Sexual Energy and Creativity

[curiouswanderer]

Hello everyone! I'm interested to see what some of you have to say in regards to a link between creativity and ones' sexual energy.

 

First I would like to start by saying I come from more of a "New Age" background, I have very limited knowledge on Taoist practices. I apologize if the termanology I use differs from that of which you are used to. When I was younger, I masturbated a lot - and this continued up until I was about 20 years old. I'm now 22. When I was twenty I began meditating for the first time, and for spiritual pruposes I also quit masturbation.

 

I must admit, going a few years with out beating off made a noticable impact on the way I think. It seems as if my entire conciousness transformed itself. I have been using writing to explore conciousness in these past few years.

 

Earlier this summer, I gave in and beat it for the first time since I was twenty. It was over two years. I've gotta admit, it feels like I've lost something very special inside of me. I no longer can find access into the creative realms of the psyche I once had, and I can't help to wonder - is creativity linked with sexual energy?

 

When I smoke heavy amounts of marijuana, I also lose this creative access. It seems like I dig as deep as I can, but it isn't deep enough - the information just doesn't come to me. I'm guessing too much weed can also harm the labido. These reasons lead me to believe that a link does exist.

 

On top of that, I have generally felt less alive inside since I last masturbated. It's like the fire that fuled me is gone. I've been a lurker on these forums for a few weeks now and I've read some stuff about Qi > Jing > Shen. From what I've gathered, when you lose sexual energy, you lose Qi - correct? If this is the foundation for the path to enlightenment, and I am interpreting this correctly, I worry I lost a lot of what I had spent the past few years building up within.

 

After a few weeks, I feel myself slowly getting back to "normal". I'm wondering how long it will take to re-establish my Qi supply.

 

If anyone has input I'd love to hear it. As I said I'm kind of a rookie when it comes to this stuff, besides basic knowledge of the chakra system I am pretty ignorant. Any comments are appreciated.

Edited August 7, 2009 by curiouswanderer

[Creation]

Hi curiouswanderer,

 

Welcome to The Tao Bums.

 

I am surprised nobody has replied to your post because this is a very interesting and important topic IMHO.

 

Of course, sexual energy is creative in nature because it creates life, so when it is sublimated it is natural that it would increase mental creativity. This is, of course, a weak argument, but I think it has been noticed by many spiritual adepts and highly creative/intelligent people. I have definitely noticed the connection (I modestly claim myself to be a creative/intelligent person ) I cannot report on the details of any of this, But here are some things to ponder.

 

1. There is a famous book called Think and Grow Rich where some guy researched highly successful men of his day (c. 1930 I think) and reported on things he thought contributed to their success. One of the things was "Transmutation of sexual energy" or something like that. Sorry I can't report more, I have not yet read the book.

 

2. In Taoist circles, it is understood that sex ordinarily depletes a man's energy level. Moreover, there is a special kind of energy called prenatal qi that you are born with a certain amount of and die when it runs out, and it is depleted by sex. Also they talk about "jing" or bodily essence whose most powerful manifestation is sperm. So there is talk of conserving jing, transmuting jing to qi, sublimating sexual energy to nourish the brain, etc. etc.. For those who are not celibate, one aspect is replenishing energy lost by techniques involving one's lover (so it doesn't apply to masturbating), the other is preventing the loss in the first place, which can apply to masturbation. Then there is the transmutation aspect. There is a lot of confusion about all this out there, and few if any people have a complete understanding of the process. It is very much related to kundalini and other esoteric spiritual phenomena. Of course, as at all times in human history, lack of complete understanding doesn't stop people from successfully doing it .

 

4. From a Western medical perspective, I heard something about the body devoting a huge amount of resources to producing sperm, so the less you loose your sperm the more resources you have for your body, and in particular, your brain. This covers the energy part of it (in the generic sense of the term) doesn't get into the sublimation part, which Western science can't do until it understands jing-qi-shen or Shiva-Shakti or whatever you want to call it.

 

How long does it take to refill you ask? Two weeks is what I have heard in both Taoist and Western medical circles. It seems like you have lingering effects. Perhaps they are psychological in nature?

 

I am curious, did you just quit masturbating cold turkey? What prompted you to start up again? I'm looking to quit myself... Feel free to switch to PMs if you think that more appropriate.

 

Best wishes,

Tyler

Edited August 8, 2009 by Creation

[Lucky7Strikes]

 

I am curious, did you just quit masturbating cold turkey? What prompted you to start up again? I'm looking to quit myself... Feel free to switch to PMs if you think that more appropriate.

