Dear Hari,
What are your current views of sexuality and sexual behaviours?
I apologise if this is a topic that you don't want to elaborate on, or if you already expressed your opinions elsewhere and don't want to repeat yourself.
Thanks,
Gandalf.
Sexuality
I don’t know what you mean by "sexual behaviours," so I will skip this part of your question.
Sexuality is something we are born with and cannot avoid. It is a major factor with which we live our lives. It is part of us and life without accommodating our inherent sensual nature is incomplete. Even if one wishes to detach oneself from it, the endeavor to push it away requires enormous effort. This is a testimonial to its pervasive power. The modern society is vastly different than the societies of yore and I am of the opinion that the traditional ideals of sexuality need to be updated to include the people of today.
The expression of sensuality is individual and there are no regulations that govern all situations with all people at all times and cultures. Each individual deals with their own feelings and actions in their own way. Everyone has to consider their own body and energy and the facilities or restrictions created by their family, society, culture or religion. I don't like to judge others choices, for everyone has the right to choose the path they feel is best for them. Since each person is dealing with a palette of options unique in this world, it is hard to generalize optimal behavior. Besides, interfering in the innermost sanctums of the human psyche is a dangerous endeavor that the cautious should shun. Therefore I have avoided making statements that could be seen as judgmental, regulatory, or even suggestive regarding this hot topic.
Sex is an integral part of life. Accepting it as such makes coming to terms with this powerful energy easier. There are no simple solutions to dealing with sexual energy for it is a manifestation of our vibrant life force made more complex when placed within the context of others often confusing and alluring energy.
Repressing sexuality by fighting one's own nature accomplishes little in the long run. Working with our natures by evolving from the reality of our life situation is vastly superior to accepting some ideal that does not fit. It is always unhealthy to live the life of another. Unrealistic demands to accept detachment from our inherent sensuality can take the form of insistence on our following codes or ideals that do not suit us or are ultimately harmful to our long-term interests. Such demands can create internal distress, the amplification of our already low self-esteem, and ultimately disease, for they can go against the natural flow of our energy. But the human can adapt to anything by justifying what they are doing by seeing value in it. Therefore I would be wrong to suggest that accepting restrictions that I feel are unhealthy is improper for all people at all times. Perhaps one has to go through the acceptance of artificial restriction to clarify their own understanding of what they are not? This is not to say that one might, out of their own choice at their right time, transform their vision to something in tune with the ideals I described as unrealistic. My point is simply that we would be better off having the freedom to organically grow rather than be forced to act in ways in which others insist is better for us.
A real problem is that inexperienced seekers of the truth often lack the experience and maturity to be able to define a healthy path. Without an absolute reference point, each person has to find his or her own way to peace. Being mixed up in a repressive situation may be the best way for some people to find their own frequency within the universe. Ultimately, all that really counts is our maintaining our freedom to choose to do what we feel is best. In this context we can boldly go forth into the world and experience life in all its diversity. To sex or not to sex is certainly the question for many and the paths taken to find the answer reflect the decisions made. We can always change our decisions but finding the courage to change is often harder than we could imagine.
Even though freedom of choice and the inherent right to find our way through the arena of experience are essential elements to growth, there are problems associated with attaining a comfortable balance between our spirituality and sensuality that are best resolved by the acceptance of healthy limitations. Long-term relationships are good for stability and if love, respect and appreciation are maintained, relationship commitments can be an extraordinarily powerful force for evolution. Manifestations of love through sex within such a context is healthy and builds inner strength.
Yet who am I to say this is the way in which the sexual energy must manifest? It is only one of the myriad of ways in which it appears in life. I wrote it because it is, in my opinion, one of the better. But my journey to this conclusion was a long and intense one. So wouldn’t yours be too? Well, not necessarily. Again, find your own conclusions for when they are really yours, you embrace them wholeheartedly.
There are some who need to be detached from sex. There are some who need to absorb themselves in it for some time. There are some who vacillate between these two states, and still others that haven't the courage to define themselves sexually. Some will only have sex within marriage, some only outside of marriage. Some follow religious principles and others mock religion’s interference in their natural rhythms of growth. All are expressing themselves as they need to at the moment. It is possible that many will change in time as they accept the very circumstances in their lives they formerly condemned, an extremely beneficial way to experience the value of seeing the world through the eyes of others. It is definite that all will grow through their struggle to come to grips with their own innate sensuality and how it cooks their world.
