The case  for moderation in sexuality

The case  for moderation in sexuality

Charles Shahar explains how  judiciously indulging in sex is  the key to conserving the vital energy which, when properly  channelled, can help one soar to  spiritual heights 

This article relates to the question  of sexual activity and its effects on prana or vital energy in the  

body. More specifically, I want to  address how energy is dissipated through the  sexual act. The reader may immediately think  that, unlike a monk, you cannot see yourself  forgoing this type of pleasure, no matter what  type of energy dissipation is involved. Well,  who says that you have to? However, there are  a number of interesting considerations that  relate to sexual activity from a subtle energy  perspective, which may throw a different light  on what is commonly understood about it. 

First, when the sexual act is performed, there  are many levels of expression which may  give rise to it. There may be genuine affection  involved, which means that the person is  relating to the life form that is in front of them,  and the heart is open to appreciation and  tenderness. This is quite beautiful and uplifting  for the people involved and gives rise to many  loving feelings. 

Life contacts with life 

Human beings have energy centres called  chakras, which range from the lower chakras that involve baser desires to the higher  chakras which, when awakened, can give  rise to spiritual experiences. If the individual  is operating solely from the lower chakras  and is completely identified on a body level,  sentiments such as tenderness may not play a  large part in their sexual desire. 

However, even if little affection is involved, it  is misleading to think that the individual is not  interested in connecting with something higher  through their sexual activity. They will generally  want to have physical relations with a person  who is alive rather than a corpse. This would  suggest that even if life is appreciated in its most  basic form, it is still at the root of all attraction.  

My point here is that if two life forms are  involved, behind all the pleasure-seeking, the  ultimate pleasure is the contact that life makes  with itself. This is a bit of an esoteric point, but  one that is important to express because sexual  activity is only physical at its most superficial  level. The body is a shell that carries life but is  itself wholly inanimate—what the Hindus term  as jada. Ultimately, what we respond to, what  we love and seek to unite with, is the unobvious  living essence behind the form.  

The mechanism of sex 

Whenever lust is felt between two individuals,  the lower three chakras become stimulated,  and the entire consciousness rushes to these  centres. The mind itself is dragged into this level  of experience, such that the body and senses  become the focus of its attention. As the sexual  activity becomes more intense, the kundalini, or  energy force that sits coiled at the base of the  spine, begins to stir and a type of heat or fever  pervades the body. At this point, the more primal  instincts of the first to third chakras, those most  implicated in the physical act of sex, subvert the  faculties associated with the higher centres. 

At the brief moment of climax, the kundalini  energy activates the various chakras as it  surges sharply upwards. A mindless ecstasy  is then reached as this energy blows through  the crown or seventh chakra, which is called  the Sahasrara in Sanskrit. This surge is also  associated with a powerful rush of pleasure  that the body and senses experience during  orgasm. Unfortunately, the kundalini energy  will sink back down to the lowest or root chakra  almost immediately afterwards, so the delight  will be very short-lived.  

The climax associated with the sexual act is an ecstatic experience, a  surrendering of mind and, in that sense, a type of transcendence. This is why  it has been strongly linked to the spiritual aspect, to the ultimate union of the  soul with the divine. It has been said that this ecstatic state is like touching God.  

There are those who try to regularly and intentionally manipulate the kundalini  through sexual activity to achieve various ecstatic experiences, such as through  tantric sexual practices.  

Difference between orgasm and meditative bliss 

On the other hand, there are qualitatively different states that take place in deep  meditation and during the sexual act. For many people, the sexual climax is the  only experience they have of transcendence. Hence, the distinction between ecstatic pleasure and meditative bliss is blurred. The two have the same root, which pertains to the kundalini that resides in the base chakra. In meditation, one’s  

consciousness is elevated toward the Sahasrara or crown chakra. However, while  it is true that a form of surrender may happen during the sexual act, and that this  may take one beyond the mind temporarily, one’s self-awareness is not enhanced. 

