Breaking Precepts

I remember clearly in the late 90s, the Lewinsky Scandal that rocked the world. A White House intern, Monica Lewinsky alleged nine sexual encounters with Bill Clinton, the then United States President but the President denied it vehemently, to the extent of issuing a forceful denial in a press conference with his wife, Hillary Clinton. That was of course before Monica's blue dress with the President's sperm specimen appeared. The rest as they said was history. On August 17, 1998, the President admitted in a taped grand jury testimony that he had had an improper physical relationship with the intern and later in the evening, he gave a nationally televised statement admitting his relationship with Lewinsky which was not appropriate. Clinton's crimes were however said to be crimes of obstruction of justice and perjury and were impeachable offenses. He got to remain in office and was not given any penalty beyond attempts at censure by the House of Representatives. Some friends of mine had then said that whatever Clinton did with Monica Lewinsky was his own private matter but if he was good in governing his country, then he should be allowed to keep his job. Mm...mm...some liberal ideas from some broad minded people, I thought...but the President did admit to having an improper physical relationship and a not appropriate relationship. Kāmesu micchācāra veramaī sikkhāpada samādiyāmi. I undertake the training rule to abstain from sexual misconduct . In terms of the second Buddhist precept, I suppose Bill Clinton who has a wife, did break the Third Precept,for what is an extramarital affair but sexual misconduct? But in a case where one is sleeping at home and photographed nude without one's knowledge and the nude photographs are then circulated as in the case of Elizabeth Wong, an assemblywoman in Selangor, Malaysia, I wonder if this Third Precept has been similarly broken. While the pictures would give some smart alecks ideas like there has been some kind of moral decay or some kind of physical and sexual relationship with a boyfriend or someone, Elizabeth Wong, being a single woman and a consenting adult, most probably did no harm to others unless of course she knows her partner is already married and commited to someone else. Otherwise, as Elizabeth Wong put it: She shouldn't be ashamed of her sexuality as a woman and as a single person. The rat who took her photos and circulated them ought to be ashamed for kissing and telling, for that tells of a cheap, spineless man and this I am sure - He has broken the Second Precept:Adinnādānā veramaī sikkhāpada samādiyāmi. I undertake the training rule to abstain from taking what is not given. Taking intimate photographs needs permission, mind you and circulating personal photographs too!