user29: According to this  answer, it seems like masturbation is not considered sexual misconduct or breaking the third precept.
However, the whole point (in general) of keeping the precept is to make good kamma both in mind and body. Masturbation alters the mind state and creates bad mind-made kamma. So ideally, shouldn't it also be considered as sexual misconduct and breaking the third precept?

user-1: This is an issue you really have to investigate for yourself whilst being mindful of what has been said elsewhere. Masturbation should be meditated upon and an attempt made to analyse what you are doing. Partly that is also about the rights and wrongs of it.
Imagine a man sees a woman who is a complete stranger to him during the day and is aroused, or sees an online picture, and later masturbates by bringing the image of her into his mind. Having never had the opportunity to have met the woman and found out if she resonated with him on other levels of being such as the emotional, is this then really just pure lust for her physical form? 
After all suppose they actually met face to face. Perhaps they would have nothing in common, didn't actually like each other etc etc.
It helps to consider the reality that the form is just one aspect of the woman, and that relationship with her in reality would not just involve the form that is known about, but those other aspects of her being which are not known about. 
That is the woman is considered in her totality.
Furthermore relationship in reality is a two - way thing. In reality she just might not be interested in the least.
It helps to try and draw reality into the created fantasy.
Anyway I think I've given a flavour of the kind of considerations that might be helpful.

user4742: Masturbation does not transgress the 3rd precept. 
Yet, pursuing thoughts of sexuality is considered unskillful as they contribute to further becoming (bhava), which in turn leads to further dukkha.
However, long term forced sexual repression only for the sake of keeping a precept is also counterproductive. I have met a few people who have decided to be brahmachari while living a household life and developed very negative and hostile views towards women. 
Sexual desire should be uprooted from the root with wisdom and compassion, not suppressed because of a rule. 
Monastics have to abstain from all sexual activity. This is extremely difficult for the average man. This requires a proper environment, internal (mind) and external, proper preparation, developing proper views and thoughts, and proper support. 
For lay people, the Buddha recommended abstaining from all sexual activity including masturbation, any sort of entertainment, at least once a week by under taking the Uposatha precepts. 

"For all their lives the arahants dwell having abandoned unchaste
  conduct, they are of chaste conduct, living aloof, refrain from sex
  which is the way of common society; so today I dwell, for this night
  and day, having abandoned unchaste conduct, I am of chaste conduct,
  living aloof, refraining from sex which is the common way of society.
  By this practice, following after the arahants, the Uposatha will be
  entered on by me"

Visakhuposatha Sutta: The Discourse to Visakha on the Uposatha with the Eight Practices

"It's no gain for you, it's ill-gotten, that in this life so
  endangered by grief, in this life so endangered by death, you
  sometimes observe the eight-factored uposatha and sometimes don't."

The Sakka Sutta where the Buddha strongly urges the keeping of the Uposatha

user121: There are multiple answers in the link you posted that explain what sexual misconduct is and masturbation cannot be considered among the ranks of actions named sexual misconduct. 
Now you MAY have a case if you use the word sensual misconduct as the translation, then actions like over eating and excessive masturbation could be considered abuse of the senses.
Masturbation does not alter the mind state. If you look deep enough, masturbation is done BECAUSE of a mind state. Masturbation is only an issue for monastics, and is not something the laity need to go fret too much about, at least until such time as the practice starts to show them the futility of sexual actions, then it naturally falls away.

user111: From what I've heard, masturbation or fantasizing about people other than your partner won't break the 3rd precept. But it weakens it. Just like harming animals doesn't break the 1st precept until you actually kill. But it will weaken any merits you get by keeping to the 1st precept apart from creating lot of bad Karma for yourself.

user736: Masturbation is unwholesome just like getting angry is unwholesome.  Getting angry is not recommended, but it is not against a precept. 
I think there is confusion with abrahmacariya precept taken with 8 and 10 precepts. This precept replaces the third sexual misconduct precept of regular followers and requires complete celibacy. Abstinence from sensual pleasures are covered in this rule and also in the other higher precepts included in the eight/ten group.  These precepts are taken by serious lay followers and novice monks. 
Bhikkhus must do manata/parivasa (probation) if they do such an act.  It is very serious for a monk to do such a thing and very serious legal act to rehabilitate. Often, separate "prison monasteries" are set up for this purpose in Asia because of the difficulties in the logistics to carry out such a task.  
Novice monks ask to do chores (danda kamma) if they break this.  It should be noted that the only difference in precepts of a layperson and a novice monk is the tenth precept of not using the money. As far as the third precept (sexual misconduct) is concerned for the five precept yogi; "It takes two to tango."