The body that has not been properly purified in a spiritual sense cannot hold the  state of kundalini arousal for very long. Sexual climax is therefore brief and there is often a letdown after its termination. A few seconds of release, with little to show  for it afterwards. On the other hand, when one meditates, one connects deeply  with the spirit within, and that connection can be maintained even after they open  their eyes and interact with the world. The more a person meditates, the more  they radiate an inner splendour. This is not generally the case for someone who is  constantly depleting their energy through sex, and I’ll explain why presently. 

Drawbacks of indulgence 

Getting back to the sexual response, there are a number of other considerations which you may find interesting. In some individuals, the experience will be  strongly influenced by negative elements  related to the lower chakras. For instance, if  the solar plexus chakra is implicated, as the  kundalini rushes upward, it may be mixed  with impulses of aggression or violence. The  rush of kundalini energy may also be difficult  to support for some people. A sudden opening  in the heart chakra, for instance, may cause a  heart attack if there is already a major pranic  weakness in this area. 

A person who is obsessed with sexual activity  will be stuck mostly at the level of their  second or sacral chakra. They will exude  strong sexual vibrations in their interactions  with others, which may appeal to those who  are also operating from this chakra but will  seem offensive to people with more refined  sensibilities. For the person who is thus fixated  in a type of ‘genital consciousness’, they will  think about sex constantly and, if they are  heterosexual, will relate to members of the  opposite gender mainly in such terms.  

Their second chakra is often overactive and  requires constant release. Since their mind is  locked in this chakra, they will indulge in endless  sexual fantasies, constantly searching for  pornographic material to titillate themselves  and often engaging in masturbation for relief.  The second chakra is often associated with  sexual perversions when it is over-stimulated  and warped in its structure or if it is spinning in  the direction opposite to its natural inclination.    

Sexual energy and celibacy 

Most adults are not necessarily overly fixated  in their second chakra but neither are they  celibates. They enjoy their sexual activity and  see it as a necessary or natural part of living.  They are perfectly right to do so. One can be pure  at heart and have sex at the same time. The two  are not mutually exclusive conditions. In fact,  most of the great religions of the world do not  necessarily discourage sex for pleasure’s sake,  although they usually emphasize procreation  as the ultimate goal of the sexual act. 

One can ask why it is that people with a  strongly religious lifestyle often stress upon  celibacy? A priest or nun may say it is to  channel his or her thoughts toward God. This  assessment is actually not far from the truth.  But it also has a lot to do with vital energy. The  more this is conserved in the body, the more  this energy is available for pursuing higher  spiritual awareness. If one squanders their  energy reserves, they will lack the alertness  and stamina necessary to lead their attention  to a higher dimension. 

The value of ojas 

Why does spirituality require stamina? We often  think of stamina in physical terms, how it is  important when we jog for three miles or swim  across a lake. But there is a spiritual energy that  relates to a different type of staying power. A  person who cannot keep his or her mind focused  or alert during meditation, for example, lacks  this type of stamina. Sexual overindulgence  perpetuates lethargy and, as such, makes  the mind dull, heavy, and susceptible to the  influences of the grosser nature. 

Sexual activity uses up energy, which is  why there is usually a feeling of tiredness or  letdown that comes after the sexual act. There  is also a sensation of having lost something,  which is obviously more pronounced on the  part of the male, and actually reflects what is  happening on a subtle level. The ancient yogis  described a subtle fluid, which is contained  in semen, called ojas, a form of concentrated  energy, distinct from the prana itself. Other  terms in the vernacular, such as mojo, loosely  refer to this same force. In tantric practices, it  is known as jing.  

Ojas is likewise stored in the ovaries of women.  They lose a certain amount of this vital energy  during menstruation, although depending  on their constitution, their recovery of ojas  may not take long. Women who bleed a lot, on  the other hand, will lose more vital fluid, and  this is partly why they will feel exhausted for  long periods. Ovarian cysts or blockage of  the fallopian tubes will likewise disrupt the  circulation of vital fluid in their body.  

Great spiritual feats 

It was said by the yogis that a man who  retains his ojas will be capable of great feats  of spiritual mastery: Control of the senses,  the ability to remain unmoved amidst the  distractions of the world, superior power of  concentration, and the aptitude to exercise  one’s will over nature and other people. Such  a being will emanate lightness and vitality and  will be considered charming and attractive.  His physical and mental stamina will be truly  impressive, and he will be able to perform  great austerities.  

