23/7/2014 Why Sex Should Be Treated As A Spiritual Practice

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Why Sex Should Be Treated As A
Spiritual Practice [1]
Submitted by Marnia on Mon, 2014-03-03 10:01
Another look at sacred sexuality by
gigong pratitioner and author Robert
Peng.
Mention the word sex and eyes widen
and ears perk up. The strong reaction the subject arouses
reflects the spicy nature of sexual energy.
We may be at the gym feeling tired and depleted, but if
someone we find attractive starts working out next to us, our
energy level is suddenly boosted. That energetic
intensification represents the activation of our Lower Dantian
(energy center below the navel), which holds our sexual
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energy in reserve.
Pure sexual energy is as unstable as dynamite and just as
explosive. It can transport us to sublime states of bliss and
delight, or cast us into the darkest pits of anguish, terror,
and depravity. The volatile and wild nature of sexual energy
convinced some religious traditions to view it as an
impediment to spiritual development, and to some degree
this belief still continues to perpetuate in the popular
imagination because of the confusion, heartache, and pain
that sexual intimacy can cause.
To demonstrate this, rank the following three words from
the most to the least spiritual: wisdom, love, sex. If we took
a poll, the top position might be a tossup between wisdom
and love, but without a doubt sex would rank last on the list.
No one questions the connection between spirituality [2]and
love or spirituality and wisdom. But the link between
spirituality and sexuality is a harder sell.
From the Qigong perspective, however, the notion that
sexuality and spirituality are antithetical is misguided,
because sexual energy forms one of the cornerstones of
happiness. If we ever hope to secure long-lasting happiness
in a loving relationship, we must heal our socially
conditioned distortions about sexuality. We must erase the
invisible line we draw with our minds around our beltlines,
above which lies the greater part of human nature and
below which lies the lesser. In essence, we must spiritualize
sex.
But how do we redeem sexuality and elevate it to the
spiritual status it deserves? How do we reconcile the square
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of sex with the circle of spirit when sexual pleasure is often
responsible for so much shame, trauma, and pain? One
place to begin searching for an answer to these questions
lies in identifying the fundamental, seemingly irreconcilable
differences between male and female sexuality. Those
differences swiftly become apparent in the bedroom.
Stereotypically, male sexual energy flares up and is
exhausted quickly, like a match, while female sexual energy
boils slowly and remains hot for a long time, like a pot of
boiling water. These different tempos are a source of shame
for men who climax too fast and frustration for women who
may not climax at all. This problem is then compounded by
the notorious fact that when male sexual energy is activated
men often become emotionally unavailable, and the other
notorious fact that the female sexual experience is often
laden with sentimentalism that men normally cant relate to.
Obviously, we cant alter our sexual instincts. What we can
do, however, is use spiritual practice to overcome the
limitations imposed by nature on our sexuality. In fact, we
can transform the inherent mismatch between male and
female sexuality into an incredible opportunity for spiritual
growth.
Lets begin by considering the way Qigong can help a man
harness his sexual energy. When male sexual energy is
aroused, it intensifies locally around the genitals and
quickly flows out of the body. That is the natural pattern of
male sexual energy. But men can learn to reverse that flow
and direct their sexual essence upward, toward the Middle
Dantian (energy center at located at the heart level). By
doing so, a man accomplishes two goals. First, he
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diminishes the urge to ejaculate, and second, as sexual
energy rises to his heart, passion blends with love and
tenderness. A man who masters this skill is able to prolong
intercourse indefinitely and deepen his emotional
connection during lovemaking.
When female sexual energy is aroused, it naturally flows
inward and upward from the genitals toward the heart.
Stimulation of the breasts further activates the Middle
Dantian (energy center at located at the heart level) and
reinforces an emotional response. Unlike men, women dont
need to practice Qigong to integrate their sexual vitality with
their love. These qualities mingle naturally, and in this
respect, female sexuality is inherently more integrated.
But through spiritual practice both women and men can
learn to integrate their sexual energy to even higher levels.
Sexual vitality can be directed upward from the heart to the
top of the head, where it becomes infused with the blissful
quality of sacredness. And from there, sexual vitality can be
circulated through the Central Meridian Meridian (the
energy channel that unifies the three main energy centers
the Dantians) into the sky, where it is experienced as
heavenly ecstasy.
Sexuality that centers on the genitals and the Lower
Dantian (energy center below the navel) corresponds to
passionate sex. Sexuality that integrates the sexual vitality
of the Lower Dantian with the heart-centered energy of the
Middle Dantian corresponds to intense lovemaking.
Sexuality that integrates all three dantians corresponds to
blissful sacred love. And sexuality that integrates the all
three dantians and the Central Meridian corresponds to
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cosmic ecstasy.
Cosmic ecstasy is vastly more intense, pleasurable, and
meaningful than even the most passionate sex. Comparing
the two is like contrasting a bathtub with the ocean.
There is no surer way to bring long-lasting happiness into
an intimate relationship than to ground it in enduring bliss.
http://themindunleashed.org/2014/03/sex-treated-spiritual-
practice.html [3]
Topic:
Karezza [4]
Source URL: http://www.reuniting.info/blogs/marnia/why-sex-should-
be-treated-spiritual-practice
Links:
[1] http://www.reuniting.info/blogs/marnia/why-sex-should-be-treated-
spiritual-practice
[2] http://themindunleashed.org/category/spirituality
[3] http://themindunleashed.org/2014/03/sex-treated-spiritual-
practice.html
[4] http://www.reuniting.info/forum-topic/karezza