user18: Argumentation is a tricky thing; it's easy to skip a step and before you realize it, you've got an argument whose premises don't actually necessitate their conclusion.
Premise: The whole point (in general) of keeping the [third] precept is to make good kamma both in mind and body. 
Premise: Masturbation alters the mind state and creates bad mind-made kamma. 
Conclusion: [Masturbation should] also be considered as sexual misconduct and breaking the third precept.
I'm not sure if you actually meant that the point of keeping the precepts in general is to make good kamma, or just the third, but either way, whether this premise is true or not, it doesn't necessitate the conclusion. We can see this by substituting the word "masturbation" with "consensual sex", "gambling" or even "dancing" - just because an act is unwholesome doesn't mean it violates any of the precepts, let alone the third.
You might have a better argument if your second premise pointed out that masturbation created bad karma relating to sexuality; we can maybe assume this was implied as obvious. Still, if masturbation is breaking the third precept, why is not consensual sex, or even romantic kissing or fondling? 
The third precept does not cover all unwholesome activity relating to sexuality, just as the first precept does not cover all acts of violence. They are specific rules designed to keep people from breaking a basic moral code that would otherwise lead them to be reborn in the lower realms.
ANSWER: So, while masturbation may be unwholesome (and a cause of addiction), it does not by any means break any of the five precepts. It does violate the eight and ten precepts, and is a major offence against the vinaya for a bhikkhu.

29: <p>According to <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/questions/1367/how-is-sexual-misconduct-explained-in-regards-to-the-five-precepts">this </a> answer, it seems like masturbation is not considered sexual misconduct or breaking the third precept.</p>

<p>However, the whole point (in general) of keeping the precept is to make good kamma both in mind and body. Masturbation alters the mind state and creates bad mind-made kamma. So ideally, shouldn't it also be considered as sexual misconduct and breaking the third precept?</p>
 -1: <p>This is an issue you really have to investigate for yourself whilst being mindful of what has been said elsewhere. Masturbation should be meditated upon and an attempt made to analyse what you are doing. Partly that is also about the rights and wrongs of it.</p>

<p>Imagine a man sees a woman who is a complete stranger to him during the day and is aroused, or sees an online picture, and later masturbates by bringing the image of her into his mind. Having never had the opportunity to have met the woman and found out if she resonated with him on other levels of being such as the emotional, is this then really just pure lust for her physical form? </p>

<p>After all suppose they actually met face to face. Perhaps they would have nothing in common, didn't actually like each other etc etc.</p>

<p>It helps to consider the reality that the form is just one aspect of the woman, and that relationship with her in reality would not just involve the form that is known about, but those other aspects of her being which are not known about. </p>

<p>That is the woman is considered in her totality.</p>

<p>Furthermore relationship in reality is a two - way thing. In reality she just might not be interested in the least.</p>

<p>It helps to try and draw reality into the created fantasy.</p>

<p>Anyway I think I've given a flavour of the kind of considerations that might be helpful.</p>
 4742: <p>Masturbation does not transgress the 3rd precept. </p>

<p>Yet, pursuing thoughts of sexuality is considered unskillful as they contribute to further becoming (bhava), which in turn leads to further dukkha.</p>

<p>However, long term forced sexual repression only for the sake of keeping a precept is also counterproductive. I have met a few people who have decided to be brahmachari while living a household life and developed very negative and hostile views towards women. </p>

<p>Sexual desire should be uprooted from the root with wisdom and compassion, not suppressed because of a rule. </p>

<p>Monastics have to abstain from all sexual activity. This is extremely difficult for the average man. This requires a proper environment, internal (mind) and external, proper preparation, developing proper views and thoughts, and proper support. </p>

