AN 5.55, quite an odd sutta

Could sound so, but it’s not meant that way, because as venerable Sekha said:

Indeed. The snare of Mara exists not in the woman but in the minds of the majority of monks.

For monks women are especially a snare, meaning a trap, because desire for sensuality or relationships can draw them out of the ordained life.

When I (as a monk) once struggled with sensual desire and read this passage I immediately resonated with it, not because of misogony, but because I could relate to the state of mind the Buddha was referring to. It really feels like a snare in a sense.

Many others can probably relate: just replace ‘females’ with whatever genders you are attracted to, and then imagine being celibate. :smile:

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