 

Best wishes,

Tyler

 

Yes, that is quite peculiar...

 

Everyone seems to struggle with nocturnal emissions when they start retention. Your system needs to readjust. What methods did you use?

[curiouswanderer]

I am curious, did you just quit masturbating cold turkey? What prompted you to start up again? I'm looking to quit myself... Feel free to switch to PMs if you think that more appropriate.

 

Best wishes,

Tyler

Yes, that is quite peculiar...

 

Everyone seems to struggle with nocturnal emissions when they start retention. Your system needs to readjust. What methods did you use?

Thanks for the info, Creation.

 

Well, I still have an emission every blue moon - they never really went away. With time, they became less frequent, but they never completely ceased to occur. I was hoping with time they would just go away.

 

Now, as to the question as to why I started up again...well, to say the least, it wasn't really a well thought out choice. It was an impulsive decision that I later realized was a mistake. I still can't really figure out why I gave in, but that is aside from the point: it happened, and instead of dwelling on that fact I need to simply learn from my mistake and move on.

 

One thing I've noticed since I began my "spiritual journey", or whatever you want to call it, is I've become more isolated to some extent. Now, I am by no means an anti-social hermit or anything. I still have a solid group of friends I hang out with on a daily basis. I love them. When I was younger, however, say.. 19, I didn't even believe in god. I had no knowledge of any esoteric knowledge what-so-ever. And it definetly had an impact on my decision making. I had a lot more sex back then, but it isn't that I'm in a rut now. I just look for more meaning in something sacred like sex, I feel guilty when I engage for pure pleasure. Perhaps lonliness contributed to the decision?

 

Now, as for methods I used to quit for so long? I have no methods besides willpower, haha. For me, there came a point when a voice inside started telling me I shouldn't be masturbating. By coincidence (but probably not), this started happening right around the time I first started experimenting with LSD. I understand a lot of people masturbate and there are spiritual practices involving masturbation to raise your energy, but I honestly feel that keeping your seed in is the best way to build energy. If your conscienece, higher self, or whatever you want to call it is telling you to stop I think you should just do it. Stick to it for the sake of your personal experience and life itself. If you yourself have noticed a fall in creativity when you jerk off, then just stop.

 

Think about how precious creation is.. it is a special thing to be here! When I look across the world, we have so much disaster. Death and disease are every day news, people don't even think twice about the horrors we are exposed to. At the individual level, we can do our part with a little help from the imagination. The contributions ones creativity can make to society are virtually unlimited. Albert Einstein once said "Imagination is more important than knowledge." Some of the most influencial people of our era happened to be extremely creative people.. artists, scientists, etc. Many authors and painters were average joes who were able to have a positive inpact on humanity. This all started at the individual level. For this reason, I try to enhance creativity as much as possible. I find it inspiring. I believe art has no bounds when it comes to concious exploration.. creativity is precious. By bringing beauty into the world, you are essentially helping people see the light. To me, creativity is one of the most powerful tools any individual has to make a difference. Don't get me wrong, art needs no purpose and can pertain strictly to individual exploration - I just wanted to point out that one person can have an impact if they are in the right place on the inside.

 

One could also argue that self-pleasure is a byproduct of the ego. Seeking outside is not the path, at least in my own eyes. I think it is best to look within. These are things I personally try to live by, and for that reason I felt immense guilt after I beat it. I dunno about you guys, but if you have similar experiences with guilt and conscience.. just think about what you're doing. I had crossed the line of "sexual exploration" into masturbation for pure pleasure, as if it was a drug. Transform the negative into positive. After a few weeks with out masturbating I never really thought about it, I don't see why cold turkey wouldn't work if you are stubborn enough! I do understand there are spiritual practices out there that require masturbation. I think it's fine if that works for you. Just be honest with yourself.

 

It's all about intention. If you are masturbating with pure spiritual intentions, I'm sure things will work out. If your drive is lust, however, well.. that certainly isn't pure intention. You know deep down why you masturbate, I'm sure everyone has a different situation. Follow your heart and things will work out as they should!

Edited August 9, 2009 by curiouswanderer

[King Kabalabhati]

I've never heard about a spiritual practice that would involve beating off, although there's a lot crazier things in the world.. Some of them drink their own sperm I've heard. This I believe wastes a lot of energy through digestion and does sound a bit too kinky.

