user731: I was reading about Buddhism in Wiki and I just am not able to make out if celibacy is a must for Buddhists?

user3510: It would be ideal if a question like this were framed as either an inquiry into personal experiences and views or as relating specifically to the precepts of specific schools of Buddhism.

am not able to make out if celibacy is a must for Buddhists?

The answer I would give is no. Only one Buddhist ever was required to practice celibacy: that was Shakyamuni; and he required it of himself by "marrying himself to the Earth." In an allegorical sense this marriage is indicated by the story of Shakyamuni's final struggle with Mara (the devilish nature of delusion integral to all beings; an innate part of consciousness); when challenged by Mara to produce any person who could testify that he, Shakyamuni, was qualified to become the Tathagata, the Teacher to all living beings, Shakyamuni placed his hand, palm upon the ground and said "The Earth is my witness" (it is said that when he did this, the ground trembled in many directions, scattering the followers of Mara, who fled in terror).
Vinaya, the codified rules of monastic conduct, do not apply outside the school which claims them. So the Vinaya of Theravadan Buddhists cannot be applied to those answering from a Mahayana perspective (as informed readers will no doubt deduce that I am).
I have been celibate for more than a dozen years as I write this. I am in my 50s and am a male American person. It has some great aspects.  However, everything is like a blade that has two edges.

user13348: a delicious cake is displayed in a cake shop showcase and a male  and female ,both are tempted to eat it .they go inside, order it, eat it together with joy. now nobody will think it as immoral,etc etc. There is no guilt associated with it. but as regards to sensuality ,eating is attached with guilt,immorality etc etc. It is this attached guilt is hindrance in any kind of spirituality be it hinduism,buddhism,christianity,islam and lot many. this associated taboo has its roots in the early primordial humans living in tribes,groups. The desire of sensual pleasure makes the women vulnerable and vica versa .to protect it the taboo might have been got associated. we cannot help it now ,since this taboo is coming from thousands of years . even the small children are taught to refrain from touching their private parts and hence how they will also come out of this taboo. the cycle goes on repeating . the taboo is not associated with wearing nice clothes,eating delicious food,enjoying good movie. if the guilt of being immoral is absent then there is no need to give so much importance to this taboo. whole religions are whirling on this aspect only. so listening/following to those are also filled with ego of maintaining celibacy .On the contrary the ego or "i " is to dissolved,ruptured. So it is upto the individual what to follow. celibacy making the "i' still stronger or tabooless,guiltless non celibacy.

user104: If you choose a way of a monk - you have to keep your vows so celibacy is a must for you.
If you choose to be a lay Buddhist, you should undertake 5 precepts and one of those is avoiding sexual misconduct. When two people love and respect each other they can generate lots of happiness through sex. In tantric Buddhism giving sexual pleasure is actually seen as a form of generosity.
One of the most important practices in Vajrayana Buddhism is meditating on Yidams (Buddha forms). Some of the forms represent male and female Buddhas in union. If Buddhas do it, there must be nothing intrinsically impure in sex. 


user92: 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 & white" since householders are encouraged to be celibate if they feel inclined to do so.

731: <p>I was reading about Buddhism in Wiki and I just am not able to make out if celibacy is a must for Buddhists?</p>
 3510: <p>It would be ideal if a question like this were framed as either an inquiry into personal experiences and views or as relating specifically to the precepts of specific schools of Buddhism.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>am not able to make out if celibacy is a must for Buddhists?</strong></p>
</blockquote>

<p>The answer I would give is <strong><em>no</em></strong>. Only one Buddhist ever was <em>required</em> to practice celibacy: that was Shakyamuni; and he required it <em>of himself</em> by "marrying himself to the Earth." In an allegorical sense this marriage is indicated by the story of Shakyamuni's final struggle with <em>Mara</em> (the devilish nature of delusion integral to all beings; an innate part of consciousness); when challenged by Mara to produce any person who could testify that he, Shakyamuni, was qualified to become the <strong><em>Tathagata</em></strong>, the Teacher to all living beings, Shakyamuni placed his hand, palm upon the ground and said "<em>The Earth is my witness</em>" (it is said that when he did this, the ground trembled in many directions, scattering the followers of Mara, who fled in terror).</p>

<p><em>Vinaya</em>, the codified rules of monastic conduct, do not apply outside the school which claims them. So the Vinaya of Theravadan Buddhists cannot be applied to those answering from a Mahayana perspective (as informed readers will no doubt deduce that I am).</p>

<p>I have been celibate for more than a dozen years as I write this. I am in my 50s and am a male American person. It has some great aspects.  However, <em>everything</em> is like a blade that has two edges.</p>
 13348: <p>a delicious cake is displayed in a cake shop showcase and a male  and female ,both are tempted to eat it .they go inside, order it, eat it together with joy. now nobody will think it as immoral,etc etc. There is no guilt associated with it. but as regards to sensuality ,eating is attached with guilt,immorality etc etc. It is this attached guilt is hindrance in any kind of spirituality be it hinduism,buddhism,christianity,islam and lot many. this associated taboo has its roots in the early primordial humans living in tribes,groups. The desire of sensual pleasure makes the women vulnerable and vica versa .to protect it the taboo might have been got associated. we cannot help it now ,since this taboo is coming from thousands of years . even the small children are taught to refrain from touching their private parts and hence how they will also come out of this taboo. the cycle goes on repeating . the taboo is not associated with wearing nice clothes,eating delicious food,enjoying good movie. if the guilt of being immoral is absent then there is no need to give so much importance to this taboo. whole religions are whirling on this aspect only. so listening/following to those are also filled with ego of maintaining celibacy .On the contrary the ego or "i " is to dissolved,ruptured. So it is upto the individual what to follow. celibacy making the "i' still stronger or tabooless,guiltless non celibacy.</p>
 104: <p>If you choose a way of a monk - you have to keep your vows so celibacy is a must for you.</p>

<p>If you choose to be a lay Buddhist, you should undertake 5 precepts and one of those is avoiding sexual <em>misconduct</em>. When two people love and respect each other they can generate lots of happiness through sex. In tantric Buddhism giving sexual pleasure is actually seen as a form of generosity.</p>

<p>One of the most important practices in Vajrayana Buddhism is meditating on Yidams (Buddha forms). Some of the forms represent male and female Buddhas in union. If Buddhas do it, there must be nothing intrinsically impure in sex. </p>

<p><img src="https://i.stack.imgur.com/NPcHz.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>
 92: <h2>Is celibacy intrinsic to Buddhism?</h2>

<p>The answer depends as follows:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>As a householder, no, celibacy is <strong>not required</strong>. It is only required to abstain from improper sexual conduct. And what is improper sexual conduct?</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>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.<br>
  <em><sub>-<a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an10/an10.176.than.html#unskillful10" rel="nofollow noreferrer">AN 10.176, To Cunda the Silversmith (Cunda Kammaraputta Sutta)</a></sub></em></p>
</blockquote></li>
<li><p>As a monastic, yes, celibacy is <strong>required</strong>. You can get a better understanding of monastic celibacy by reading <a href="http://lirs.ru/lib/sutra/The_Numerical_Discourses_of_the_Buddha,Anguttara_Nikaya,Bodhi,2012.pdf#page=1037" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this</a> discourse (AN 7.50, which is at the bottom of the linked page).</p></li>
</ul>

<p>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.</p>
