Parva,Sambhava Parva:Section LXXV but still the shruti is what is accepted more than the smriti
The Parashara smriti is a set of rules by the sage Parashar who put a set of rules for the Kali age. As he says in the Parashara smriti,
“All these (laws) have been heard (by me as they were)
Expounded by thee; they embody the sense of the Veda;
(They) have not been forgotten by me. (They are) the laws”
(Parashara Purana Adyaya 1, Sloka 16)
The laws in the Manu smriti and the Parashara smriti are more acceptable more than the Kamasutra because the Kamasutra is the actions of the commoners and not laws. We should understand that the more accepted Hindu scriptures like the shruti's do not forbid masturbation and only the smriti forbids it.
Buddhism
According to Buddhism, the lay Buddhists are not forbidden to masturbate. There is no evidence from the the Tripitaka or any other Buddhist text to prove that masturbation is prohibited for lay Buddhists. This is not the case for ordained monks. The Buddha was intolerant when it came to sexuality among monks. All forms of sexuality were prohibited. If a monk masturbates or ejaculates even if he thinks without using the hands, this is taken as a serious offence known as Sanghadisesa. The Buddha laid 227 monastic rules known as Patimokka for Buddhists monks and 337 rules for female monks (Bhikkunis).
The Vinaya pitakaya mentions as follows for the monk.
“Intentional emission of semen, except while dreaming, entails initial and subsequent meetings of the Community”.
(Vinaya pitakaya, Patimokka, Suttavibhanga, Sanghadisesa-1 .Bhikku Thanissaro English translation)
As for the Bhikkunis, The offence is less severe but she does not have the right to masturbate. Her physical sexual indulgences should be confessed.
“(Genital) slapping (even to the extent of consenting to a blow with a lotus-leaf) is to be confessed”.
(Vinaya Pitaka Bhikkuni Patimokka, Suttavibhanga-3-Bhikku Thanissaro English translation) and further it states;
“(The insertion of) a dildo is to be confessed”.
(Vinaya Pitaka Bhikkuni Patimokka, Suttavibhanga-4-Bhikku Thanissaro English translation)
Jainism
Jainism is a religion that was founded by Vardhamana Mahavira. Jainism is known for its extreme asceticism and austerity with strict rules for lay followers as well as ascetics. Jainism is divided in to two sects known as the Swethambara and Digambara sects. Swethambara for an example does not require nudity and the latter are in to it. There are differences between these two sects in clothing, scriptural authenticity and others.
The Book that is accepted by both the main sects is known as Tattvartha Sutra. In this book the lay person is forbidden from even thinking about sexual pleasures when taking vows and supplementary vows.
Some of the vows that are taken are to not, “Desire for life, desire for death, recollection of Affection for friends, recollection of pleasures, and Constant longing for enjoyment”.
(Tattvârthsûtra-By Acharya Uma swami-Hindi/English translation Pg.-111- Edited by Vijay.K.Jain)
As for the monk, there is no place at all for masturbation because even thinking is prohibited. Among the Vows that needs to be strictly followed and are:
“Giving up listening to stories that excite
Attachment for women, looking at the beautiful
Bodies of women, recalling former sexual pleasure,
Delicacies stimulating amorous desire, and
Adornment of the body constitutes five’.
(Tattvârthsûtra-By Acharya Uma swami-Hindi/English translation-Pg.-96-Edited by Vijay.K.Jain)
The Digambara text discourages sexual pleasures as follows
“Unchastity (abrahma) is copulation arising from sexual desire. There is all-round injury to the living in copulation and, therefore, it is hiṃsā.
(Puruşārthasiddhyupāya (107))
“Just as a hot rod of iron inserted into a tube filled with sesame seeds burns them up, in the same way, many beings get killed during sexual intercourse”
(Puruşārthasiddhyupāya (108)).
The Swethambara text also preaches austerity for monks and nuns. The nuns are forbidden from keeping fruits and vegetables which are elongated. Even handles and knobs with similar shapes as mentioned in the Brihatkalpasutra, cited in Singh, Jain aur Bhikshuni Sangh, 108 are forbidden.
Nuns were also warned strictly to beware of pleasure rising as a result of accidental touch of an animal and refrain from masturbation as mentioned in the Brihatkalpasutra, cited in Sing, Jian aur Bhikshuni Sangh, 108.
The Swethambara text known as Akaranga Sutra explains the strict vows for monks as follows
“I renounce all sexual pleasure, either with gods or men or animals. I shall not give way to sensuality”.
