Video
Twitter
Facebook
RSS Feed
Sexual passion is a spiritual energy
Speaking to a meeting of Hasidic Jewish leaders on Sunday, New York GOP gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino said, "I don't want [children] to be brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid or successful option" to heterosexuality.
Religious organizations and people frequently lead opposition to gay rights in the United States.
In the August ruling which overturned California's Proposition 8 banning same-sex marriage, a witness asserted, "Religion is the chief obstacle for gay and lesbian political progress."
Why does religion play such a central role in debates about homosexuality?
Religion is there to guide/illumine us about awareness of the 'reality' beyond the physical and psychological realms surrounding us. Religion tries to keep us awake and focused on our path, though sometimes difficult to traverse, towards what we call God.
This 'reality' is given different names by various religions, but religions usually tell us that excessive physicality and indulgence with lust and greed stand as a hurdle against our experiencing of the spiritual realm. We find that religion has emphasized restraint, especially of lust, because sex is the most potent urge and a rich nucleus of personal force. Sexual potency has been generally restricted basically to its functional aspect, namely to continue the existence of the species. Other manifestations of that urge have been generally downgraded or even eliminated in the case of those who want intensely to realize the divine through a shortest possible route, the monastics. Since homosexuality is not a function required for species reproduction, this might be an argument for the generally negative, or at best only neutral, attitude of religion towards it.
Another viewpoint can be that rules concerning sexual behavior of us mortals do not strictly fall under the territory of spirituality/religion. These can be viewed as questions of social mores, to be decided by society for the public good. These are not matters to be legislated about except to promote social order and cohesion.
It can be a social question to be largely addressed by society, families and other social units. Hinduism, as a religion or spiritual path, is concerned with ultimate principles and with the general spiritual practices needed to realize these principles in actual experience in life. Social conduct was generally left for society to determine, for the practical details.
Hinduism advocates self-control in action and thought. Ancient scriptures tell us that sexual passion is a spiritual energy and is only partially physical--it can be transformed into compassion and love and creative spirit. Lead a selfless life in complete freedom but desires under total control. Potent forces of sex can otherwise be utilized for realizing Self. Passing pleasures, however tempting and sensual those may be, last only very temporarily. Conquering sex and keeping one-pointed focus on Self-realization can prove helpful in spiritual journey.
By
Rajan Zed
|
October 15, 2010; 2:33 PM ET
Save & Share:
Previous: All God's children have a place in the choir |
Next: Misplaced priorities?
Posted by: AJBF | October 19, 2010 10:55 AM
Report Offensive Comment
"Passing pleasures, however tempting and sensual those may be, last only very temporarily. Conquering sex and keeping one-pointed focus on Self-realization can prove helpful in spiritual journey."
You're going to great lengths to make this a lot more complicated than it really is. Sex makes us feel good, the sex drive makes us feel good, it's not about cosmic energy though, it's about brain chemicals. To think that a biologically normal, yet powerful sex drive/completion adds to or depends on mystical energy within 'the force' is very, very egocentric.
Self control is of course valuable as a means to cooperatively survive and thrive in a densely populated society.
Sex is sex, birds do it, fleas do it, even my parents....(ewww).
No need to elevate it into the realm of pixies, cherubs and multi-armed gods.
Posted by: gladerunner | October 18, 2010 2:19 PM
Report Offensive Comment
While there are times when sex with my beloved transcends the physical, there are other times that I shout "Oh God!' and it has nothing to do with spiritual energy.
Posted by: lepidopteryx | October 18, 2010 1:09 PM
Report Offensive Comment
"Sexual passion is a spiritual energy"!!
Wow, and me a poor atheist. Am I denied sexual passion? I'd hate to have to break it to my husband that what we've experienced together since we were both in high school is merely some poor facsimile of what it could be.
"Ancient scriptures tell us that sexual passion is a spiritual energy and is only partially physical--it can be transformed into compassion and love and creative spirit."
Oh yeah, when I'm looking for truth and understanding, I straightaway head to ancient scriptures! Though, to me, Dr. Ruth Westheimer is ancient.
Posted by: t_parker16 | October 17, 2010 6:54 PM
Report Offensive Comment
Mr. Zed makes the same mistake so many do about homosexuality: boil down homosexual relationships strictly to a sexual act, when it is about so much more, like companionship, love, caring, support, etc.