The Buddha defined “morality” based on societal acceptance.
- Yes. If it is accepted by society (or the country), having multiple wives is fine. In the days of the Buddha, many disciples had several wives (until they became Anagamis).
- For example, kings had harems with many women. There is an account of a gahapati (householder) with three or four wives. I forget his name, but the day he became an Anagami, he came home and told the wives that he would consider them his sisters from then on, and they could live with him. But if they wanted, they were free to marry another man. One wife chose to marry another man, but the others stayed with him.
- It becomes sexual misconduct when one goes beyond societal norms.