 

The Taoist and other esoteric techniques simply involve massaging the penis until the verge of the orgasm, after which the stimulated testicle energy is brought upwards the spine, into the brain and from there collected in the navel to avoin overheating the brain.

 

I've been cultivating the seed for half a year with some "accidents" on the way (it's not easy in the beginning, especially with a woman). I've noticed I don't long for the feeling of ejaculation at all anymore, rather I resent it.

 

BTW, I don't believe this "it's all about the intention"-talk. It's not. It's about energy and laws of nature. Intention is crucial but if you're ignorant, then you end up hurting yourself or somebody else no matter how good your intentions. So whatever you're dealing with, be sure to keep yourself open and educated about it.

Edited August 9, 2009 by King Kabalabhati

[Lucky7Strikes]

Thanks for the info, Creation.

 

Well, I still have an emission every blue moon - they never really went away. With time, they became less frequent, but they never completely ceased to occur. I was hoping with time they would just go away.

 

Now, as to the question as to why I started up again...well, to say the least, it wasn't really a well thought out choice. It was an impulsive decision that I later realized was a mistake. I still can't really figure out why I gave in, but that is aside from the point: it happened, and instead of dwelling on that fact I need to simply learn from my mistake and move on.

 

One thing I've noticed since I began my "spiritual journey", or whatever you want to call it, is I've become more isolated to some extent. Now, I am by no means an anti-social hermit or anything. I still have a solid group of friends I hang out with on a daily basis. I love them. When I was younger, however, say.. 19, I didn't even believe in god. I had no knowledge of any esoteric knowledge what-so-ever. And it definetly had an impact on my decision making. I had a lot more sex back then, but it isn't that I'm in a rut now. I just look for more meaning in something sacred like sex, I feel guilty when I engage for pure pleasure. Perhaps lonliness contributed to the decision?

 

Now, as for methods I used to quit for so long? I have no methods besides willpower, haha. For me, there came a point when a voice inside started telling me I shouldn't be masturbating. By coincidence (but probably not), this started happening right around the time I first started experimenting with LSD. I understand a lot of people masturbate and there are spiritual practices involving masturbation to raise your energy, but I honestly feel that keeping your seed in is the best way to build energy. If your conscienece, higher self, or whatever you want to call it is telling you to stop I think you should just do it. Stick to it for the sake of your personal experience and life itself. If you yourself have noticed a fall in creativity when you jerk off, then just stop.

 

It's good that your intentions are right, and that should really be the first thing one masters before doing spiritual or energy work.

 

If you want to learn how to more efficiently transform the sexual energy, there are many methods available. Regular meditation works best. .

[Creation]

Dear curiouswanderer,

 

As I understand it, nocturnal emissions will not go away except by intense cultivation. See this thread: http://www.thetaobums.com/Purifying-the-su...jing-t5395.html

 

I completely agree with you about intent. If it was about energy for me I would just learn to have dry orgasms. But I want to be able to look at a women as sisters in the Tao, not sex objects, to keep natural attraction from becoming lust. The roots of this are quite deep for me and I don't think willpower alone will do it for me. It's really amazing that you did it that way. Even when I've done well and not masturbated, I have a wet dream and all the bad habits of the mind and body come right back up. So I think for me to use willpower would be repression and hence unhealthy. Maybe I will be able to after some spiritual breakthrough of clearing out the negative junk in my mind.

 

Think about how precious creation is.. it is a special thing to be here! ... For this reason, I try to enhance creativity as much as possible. I find it inspiring. I believe art has no bounds when it comes to concious exploration.. creativity is precious. By bringing beauty into the world, you are essentially helping people see the light. To me, creativity is one of the most powerful tools any individual has to make a difference. Don't get me wrong, art needs no purpose and can pertain strictly to individual exploration - I just wanted to point out that one person can have an impact if they are in the right place on the inside.

Incidentally, this sentiment is precisely the origin of my screen name .

 

I would like to point out that many creative people seem to be more sexually active and "liberated" (as moderns use the term...) for their time. The connection between sexuality and creativity is not limited to retention. (Besides, many spiritual paths do not require celibacy.) I remember when it came out a couple of years ago that Einstein had extramarital affairs (not to mention knocking up his girlfriend as a teenager, which was common knowledge among Einstein biographers) I thought "Now why does that not surprise me?" One of my intellectual heroes, Alexandre Grothendieck, wrote extensively about the connection (in French, which I unfortunately don't understand...) and he impregnated his landlady when he was around 20 and had a girlfriend half his age in his 40s.

