<p>Based on the translation below, it sounds like <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vimalakirti" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Vimalakirti</a> intentionally tried to bring Buddhist teachings to the brothels and cabarets, rather than him being enlightened in spite of frequenting brothels and cabarets.</p>
<p>From the <a href="https://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/Adler/Reln260/Vimalakirti.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra</a>, translated by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Thurman" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Prof. Robert Thurman</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>He made his appearance at the fields of sports and in the casinos, but
his aim was always to mature those people who were attached to games
and gambling. He visited the fashionable heterodox teachers, yet
always kept unswerving loyalty to the Buddha. He understood the
mundane and transcendental sciences and esoteric practices, yet always
took pleasure in the delights of the Dharma. He mixed in all crowds,
yet was respected as foremost of all.</p>
<p>In order to be in harmony with people, he associated with elders, with
those of middle age, and with the young, yet always spoke in harmony
with the Dharma. He engaged in all sorts of businesses, yet had no
interest in profit or possessions. To train living beings, he would
appear at crossroads and on street corners, and to protect them he
participated in government. To turn people away from the Hinayana and
to engage them in the Mahayana, he appeared among listeners and
teachers of the Dharma. To develop children, he visited all the
schools. <strong>To demonstrate the evils of desire, he even entered the
brothels. To establish drunkards in correct mindfulness, he entered
all the cabarets.</strong></p>
<p>... Thus lived the Licchavi Vimalakirti in the great city of Vaisali,
<strong>endowed with an infinite knowledge of skill in liberative techniques</strong>.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-08-01T15:53:33.977Z
2022-08-01T16:19:56.333Z
2022-08-01T16:19:56.333Z
ruben2020
<p>I have heard from the Vimalakirti Sutra that Vimalakirti was a householder who drank and visited prostitutes; but he was foremost in wisdom and Buddhist practice?!</p>
<p>I heard the Buddha sent monks to him to observe and study under his guidance?! Is this true?! Why would the Buddha do this?!</p>

<sexuality><relationship><desire><sexual-misconduct>
Vimalakirti Sutra -- A License for Drinking and Visiting Brothels?
# Vimalakirti Sutra -- A License for Drinking and Visiting Brothels?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2022-08-01)

I have heard from the Vimalakirti Sutra that Vimalakirti was a householder who drank and visited prostitutes; but he was foremost in wisdom and Buddhist practice?!

I heard the Buddha sent monks to him to observe and study under his guidance?! Is this true?! Why would the Buddha do this?!

**Tags:** sexuality, relationship, desire, sexual-misconduct


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2022-08-01. Score: 1

Based on the translation below, it sounds like [Vimalakirti](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vimalakirti) intentionally tried to bring Buddhist teachings to the brothels and cabarets, rather than him being enlightened in spite of frequenting brothels and cabarets.

From the [Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra](https://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/Adler/Reln260/Vimalakirti.htm), translated by [Prof. Robert Thurman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Thurman):

> He made his appearance at the fields of sports and in the casinos, but
> his aim was always to mature those people who were attached to games
> and gambling. He visited the fashionable heterodox teachers, yet
> always kept unswerving loyalty to the Buddha. He understood the
> mundane and transcendental sciences and esoteric practices, yet always
> took pleasure in the delights of the Dharma. He mixed in all crowds,
> yet was respected as foremost of all.
>
> In order to be in harmony with people, he associated with elders, with
> those of middle age, and with the young, yet always spoke in harmony
> with the Dharma. He engaged in all sorts of businesses, yet had no
> interest in profit or possessions. To train living beings, he would
> appear at crossroads and on street corners, and to protect them he
> participated in government. To turn people away from the Hinayana and
> to engage them in the Mahayana, he appeared among listeners and
> teachers of the Dharma. To develop children, he visited all the
> schools. **To demonstrate the evils of desire, he even entered the
> brothels. To establish drunkards in correct mindfulness, he entered
> all the cabarets.**
>
> ... Thus lived the Licchavi Vimalakirti in the great city of Vaisali,
> **endowed with an infinite knowledge of skill in liberative techniques**.


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