It is disturbing to see so many people for whom sex and spirituality
are completely unrelated—or exist as opposites. They were brought up
in a world where traditional religious influence was overwhelming and
they learned that physical sex was sinful, something for which
they should feel great. To them, it may be a novel idea to consider
that sex can be spiritual. The word “sex” can stop conversations and
make everyone freeze in embarrassment. New Agers are taught that there
is no war between spirituality and sexuality.
Sex
and spirituality are completely unrelated—or exist as opposites.
They were brought up in a world where traditional religious influence
was overwhelming and they learned that physical sex was sinful, something for which
they should feel great. To them, it may be a novel idea to consider
that sex can be spiritual. The word “sex” can stop conversations and
make everyone freeze in embarrassment. New Agers are taught that there
is no war between spirituality and sexuality.
Unlike
the Christians, who regard their God as a sort of eunuch, the ancient
Greeks imagined their gods as being extremely erotic, sensual, and
even sexy. Aphrodite was a real deity—worshipped, prayed to,
revered. She was presented in sacred art as taking a bath, disrobing,
wearing jewelry, holding a mirror to her face.
Many gods erect are portrayed as erect and full of desire. Zeus,
had a 300-year honeymoon with his wife, Hera, and his orgasm created
the many wondrous things of the world—a striking image of the
creative power of sex. India has similar images of divine creative
eros. Its famous Kama Sutra is not all about sexual positions and
preparations. It begins by instructing the reader to get two major
aspects of life in order: First, find meaning in your existence. What
are you called to do? What is your dharma? Second, get your home and
career on track. Give your life form. Have a philosophy that can guide
you, and apply it to your everyday concerns. Only then will you be
ready to learn how to truly enjoy sex.
It is possible to be intensely spiritual and intensely sexual at the
same time. There is no contradiction. In fact, if a person’s
sexuality is not fully accepted, his spirituality will suffer. And
vice versa: If spirituality is not strong, sexuality will lack..
If you are a highly sexual and sensual person, your spirituality will
be grounded. The greatest danger in the spiritual life is to lose
contact with reality. You begin to believe in the most fantastic
things. You think of yourself as better than anyone else, as
possessing the one and only truth. Ultimately, you may become too hard
on yourself in an effort to be as acceptable and as pure as possible.
These are extremes that a good sensual life can tame.
Spirituality without sensuality tends to be aggressive, even turning
mean and punitive. No doubt that there is a close connection between
sexual repression and extreme aggression. But even in our more
ordinary lives, we might find ourselves less depressed and
mean-spirited if our spirituality were softened by spiritual sex.
More about this later.
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