 

Quite a fascinating topic, none the less for being so deep and complicated.

[curiouswanderer]

Dear curiouswanderer,

 

As I understand it, nocturnal emissions will not go away except by intense cultivation. See this thread: http://www.thetaobums.com/Purifying-the-su...jing-t5395.html

Interesting thread, although the way it sounds I have to give up flirting!

 

I completely agree with you about intent. If it was about energy for me I would just learn to have dry orgasms. But I want to be able to look at a women as sisters in the Tao, not sex objects, to keep natural attraction from becoming lust. The roots of this are quite deep for me and I don't think willpower alone will do it for me. It's really amazing that you did it that way. Even when I've done well and not masturbated, I have a wet dream and all the bad habits of the mind and body come right back up. So I think for me to use willpower would be repression and hence unhealthy. Maybe I will be able to after some spiritual breakthrough of clearing out the negative junk in my mind.

 

Considering the culture we live in, I think it would be extremely difficult to completely abstain from having lustful thoughts. If it was over a long period of deconditioning prior views relating to women, then sure. But regardless of the situation, those thoughts can still come up, and you can still choose not masturbate through willpower. I don't understand why not masturbating is repression, really. You can be open and honest with yourself emotionally and figure out your problems. For me, I ponder the question of why I feel the need to beat off. I think the urge comes from a deeper psychological issue I havn't addressed, or that certain conditions put me back into older neurological patterns.

 

As a teenager, it was a way to relieve stress and even have fun. Orgasms can be addiciting, but so can cocaine. If you are a coke head and refrain from unhealthy drug use, it isn't repression, is it? I guess I don't see how retention of seed leads to something psychologically unhealthy. If anything I think it can decondition the problem and break it apart. If you are trying to change your views on sex and women, stopping masturbation seems like a logical first step. You are treating sexuality as something sacred, ya know? It then becomes more then a simple "feel good" activity at that point.

 

This summer is the first time I have cut back on marijuana use since I was maybe 15 or 16. I've been a habitual user for a long time, and I've read that chronic pot smoking can have detrimental effects on the sex drive and labido. Studies also show it leads to erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. The effects of weed on my sex drive might contribute to emissions. I never completely quit smoking, though I've cut back my use considerably over the past few months. Since cutting back, I notice my sex drive is much more active again. It's like I'm 14 sometimes. I go to bed high many nights a week. I'm not even sure if that contributes, but it sure isn't something I would find shocking.

 

If you want to learn how to more efficiently transform the sexual energy, there are many methods available. Regular meditation works best.

I practice a meditation called the MerKaBa. Some people on these forums seem to think it will harm you, but I have had nothing but great results thus far. I'm not sure if it helps with emissions, at least I've never read anything saying so. Are you referring to any particular meditation, or just energy work in general?

Edited August 10, 2009 by curiouswanderer

[markern]

Very interesting thread.

 

This thread should be interesting to you:

 

http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?showto...=tantra+teacher

 

IN general I think most people are better of practicing retention of sperm than strict celibacy although a lot of care needs to be taken to transform the energy well. The advice in the thread I link to should go a long way with that. Practicing a system like KAP will also realy help you a lot, probably much more actualy.

 

My meditation teacher who spent four years as a monk says that he gets more creativity and all of the other typical benefits from practicing retention then celibacy. However, with his training and preperation transforming the aroused sexual energy is quite easy and for beginners it will usualy be a challenge if the periods without emissions are long.

[Sloppy Zhang]

Perspective:

 

This reminds me of a Family Guy episode, where they show Peter and Quagmire as children. A child Lois dumps both of them. They get angry and say, "dangit, we went through all this trouble just for a chick. Well no more, from now on, let's swear off women! Yeah!"

 

It cuts to thirty years later, they are both sitting in a huge house. Peter says, "Well Quagmire, it seems that we've made another million dollars. And all because we have sworn off women."

 

And Quagmire goes "that's right!"

 

Then Peter gets up and says, "I'm going to go heat up a bagel and have sex with it."

 

So channeling your sexual energy into creative (money making) pursuits can be good, but taken to too far of an extreme can cause problems.

 

So middle path, yadda yadda.

[Lucky7Strikes]

I practice a meditation called the MerKaBa. Some people on these forums seem to think it will harm you, but I have had nothing but great results thus far. I'm not sure if it helps with emissions, at least I've never read anything saying so. Are you referring to any particular meditation, or just energy work in general?