(Akaranga Sutra-Book 2, Lecture 15, IV)
For lay people the Akaranga Sutta discourages pleasure in general as follows.
“Wisely reject hope and desire, and extracting that thorn (ex-pleasure) thou (should act rightly). People who are enveloped by delusion do not understand this: he who (gathers wealth) will, perhaps, not have the benefit of it”
(Akaranga Sutra- Book-1, Lecture-2, Lesson-4)
From these evidences, it can be concluded that although Jainism does not directly forbid masturbation especially for lay persons it discourages sex as a whole for all. As for the monks and nuns, complete renunciation of sexual pleasures is a strict rule to adhere giving little or no room for masturbation.
Confucianism.
The main text of Confucianism is called the analects. There is no evidence of prohibition of masturbation in the teachings of Confucius.
“The Master (Confucius) said, “I have not seen one who loves virtue as he loves sex”
(Analects Book IX, chapter 17) .
Sikhism.
Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak who is the first Guru. The religion of Sikhism is based on the teachings of the ten Gurus and Guru Nanak is the first. Apart from the ten gurus, teachings such as those of so called Sufi saints are also incorporated in the text of the Sikhs known as the Guru Granth Sahib.
The more appropriate view is that there is no clear evidence that masturbation is forbidden.
“You do not control your seed and semen, and yet you claim to practice abstinence”.
(Granth Sahib- Ang-903-11)
The above evidence is used by Sikhs to argue that masturbation is forbidden.
This has been misunderstood. This was a conversation between a Hindu and Guru Nanak. When the Hindu Yogi called Raamkalee asks a question, Guru Nanak’s response to this question is what is quoted above. The Hindu yogi practiced abstinence. This does not mean that Guru Nanak forbade his followers from masturbating. There are some more Mehls (numberings of the Granth Sahib) taken as evidence by Sikhs to prove that masturbation is forbidden. But none of them mentions about masturbation. For an example
“Abandoning his own wife, he is engrossed in sexual desire; his thoughts are on the wives of others”.
(Granth Sahib- 1013)
The above evidence has nothing to do with masturbation. It only discusses about lusting on another person’s wife.
Rastafarianism and Taoism.
Rastafarianism is a religious movement started in the 1930’s which is linked to Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia and was established by Leonard P. Howell. The Rastafarian text is the Piby. This book is a distorted version of the already distorted version of the Christian bible. The Rastafarians or in other words the Rasta’s use the same arguments of their big brothers, the Christians and bring in the verses of Genesys to wrongly argue that masturbation is forbidden. The below verse has been explained by me earlier on the topic of Christianity. So no further explanation is needed.
"And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother”.
(Genesis 38:8-10)
As far as Taoism is concerned, the philosophy that is based on the teachings of Lao Tzu, does not directly forbid masturbation. Although some Tao practitioners forbid it, The Tao scriptures praise sexuality. For an example, the Tao Te Ching states.
Its bones are Soft, its sinews Weak, but its grip is firm.
It has not known the union of man and woman, but its organs get aroused”
(Tao Te Ching 55:2).
In Taoism, the Ching energy is regarded as the vital energy generated from within such as sex.
Zoroastrianism.
The religion of Zoroastrianism which is attributed to Zarathustra (Zoroaster) is totally against masturbation and has the harshest punishments for it. The Zend Avesta describes it like this.
“O Maker of the material world, thou Holy one! If a man involuntarily emits his seed, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: “Eight hundred stripes with the Sraosho-karana.
O Maker of the material world, if a man voluntarily emits his seed, what is the penalty for it? What is the atonement for it? What is the cleansing for it?
Ahura Mazda answered: “For that deed there is nothing that can pay, nothing that can atone, nothing that can cleanse from it; it is a trespass for which there is no atonement, for ever and ever;
When is it so?
“It is so, if the sinner be a professor of the law of Mazda, nor one who has been thought his sin for him, if he confesses it and resolves never to commit again such forbidden deed.
(Zend Avesta-verses-26-28, Fargard VIII, Section V, Vendidad).
Masturbation is a taboo subject among religious people. Some religions despise masturbation while others allow it. There are some religions that are more stricture in sexuality and the differences of the various teachings give varied points when it comes to masturbation.
After seen my previous articles about masturbation and porn becoming hits, I have decided to write this article in to discussing what other religions other that Islam have to say about masturbation
Been a student of comparative religion I have decided to dedicate this article by including the views expressed by ten of the major world religions on masturbation. Although there are many religions out there, I decided only to include ten of them based on the influence and controversy it holds on this topic.
