Suddina

Suddina of Kalanda's parents didn't want him to renounce the worldly life, and go forth, go for refuge from the Buddha. He went on a hunger strike, and thus his family relented.

His wife didn't have a child and the family wanted an heir. So Suddina had intercourse three times with his wife, and she got pregnant.

When this got back to the Buddha he had some harsh words (p. 159 The Life of the Buddha):

"Misguided man, it were better for you (as one going forth) that your member should enter the mouth of a hideous venomous viper or cobra than to enter a woman. It were better for you that your member should enter a pit of coals burning, blazing and glowing, than to enter a woman."

He claimed Suddina was pursuing the opposite of the Dharma--surprised there isn't word for that. I know Mara personifies the opposite, or Samsara is where you live. Ignorance is what causes us to live in samsara and listen to Mara. UnDharma, I guess.

And thus the rules is created: "Any monk who indulges in sexual intercourse is defeated: he is no more in communion."

To be expelled from the Sangha is quite an offense even if it is temporary suspension. There was almost a schism in the sangha when a monk felt that he was being unfairly persecuted for leaving some washing water by the bathroom (post).

I'm inclined to see his act as one of compassion, and am surprised at the vigor of the rebuke. That people don't take the straight path to goal is fairly common. But whenever I see the Buddha as being harsh or something, that always puts me in check. Am I resisting the teachings of the Buddha by dismissing this as a later insertion by some vinaya crazed monk? Also the Buddha's teachings were specific to each monk, to each sangha, to each situation, so perhaps this monk was a lusty fellow who needed an extra push. Maybe it wasn't the kindness it was put out to be my imagination.

And three times, everyone knows the intercourse motion is about flushing out another man's sperm, the first time give her the best shot at getting pregnant, he was flushing his own sperm out by continuing. Wait three days and try again if you're unsure. Although she is more likely to get pregnant if she comes, so maybe it took three times to get her there, and that was the deciding factor in her pregnancy.

With stillness, simplicity and contentment is the opposite of the sexual misconduct 3rd precept of 5. I prefer the positive reaching to the hand slap of the negative precepts.