 

The most effective way of opening the channels is radiating a smile with your entire body inwards. Breathe deep. The inhale increases the radiance and the exhale spreads it. Just sit, smile, breathe.

 

The anxiety and impatience that naturally arise is just the raw externalized energy. Be patient and the energy will refine.

 

Ejaculating isn't actually harmful either. Just the potentials of that energy is lost. So you shouldn't think that preserving the jing energy is helping your creativity and what not. It's what you do with it.

 

I'm not too familiar with MerKaBa so I cannot comment on it. Just curious, what results have you been getting?

Edited August 11, 2009 by Lucky7Strikes

[Vajrahridaya]

The most effective way of opening the channels is radiating a smile with your entire body inwards. Breathe deep. The inhale increases the radiance and the exhale spreads it. Just sit, smile, breathe.

 

The anxiety and impatience that naturally arise is just the raw externalized energy. Be patient and the energy will refine.

 

Ejaculating isn't actually harmful either. Just the potentials of that energy is lost. So you shouldn't think that preserving the jing energy is helping your creativity and what not. It's what you do with it.

 

I'm not too familiar with MerKaBa so I cannot comment on it. Just curious, what results have you been getting?

 

You can actually extract the prana from your ejaculate before you release. You can also empower your ejaculate through samadhi states and give states of consciousness to your partner... this is getting into secret tantra, or highest yoga tantra, or Kula ritual stuff in Shaivism. I'm sure they have this information in Taoist sexual tantra practices too as I've seen books about it in Taoist sections.

[Sloppy Zhang]

You can actually extract the prana from your ejaculate before you release. You can also empower your ejaculate through samadhi states and give states of consciousness to your partner... this is getting into secret tantra, or highest yoga tantra, or Kula ritual stuff in Shaivism. I'm sure they have this information in Taoist sexual tantra practices too as I've seen books about it in Taoist sections.

 

Don't know if this is the same thing, but I've been to a few lectures of some Tibetan Buddhists. Naturally someone brought up the subject of sex, whether abstinence is good or if you should partake, etc etc. And among many things they said was that having sex with an advanced spiritual practitioner can be good, for both parties involved, giver and receiver.

 

This what you're talking about?

[Sunya]

curiouswanderer,

 

you might find this interesting/beneficial/motivating

 

http://www.thetaobums.com/index.php?showto...mp;#entry134429

[curiouswanderer]

So channeling your sexual energy into creative (money making) pursuits can be good, but taken to too far of an extreme can cause problems.

 

Even if you aren't doing art for profit there are still huge benefits though. Some of my favorite fiction work is of the high fantasy genre. Let's look at a common example, like Tolkien. The man essentially created his own universe.. even his own language! He is basically the omnipotent creator of his own world. He lives every characters point of view, knows every occurance/action, etc. And he can go there whenever he wants at will.

 

Part of my background includes some studies of the occult / magick. When looking at the Tree of Life, the first step up the tree from this world (Malkuth) is stepping into the unconcious realm (Yesod). When you have creative union between the will and the imagination, you are doing this. I believe the benefits of art in terms of concious exploration are huge. So profitable or not, you still win.

 

I'm not too familiar with MerKaBa so I cannot comment on it. Just curious, what results have you been getting?

 

When I look at the mechanics of the MerKaBa, it seems more "magickal" in nature than it does a form of mental discipline and cleansing - though it does these things as well. Are you familiar with sacred geometry at all? The meditation is easier to explain if you have some knowledge of that. In a nuthshell the MerKaBa tries to raise your energy (or vibration, or frequency, etc.) to the heart chakra frequency, connecting you to your higher self.

 

Several people I know have also went to Flower of Life workshops to learn the meditation and they also report great results. We practice the method taught by Drunvalo Melchizedek. I think some practitioners misunderstand the concepts of the MerKaBa and have mistaught it, however his teaching seems safe and seems to make progress. A lot of people on these forums seem to have a complex understanding of the mechanics of meditation and our energy system, so I'll post some of what I've noticed with the meditation.

 

When you spin your MerKaBa, you are counter rotating two super-imposed star tetrahedrons in your heart chakra (star tetrahedron is sared geometry). You then just sit in meditation for however long you want, continuing to breath in prana. I run every day, I've read exercise cleanses your endocrine system and balances hormones. After my run is when I do my meditation. I usually meditate for 15-30 minutes a day. After I get out of meditation, the state of mind is very zen. Sometimes I have to exit my meditation because of the intensity of the energy of which is built up. It's also as if I can feel all of my cells vibrating.. because the MerKaBa is the only kind of energy work I've had experience, I'm not sure if any of this is normal or not.