Christianity.
There are various biblical verses used by Christian anti masturbationists to prove that masturbation is a sin. After reading the bible myself and being a student of comparative religion, I can conclude very clearly that there is not a single direct verse in the bible to prove that masturbation is forbidden. All the verses quoted have being twisted to mean something else. Christians are obsessed with the word lust and many Christians and their denominations argue that lust outside of marriage is a sin. This argument is based on the following verse in the bible where Jesus says:
“But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart”.
(Matthew 5:28)
The above verse is wrongly interpreted to mean that to think lustfully. This verse mentions only about lusting while looking at a woman. This verse is taken wrongly and argued that it is impossible to masturbate without thinking. The above verse only says about looking at a women and not thinking of her hence bringing the anti-masturbation argument in to a mere misinterpretation. The other argument is based on the story of Onan. Masturbation is also referred to as onanism. The story of Onan has nothing to do with masturbation.
“Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother. “But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also”.
(Genesis 38:8-10)
This story only talks of Onan withdrawing his penis with the wife of his brother and not masturbation. This entire story of him spilling his seed to the ground has been misinterpreted.
Judaism.
The entire prohibition of in Judaism is based on the the story of Onan (Genesis 38:8-10) this misinterpreted argument in Genesis is used as law in the other Jewish books. In the Talmud it says;
"But why all these precautions? Because otherwise one might emit semen in vain, and R. Johanan stated: Whosoever emits semen in vain deserves death, for it is said in Scripture,
'And the thing which he did was evil in the sight of the LORD; and He slew him also.' (Genesis 38:10)"
(Talmud, Tractate Niddah, p. 13a)
R. Johanan’s wrong opinion is based on the verses in Genesis which has nothing to do with masturbation.
Hinduism
Is masturbation a sin in Hinduism? The Hindu argument against masturbation is based on the concept of Brahmachrya.
“Now what people call yajña (sacrifice) is really Brahmacharya, for only by means of Brahmacharya does the knower attain that world (of Brahman). And what people call Ishta (worship) is really Brahmacharya, for only worshipping by means of Brahmacarya does one attain the Atman (the liberated Self). Now, what people call the Sattrayana (sacrificial session) is really Brahmacharya, for only by means of Brahmacharya does one obtain one's salvation from Sat (Being). And what people call the Mauna (vow of silence) is really Brahmacharya for only through Brahmacharya does one understand the Atman and then meditate. Now, what people call an Anasakayana (vow of fasting) is really Brahmacharya, for this Atman never perishes which one attains by means of Brahmacharya. And what people call the Aranyayana (life of a hermit) is really Brahmacharya, for the world of Brahman belongs to those who by means of Brahmacharya attain the seas Ara and Nya in the world of Brahman. For them there is freedom in all the worlds”.
(Chandogya Upanishad, VIII.5.1 - VIII.5.4)
Brahmacharya is only a virtue and is not a must. Brahmacharya is interpreted based on various opinions of sages. In the book of Manu smriti the Brahmans are forbidden from wasting ones manhood.
“Let him always sleep alone, let him never waste his manhood; for he who voluntarily wastes his manhood, breaks his vow”.
(Manu Smriti 2.180).
The following verse or Sloka is used by Hindus to argue that masturbation is also forbidden for non-Brahmin castes as well.
“If a householder willingly causes the discharge of his virile seed otherwise than in sexual intercourse, he should recite the Gayathri verse one thousand times, and should perform three Pranayamas”.
(Parashara Smriti, Chapter 12, Sloka 63).
These verses or in other words, Slokas forbid masturbation. But in the Kamasutra which was compiled by Vatsyayana somewhere between 400 BCE and 200 CE it mentions masturbation in a positive light.
“The nurse's daughter, female companions, and slaves, dressed as men, take the men's place and use carrots, fruits, and other objects to satisfy their desire”
(Kamasutra by Vatsyayana page 376 English translation by Alan Danielou)
“When men have no women to sleep with, they satisfy themselves with other kinds of vulvas, or with dolls, or else masturbate”.
(Kamasutra by Vatsyayana page 377 English translation by Alan Danielou)
What is mentioned in the Kamasutra cannot be taken as Hindu law because the above instances mentioned are what was practiced by certain individuals and kings. There are sixty four sexual positions the Hindus are encouraged to learn and practice in the Kamasutra which according to Vatsyayana was the methods bestowed by the Hindu deities. But the above instances mentioned in the Kamasutra are not the sixty four methods mentioned.