The climax associated with the  sexual act is an ecstatic experience,  a surrendering of mind and a type  of transcendence. This is why it has  been strongly linked to the ultimate  union of the soul with the divine. 

When the ojas is channelled towards the  higher centres, it becomes a potent force. In  fact, the yogis were scientific about it. They  had a formula in which they said that a certain  amount of prana in food can be converted to  blood, which can be made into a certain amount  of semen, and so on. They even calculated how  long it would take to recover one’s spiritual  powers from a discharge of semen. It is hard to  know how seriously one is to take all of this in  terms of specific details and formulae.  

The cautions I point out regarding the sexual  response have more to do with overindulgence,  which can have some unwelcome consequences  for the subtle energy body. It can lead to an  extreme dissipation of the vital fluid and its effect  will be felt for a long time. However, the other  extreme, such as abstinence from sex, may cause  repression in some, and thus is not necessarily  for everyone. In the case of the execution of all  desires, moderation is recommended. 

For instance, it is interesting to observe those  known as modern-day Lotharios. After years  of libertine behaviour, they often look spent, as  though the life has been squeezed out of them.  There is little ojas in their system; they seem  dull and unresponsive. It is also noteworthy  that athletes are discouraged from engaging  in sexual activity before a major competition.  Boxers, for instance, have long been cautioned  about this before a big match or even during  training. In a way, the energy that is saved  through their abstinence can be redirected  towards the physical activities they need  to perform. It is a kind of sublimation of the  seminal force.  

Channel sexual energy 

Celibacy, or sexual abstinence, should not  be understood merely on the level of obvious  actions. It is not complete if the person  abstains from sex but is constantly thinking  about it. They will still be operating from their  second chakra, so they will need to know how  to channel the pent-up energy. Otherwise, it  may be expressed as aggression, unhappiness,  bitterness, or irritability. It is observed, for  instance, that not all monks or nuns in a  monastery will necessarily be vital folks, in  touch with a particularly joyful dimension. In  fact, one might wonder why some of them are  downright crabby and, if anything, not very  connected to the life force within.  

The answer is that the vital energy might get stuck  in many ways, for instance, perpetuating stale  concepts and ideas. The life energy must be directed into a higher channel if the senses are  to be truly transcended. This is what celibacy for spiritual ends is really about. The more  refined one’s awareness is, the more mastery they will have over their senses. However, in  order to achieve such higher awareness, one must get beyond the lower chakras. 

The benefits of conserving sexual energy 

The energy can be released through the sexual act, or it can be sublimated for other  purposes. However, if the sexual drive remains stirred yet untapped, it can become a  hindrance to individual growth and can lead to imbalances of the mind. The family man  who engages in sex in a natural and loving way should not worry about depleting his  ojas. As long as growth is promoted in any relationship and one does not overindulge,  sex will just be part of a healthy sharing between two people.  

For the person who is intent on conserving their energy and who wishes to refine it for  spiritual ends, the signs of their abstinence are remarkable and subtle at the same time.  There is a shiny glow around their features. There is clarity about their person, and  their mind is invigorated and alert. Such people radiate blissfulness, a kind of joy that  reflects a sense of fulfilment that cannot be attained through worldly pleasures alone. 

Unfortunately, we find other ways to burn seminal energy, which include doing stressful  work, worrying, drinking alcohol, using drugs, drinking too much coffee, smoking, and  partying hard. In my spiritual practice, particularly in the meditation classes I teach, I  notice that people who are low on ojas generally sleep through the meditations. They  cannot hold the meditation posture, are usually slumped over, and unconscious of their  existence. On the other hand, people with conserved ojas tend to stay alert and maintain  a lightness that is helpful if their spirit is to soar to higher dimensions. 

There are ways to conserve and enhance the store of ojas in the organism. Hatha yoga  is a highly beneficial practice for enhancing this energy. Pranayama is excellent for the  manipulation of this vital force. Finally, the sattvic or refined lifestyle, which includes  eating sattvic foods and avoiding extreme conditions of any type, is essential for anyone  wishing to enhance their consciousness above the mundane level of human experience.