 

You can feel energy around your heart for hours after you meditate.. it puts me in a very calm, happy state of mind. I usually feel energy from the first chakra up into the head too. It feels like a connected stream of energy. This will last for maybe thirty minutes or so after I exit the meditation.

 

If you've ever taken DMT, the after feeling is some what comparable physically - but the mental state is very zen. You feel like you are floating, the top of the head is usually intesne with energy too. I usually exit meditation and am pretty sweaty. It seems purifying. It feels great, and good for me.. so I continue to do it. I'm skeptical of a lot of new age stuff, but if you read Drunvalo's Flower of Life books are fascinating, and convincing. Sacred geometry makes the canvas reality is painted on - when you spin one of the most basic geometric patterns that creation is modeled after, you are working with a deep and core element of your being. The MerKaBa is supposedly an activated field in and around you that lasts for 36-48 hours after meditating. These geometries are always there, just not always active. The state of mind between what I feel on psychedelic drugs are not unsimilar to the effects after a meditation session, I feel it is a great tool to use for a creative catalyst. I usually have issues with anxiety and second guessing myself, but it goes away with the meditation. I'm sure a lot of energy work does this though, I'm just naive to other meditations unfortunetly.

 

I've been practicing for about a year and a half now, I can't even describe how much I've changed as a person. It sometimes feels like there is an invisible hand guiding me along.. my interest in art and magick sometimes feels like an obsession, but I can see progress in myself as a person. There is more depth to me than ever, and that is what I'm looking for - growth.

 

I've learned a lot about sacred geometry and the nature of reality, I feel. I've also noticed a change in long-term memory.. it brings up a lot of subconcious things. I've cried several times after meditation, but it feels good.. it isn't a sad feeling. The energy in the heart is overwhelming sometimes, it makes you very caring. I'm more sensitive than ever, but I feel in more in control of my emotions at the same time. Sometimes I get caught up with work and school and forget to meditate for a few days, and when I do, I definetly notice my MerKaBa is no longer active.

Edited August 11, 2009 by curiouswanderer

[seadog]

Well all I can say,as a Man who loves Women.Never underestimate the sublime feminine essence.In my humble oppinion it is the true door to the creative and strong sexual energy is the key that unlocks the door. The basis of all alchemy is the blending of yin and yang. There can be no life,no bliss, no creativity without this intercourse of complementry opposites.

[Vajrahridaya]

Well all I can say,as a Man who loves Women.Never underestimate the sublime feminine essence.In my humble oppinion it is the true door to the creative and strong sexual energy is the key that unlocks the door. The basis of all alchemy is the blending of yin and yang. There can be no life,no bliss, no creativity without this intercourse of complementry opposites.

 

I do agree that the sin-ification of sex is a great disservice to mankind and mostly a Catholic concoction. Even in ancient Indian poetry, both Buddhist and Hindu, there are great saints who were concubines and used the sexual experience as a way to realize the true nature of all things.

 

Here's a teaching poem...

 

39 The Siddha Babhaha, The Free Lover

 

Pleasure! pleasure! unconditional pleasure!

Unconditional desireless pleasure!

Every thought-form perceived as pleasure!

0 what unattainable secret pleasure!

 

Babhaha, Prince of Dhanjur, was intoxicated by the thrills of sensual pleasure. One day he spoke with a wise yogin who had come begging at the palace. The yogin inspired faith in him, and he asked for precepts to assist him in his sexual practice.

 

"Consummation, the samaya, is the fountain of all mystical experience; the Guru is the source of all success," were the precepts the yogin gave him. He then bestowed the initiation that transfers grace upon the prince, and instructed him in the fulfillment yoga technique of psychic channels, vital energies and seed essence:

 

In the lotus mandala of your partner,

A superior consort,

Mingle your white seed

With her ocean of red seed.

Then absorb, raise and diffuse the elixir

And your ecstacy will never end.

Then to raise the pleasure beyond pleasure

Visualize it inseparable from emptiness.

 

After twelve years of profound experience in this technique, the prince found that the obscurations of his vision had vanished, and he gained siddhi. He sang:

 

As the king of geese

Separates water from milk

The Guru's precepts

Draw up the ambrosial elixir

 

He served his disciples well before eventually attaining bodily the Dakini's Paradise.

