Sexuality: The Case For Moderation

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

- Charles Shahar 

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.