Sexuality is something we are born with and cannot avoid. It is a major factor with which we live our lives. It is part of us and life without accommodating our inherent sensual nature is incomplete. Even if one wishes to detach oneself from it, the endeavor to push it away requires enormous effort. This is a testimonial to its pervasive power. The modern society is vastly different than the societies of yore and I am of the opinion that the traditional ideals of sexuality need to be updated to include the people of today.
The expression of sensuality is individual and there are no regulations that govern all situations with all people at all times and cultures. Each individual deals with their own feelings and actions in their own way. Everyone has to consider their own body and energy and the facilities or restrictions created by their family, society, culture or religion. I don't like to judge others choices, for everyone has the right to choose the path they feel is best for them. Since each person is dealing with a palette of options unique in this world, it is hard to generalize optimal behavior. Besides, interfering in the innermost sanctums of the human psyche is a dangerous endeavor that the cautious should shun. Therefore I have avoided making statements that could be seen as judgmental, regulatory, or even suggestive regarding this hot topic.
Sex is an integral part of life. Accepting it as such makes coming to terms with this powerful energy easier. There are no simple solutions to dealing with sexual energy for it is a manifestation of our vibrant life force made more complex when placed within the context of others often confusing and alluring energy.
Repressing sexuality by fighting one's own nature accomplishes little in the long run. Working with our natures by evolving from the reality of our life situation is vastly superior to accepting some ideal that does not fit. It is always unhealthy to live the life of another. Unrealistic demands to accept detachment from our inherent sensuality can take the form of insistence on our following codes or ideals that do not suit us or are ultimately harmful to our long-term interests. Such demands can create internal distress, the amplification of our already low self-esteem, and ultimately disease, for they can go against the natural flow of our energy. But the human can adapt to anything by justifying what they are doing by seeing value in it. Therefore I would be wrong to suggest that accepting restrictions that I feel are unhealthy is improper for all people at all times. Perhaps one has to go through the acceptance of artificial restriction to clarify their own understanding of what they are not? This is not to say that one might, out of their own choice at their right time, transform their vision to something in tune with the ideals I described as unrealistic. My point is simply that we would be better off having the freedom to organically grow rather than be forced to act in ways in which others insist is better for us.
A real problem is that inexperienced seekers of the truth often lack the experience and maturity to be able to define a healthy path. Without an absolute reference point, each person has to find his or her own way to peace. Being mixed up in a repressive situation may be the best way for some people to find their own frequency within the universe. Ultimately, all that really counts is our maintaining our freedom to choose to do what we feel is best. In this context we can boldly go forth into the world and experience life in all its diversity. To sex or not to sex is certainly the question for many and the paths taken to find the answer reflect the decisions made. We can always change our decisions but finding the courage to change is often harder than we could imagine.
Even though freedom of choice and the inherent right to find our way through the arena of experience are essential elements to growth, there are problems associated with attaining a comfortable balance between our spirituality and sensuality that are best resolved by the acceptance of healthy limitations. Long-term relationships are good for stability and if love, respect and appreciation are maintained, relationship commitments can be an extraordinarily powerful force for evolution. Manifestations of love through sex within such a context is healthy and builds inner strength.
Yet who am I to say this is the way in which the sexual energy must manifest? It is only one of the myriad of ways in which it appears in life. I wrote it because it is, in my opinion, one of the better. But my journey to this conclusion was a long and intense one. So wouldn’t yours be too? Well, not necessarily. Again, find your own conclusions for when they are really yours, you embrace them wholeheartedly.
There are some who need to be detached from sex. There are some who need to absorb themselves in it for some time. There are some who vacillate between these two states, and still others that haven't the courage to define themselves sexually. Some will only have sex within marriage, some only outside of marriage. Some follow religious principles and others mock religion’s interference in their natural rhythms of growth. All are expressing themselves as they need to at the moment. It is possible that many will change in time as they accept the very circumstances in their lives they formerly condemned, an extremely beneficial way to experience the value of seeing the world through the eyes of others. It is definite that all will grow through their struggle to come to grips with their own innate sensuality and how it cooks their world.