Is celibacy intrinsic to Buddhism? I was reading about Buddhism in Wiki and I just am not able to make out if celibacy is a must for Buddhists?
Is celibacy intrinsic to Buddhism?

The answer depends as follows:


As a householder, no, celibacy is not required. It is only required to abstain from improper sexual conduct. And what is improper sexual conduct?


  He gets sexually involved with those who are protected by their
  mothers, their fathers, their brothers, their sisters, their
  relatives, or their Dhamma; those with husbands, those who entail
  punishments, or even those crowned with flowers by another man.
  -AN 10.176, To Cunda the Silversmith (Cunda Kammaraputta Sutta)

As a monastic, yes, celibacy is required. You can get a better understanding of monastic celibacy by reading this discourse (AN 7.50, which is at the bottom of the linked page).


This distinction, however, is not "set in stone" or "black &amp; white" since householders are encouraged to be celibate if they feel inclined to do so.