<p>For lay people, the Buddha recommended abstaining from all sexual activity including masturbation, any sort of entertainment, at least once a week by under taking the Uposatha precepts. </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"For all their lives the arahants dwell having abandoned unchaste
  conduct, they are of chaste conduct, living aloof, refrain from sex
  which is the way of common society; so today I dwell, for this night
  and day, having abandoned unchaste conduct, I am of chaste conduct,
  living aloof, refraining from sex which is the common way of society.
  By this practice, following after the arahants, the Uposatha will be
  entered on by me"</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an08/an08.043.khan.html" rel="nofollow">Visakhuposatha Sutta: The Discourse to Visakha on the Uposatha with the Eight Practices</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"It's no gain for you, it's ill-gotten, that in this life so
  endangered by grief, in this life so endangered by death, you
  sometimes observe the eight-factored uposatha and sometimes don't."</p>
</blockquote>

<p><a href="http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an10/an10.046.than.html" rel="nofollow">The Sakka Sutta where the Buddha strongly urges the keeping of the Uposatha</a></p>
 121: <p>There are multiple answers in the link you posted that explain what sexual misconduct is and masturbation cannot be considered among the ranks of actions named sexual misconduct. </p>

<p>Now you MAY have a case if you use the word sensual misconduct as the translation, then actions like over eating and excessive masturbation could be considered abuse of the senses.</p>

<p>Masturbation does not alter the mind state. If you look deep enough, masturbation is done BECAUSE of a mind state. Masturbation is only an issue for monastics, and is not something the laity need to go fret too much about, at least until such time as the practice starts to show them the futility of sexual actions, then it naturally falls away.</p>
 111: <p>From what I've heard, masturbation or fantasizing about people other than your partner won't break the 3rd precept. But it weakens it. Just like harming animals doesn't break the 1st precept until you actually kill. But it will weaken any merits you get by keeping to the 1st precept apart from creating lot of bad Karma for yourself.</p>
 736: <p>Masturbation is unwholesome just like getting angry is unwholesome.  Getting angry is not recommended, but it is not against a precept. </p>

<p>I think there is confusion with abrahmacariya precept taken with 8 and 10 precepts. This precept replaces the third sexual misconduct precept of regular followers and requires complete celibacy. Abstinence from sensual pleasures are covered in this rule and also in the other higher precepts included in the eight/ten group.  These precepts are taken by serious lay followers and novice monks. </p>

<p>Bhikkhus must do manata/parivasa (probation) if they do such an act.  It is very serious for a monk to do such a thing and very serious legal act to rehabilitate. Often, separate "prison monasteries" are set up for this purpose in Asia because of the difficulties in the logistics to carry out such a task.  </p>

<p>Novice monks ask to do chores (danda kamma) if they break this.  It should be noted that the only difference in precepts of a layperson and a novice monk is the tenth precept of not using the money. As far as the third precept (sexual misconduct) is concerned for the five precept yogi; "It takes two to tango."</p>
 18: <p>Argumentation is a tricky thing; it's easy to skip a step and before you realize it, you've got an argument whose premises don't actually necessitate their conclusion.</p>

<p><strong>Premise</strong>: The whole point (in general) of keeping the [third] precept is to make good kamma both in mind and body. </p>

<p><strong>Premise</strong>: Masturbation alters the mind state and creates bad mind-made kamma. </p>

<p><strong>Conclusion</strong>: [Masturbation should] also be considered as sexual misconduct and breaking the third precept.</p>

<p>I'm not sure if you actually meant that the point of keeping the precept<b>s</b> in general is to make good kamma, or just the third, but either way, whether this premise is true or not, it doesn't necessitate the conclusion. We can see this by substituting the word "masturbation" with "consensual sex", "gambling" or even "dancing" - just because an act is unwholesome doesn't mean it violates any of the precepts, let alone the third.</p>

<p>You might have a better argument if your second premise pointed out that masturbation created bad karma relating to sexuality; we can maybe assume this was implied as obvious. Still, if masturbation is breaking the third precept, why is not consensual sex, or even romantic kissing or fondling? </p>

<p>The third precept does not cover all unwholesome activity relating to sexuality, just as the first precept does not cover all acts of violence. They are specific rules designed to keep people from breaking a basic moral code that would otherwise lead them to be reborn in the lower realms.</p>

<p><strong>ANSWER: So, while masturbation may be unwholesome (and a cause of addiction), it does not by any means break any of the five precepts. It does violate the eight and ten precepts, and is a major offence against the vinaya for a bhikkhu.</strong></p>