Rather they are the actions done by kings, courtesan and others which are not laws of Hinduism hence cannot be regarded as a religious code.
What is mentioned in the Manu smriti or the laws of Manu is more accepted as its believed to be the instructions given by Manu the progenitor of humankind according to Hindu mythology stated in the Mahabharata Book 1:Adi Parva,Sambhava Parva:Section LXXV but still the shruti is what is accepted more than the smriti
The Parashara smriti is a set of rules by the sage Parashar who put a set of rules for the Kali age. As he says in the Parashara smriti,
“All these (laws) have been heard (by me as they were)
Expounded by thee; they embody the sense of the Veda;
(They) have not been forgotten by me. (They are) the laws”
(Parashara Purana Adyaya 1, Sloka 16)
The laws in the Manu smriti and the Parashara smriti are more acceptable more than the Kamasutra because the Kamasutra is the actions of the commoners and not laws. We should understand that the more accepted Hindu scriptures like the shruti's do not forbid masturbation and only the smriti forbids it.
Buddhism
According to Buddhism, the lay Buddhists are not forbidden to masturbate. There is no evidence from the the Tripitaka or any other Buddhist text to prove that masturbation is prohibited for lay Buddhists. This is not the case for ordained monks. The Buddha was intolerant when it came to sexuality among monks. All forms of sexuality were prohibited. If a monk masturbates or ejaculates even if he thinks without using the hands, this is taken as a serious offence known as Sanghadisesa. The Buddha laid 227 monastic rules known as Patimokka for Buddhists monks and 337 rules for female monks (Bhikkunis).
The Vinaya pitakaya mentions as follows for the monk.
“Intentional emission of semen, except while dreaming, entails initial and subsequent meetings of the Community”.
(Vinaya pitakaya, Patimokka, Suttavibhanga, Sanghadisesa-1 .Bhikku Thanissaro English translation)
As for the Bhikkunis, The offence is less severe but she does not have the right to masturbate. Her physical sexual indulgences should be confessed.
“(Genital) slapping (even to the extent of consenting to a blow with a lotus-leaf) is to be confessed”.
(Vinaya Pitaka Bhikkuni Patimokka, Suttavibhanga-3-Bhikku Thanissaro English translation) and further it states;
“(The insertion of) a dildo is to be confessed”.
(Vinaya Pitaka Bhikkuni Patimokka, Suttavibhanga-4-Bhikku Thanissaro English translation)
Jainism
Jainism is a religion that was founded by Vardhamana Mahavira. Jainism is known for its extreme asceticism and austerity with strict rules for lay followers as well as ascetics. Jainism is divided in to two sects known as the Swethambara and Digambara sects. Swethambara for an example does not require nudity and the latter are in to it. There are differences between these two sects in clothing, scriptural authenticity and others.
The Book that is accepted by both the main sects is known as Tattvartha Sutra. In this book the lay person is forbidden from even thinking about sexual pleasures when taking vows and supplementary vows.
Some of the vows that are taken are to not, “Desire for life, desire for death, recollection of Affection for friends, recollection of pleasures, and Constant longing for enjoyment”.
(Tattvârthsûtra-By Acharya Uma swami-Hindi/English translation Pg.-111- Edited by Vijay.K.Jain)
As for the monk, there is no place at all for masturbation because even thinking is prohibited. Among the Vows that needs to be strictly followed and are:
“Giving up listening to stories that excite
Attachment for women, looking at the beautiful
Bodies of women, recalling former sexual pleasure,
Delicacies stimulating amorous desire, and
Adornment of the body constitutes five’.
(Tattvârthsûtra-By Acharya Uma swami-Hindi/English translation-Pg.-96-Edited by Vijay.K.Jain)
The Digambara text discourages sexual pleasures as follows
“Unchastity (abrahma) is copulation arising from sexual desire. There is all-round injury to the living in copulation and, therefore, it is hiṃsā.
(Puruşārthasiddhyupāya (107))
“Just as a hot rod of iron inserted into a tube filled with sesame seeds burns them up, in the same way, many beings get killed during sexual intercourse”
(Puruşārthasiddhyupāya (108)).
The Swethambara text also preaches austerity for monks and nuns. The nuns are forbidden from keeping fruits and vegetables which are elongated. Even handles and knobs with similar shapes as mentioned in the Brihatkalpasutra, cited in Singh, Jain aur Bhikshuni Sangh, 108 are forbidden.