 

Sadhana

 

Babhaha is taught the fulfillment process technique called Eternal Delight in the Six Yogas of Naropa. The same result can be achieved with or without a partner, using someone else's body or using one's own body.109 The practice for the celibate yogin is described in Nalinapa's legend (40), and such use of sexual energy is considered more desirable in the Tibetan tradition. But the well known axiom "No mahamudra without karma-mudra," where the female consort is the karma-mudra, and the central place that this yoga holds amongst the fulfillment stage topics, indicates its significance. The tradition defines "the superior consort" in physical terms, employing the criteria of the Indian science of erotics, as explained in texts such as the Kamasutra: the padmini is the best partner. Regarding the yoga itself, psychic channels carry the vital energies that consist of seed-essence; and the essence of the yoga is the skill in controlling the subtle energies. First, energy is sent downward to the sexual center; second, with perfect control, male and female energy is intermingled under the power of retention; third, the elixir of pleasure and emptiness united is raised, like a goose drawing water out of milk, up the central channel; and fourth, it is diffused throughout the psycho-organism by the constantly bifurcating "capillary" channels. With the withdrawal of "pleasure and emptiness indivisible" up the central channel, the four levels of joy are experienced at the four main cakras, and by saturation of the body-mind, eternal delight is achieved, and ultimately rainbow body is possible. The technical description of the technique should not obscure the sine qua non of a "spiritual relationship" between the yogin and his consort. Although the female body is being used as a source of "nectar," without a totally open, empathetic and responsive relationship, the yoga will fail. Further, desirelessness is the key to success, and insofar as such a state cannot be attained by striving, the pleasure that results from consummation is "unattainable." Finally, as Babhaha's Guru implies at the beginning, this practice is physically and mentally dangerous and requires a skillful guide. The samaya he mentions can be interpreted in several ways, all of them equally vital: it may be maintaining the relative vows and commitments of the vajrayana, or of this specific practice; it may be the samaya, the body, speech and mind union, of Guru and Dakini where Vajrayogini is the Dakini; or it may be the fully empathetic responsiveness of yogin and yogini in their sexual encounter.

 

Historiography

 

The meaning of Babhaha can only be inferred from the Tibetan translation "He who draws water from milk" (T. Chu las 'o ma len), referring to the yogin's ability to suck up the essential female bodhicitta from the intermingling of nectars in the bhaga mandala into the central channel. There is an eastern belief that geese have the facility of sucking out water from milk, thus keeping the milkman honest. Babhaha, which could be onomatopoeic, is also spelled Bhalaha, Bhamva, Babhahi, Baha and Bapabhati. His home town of Dhanjur is unidentified, as is his Guru.

[seadog]

Great post Vaj.Thanks for sharing.Me thinks the single most important element of the instruction (if there can be such a thing) "Without a totally open,empathetic and responsive relationship, the yogi will fail."This is the true core of the alchemy of opposites.

[Vajrahridaya]

Great post Vaj.Thanks for sharing.Me thinks the single most important element of the instruction (if there can be such a thing) "Without a totally open,empathetic and responsive relationship, the yogi will fail."This is the true core of the alchemy of opposites.

 

Thanks seadog. Indeed, that is very key. Empathy!

[markern]

Even if you aren't doing art for profit there are still huge benefits though. Some of my favorite fiction work is of the high fantasy genre. Let's look at a common example, like Tolkien. The man essentially created his own universe.. even his own language! He is basically the omnipotent creator of his own world. He lives every characters point of view, knows every occurance/action, etc. And he can go there whenever he wants at will.

 

Part of my background includes some studies of the occult / magick. When looking at the Tree of Life, the first step up the tree from this world (Malkuth) is stepping into the unconcious realm (Yesod). When you have creative union between the will and the imagination, you are doing this. I believe the benefits of art in terms of concious exploration are huge. So profitable or not, you still win.

When I look at the mechanics of the MerKaBa, it seems more "magickal" in nature than it does a form of mental discipline and cleansing - though it does these things as well. Are you familiar with sacred geometry at all? The meditation is easier to explain if you have some knowledge of that. In a nuthshell the MerKaBa tries to raise your energy (or vibration, or frequency, etc.) to the heart chakra frequency, connecting you to your higher self.