Nuns were also warned strictly to beware of pleasure rising as a result of accidental touch of an animal and refrain from masturbation as mentioned in the Brihatkalpasutra, cited in Sing, Jian aur Bhikshuni Sangh, 108.
The Swethambara text known as Akaranga Sutra explains the strict vows for monks as follows
“I renounce all sexual pleasure, either with gods or men or animals. I shall not give way to sensuality”.
(Akaranga Sutra-Book 2, Lecture 15, IV)
For lay people the Akaranga Sutta discourages pleasure in general as follows.
“Wisely reject hope and desire, and extracting that thorn (ex-pleasure) thou (should act rightly). People who are enveloped by delusion do not understand this: he who (gathers wealth) will, perhaps, not have the benefit of it”
(Akaranga Sutra- Book-1, Lecture-2, Lesson-4)
From these evidences, it can be concluded that although Jainism does not directly forbid masturbation especially for lay persons it discourages sex as a whole for all. As for the monks and nuns, complete renunciation of sexual pleasures is a strict rule to adhere giving little or no room for masturbation.
Confucianism.
The main text of Confucianism is called the analects. There is no evidence of prohibition of masturbation in the teachings of Confucius.
“The Master (Confucius) said, “I have not seen one who loves virtue as he loves sex”
(Analects Book IX, chapter 17) .
Sikhism.
Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak who is the first Guru. The religion of Sikhism is based on the teachings of the ten Gurus and Guru Nanak is the first. Apart from the ten gurus, teachings such as those of so called Sufi saints are also incorporated in the text of the Sikhs known as the Guru Granth Sahib.
The more appropriate view is that there is no clear evidence that masturbation is forbidden.
“You do not control your seed and semen, and yet you claim to practice abstinence”.
(Granth Sahib- Ang-903-11)
The above evidence is used by Sikhs to argue that masturbation is forbidden.
This has been misunderstood. This was a conversation between a Hindu and Guru Nanak. When the Hindu Yogi called Raamkalee asks a question, Guru Nanak’s response to this question is what is quoted above. The Hindu yogi practiced abstinence. This does not mean that Guru Nanak forbade his followers from masturbating. There are some more Mehls (numberings of the Granth Sahib) taken as evidence by Sikhs to prove that masturbation is forbidden. But none of them mentions about masturbation. For an example
“Abandoning his own wife, he is engrossed in sexual desire; his thoughts are on the wives of others”.
(Granth Sahib- 1013)
The above evidence has nothing to do with masturbation. It only discusses about lusting on another person’s wife.
Rastafarianism and Taoism.
Rastafarianism is a religious movement started in the 1930’s which is linked to Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia and was established by Leonard P. Howell. The Rastafarian text is the Piby. This book is a distorted version of the already distorted version of the Christian bible. The Rastafarians or in other words the Rasta’s use the same arguments of their big brothers, the Christians and bring in the verses of Genesys to wrongly argue that masturbation is forbidden. The below verse has been explained by me earlier on the topic of Christianity. So no further explanation is needed.
"And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother”.
(Genesis 38:8-10)
As far as Taoism is concerned, the philosophy that is based on the teachings of Lao Tzu, does not directly forbid masturbation. Although some Tao practitioners forbid it, The Tao scriptures praise sexuality. For an example, the Tao Te Ching states.
Its bones are Soft, its sinews Weak, but its grip is firm.
It has not known the union of man and woman, but its organs get aroused”
(Tao Te Ching 55:2).
In Taoism, the Ching energy is regarded as the vital energy generated from within such as sex.
Zoroastrianism.
The religion of Zoroastrianism which is attributed to Zarathustra (Zoroaster) is totally against masturbation and has the harshest punishments for it. The Zend Avesta describes it like this.
“O Maker of the material world, thou Holy one! If a man involuntarily emits his seed, what is the penalty that he shall pay?
Ahura Mazda answered: “Eight hundred stripes with the Sraosho-karana.
O Maker of the material world, if a man voluntarily emits his seed, what is the penalty for it? What is the atonement for it? What is the cleansing for it?
Ahura Mazda answered: “For that deed there is nothing that can pay, nothing that can atone, nothing that can cleanse from it; it is a trespass for which there is no atonement, for ever and ever;
When is it so?
“It is so, if the sinner be a professor of the law of Mazda, nor one who has been thought his sin for him, if he confesses it and resolves never to commit again such forbidden deed.
(Zend Avesta-verses-26-28, Fargard VIII, Section V, Vendidad).