 

Several people I know have also went to Flower of Life workshops to learn the meditation and they also report great results. We practice the method taught by Drunvalo Melchizedek. I think some practitioners misunderstand the concepts of the MerKaBa and have mistaught it, however his teaching seems safe and seems to make progress. A lot of people on these forums seem to have a complex understanding of the mechanics of meditation and our energy system, so I'll post some of what I've noticed with the meditation.

 

When you spin your MerKaBa, you are counter rotating two super-imposed star tetrahedrons in your heart chakra (star tetrahedron is sared geometry). You then just sit in meditation for however long you want, continuing to breath in prana. I run every day, I've read exercise cleanses your endocrine system and balances hormones. After my run is when I do my meditation. I usually meditate for 15-30 minutes a day. After I get out of meditation, the state of mind is very zen. Sometimes I have to exit my meditation because of the intensity of the energy of which is built up. It's also as if I can feel all of my cells vibrating.. because the MerKaBa is the only kind of energy work I've had experience, I'm not sure if any of this is normal or not.

 

You can feel energy around your heart for hours after you meditate.. it puts me in a very calm, happy state of mind. I usually feel energy from the first chakra up into the head too. It feels like a connected stream of energy. This will last for maybe thirty minutes or so after I exit the meditation.

 

If you've ever taken DMT, the after feeling is some what comparable physically - but the mental state is very zen. You feel like you are floating, the top of the head is usually intesne with energy too. I usually exit meditation and am pretty sweaty. It seems purifying. It feels great, and good for me.. so I continue to do it. I'm skeptical of a lot of new age stuff, but if you read Drunvalo's Flower of Life books are fascinating, and convincing. Sacred geometry makes the canvas reality is painted on - when you spin one of the most basic geometric patterns that creation is modeled after, you are working with a deep and core element of your being. The MerKaBa is supposedly an activated field in and around you that lasts for 36-48 hours after meditating. These geometries are always there, just not always active. The state of mind between what I feel on psychedelic drugs are not unsimilar to the effects after a meditation session, I feel it is a great tool to use for a creative catalyst. I usually have issues with anxiety and second guessing myself, but it goes away with the meditation. I'm sure a lot of energy work does this though, I'm just naive to other meditations unfortunetly.

 

I've been practicing for about a year and a half now, I can't even describe how much I've changed as a person. It sometimes feels like there is an invisible hand guiding me along.. my interest in art and magick sometimes feels like an obsession, but I can see progress in myself as a person. There is more depth to me than ever, and that is what I'm looking for - growth.

 

I've learned a lot about sacred geometry and the nature of reality, I feel. I've also noticed a change in long-term memory.. it brings up a lot of subconcious things. I've cried several times after meditation, but it feels good.. it isn't a sad feeling. The energy in the heart is overwhelming sometimes, it makes you very caring. I'm more sensitive than ever, but I feel in more in control of my emotions at the same time. Sometimes I get caught up with work and school and forget to meditate for a few days, and when I do, I definetly notice my MerKaBa is no longer active.

 

Sounds good. You might benefit from some sort of practice that centers you in your belly (dan tien) and or grounds you in your feet and down into the earth. That will be important for keeping everything safe later on and avoid making you spacey and loose contact with life and earth. Especialy when the energy becomes realy powerfull that will be important. Most problems in spiritual practice comes from not being centered and not being rooted. Such practice can be just something physical like pilates for developing your ability to be centered in the abdomen or a simple meditation focused on the dan tien, for example visualising a small quietly burning flame in the dan tien, or a simple standing chi kung posture like embarcing the tree or one of the iron shirt postures (without necesarily adding the rest of the iron shirt practices). It does not have to be much, just 10 minutes 5 times a week or something just to keep you balanced. After energetic meditations it can also be very beneficial to just sit in open awareness or awareness of the breath for a while to let the fruits of the practice digest and integrate by itself for a while. In general I also think it is good for most people in the begining to do a period of bodyscanning (feel the hand, the shoulder, the belly, the leg, the left side of the body, the whole body etc. etc.) in order to properly balance the awareness in the body as a whole and to get realy connected to the body. Once this has been properly done it is usualy not necesary to practice it a lot to maintain the effects because you will do your other practices from that evenly distributed awareness. Such an even awareness also goes a long way in preventing any sort of energetic or personal imbalance.

 

You might also try to find out as much as you can about how the meditation you practice is supposed to lead to enlightenment in the long run. Is it focused on raising kundalini? Is it only one part of a larger alchemical scheme that requires one to progress to different meditations after some time? Is it a form of insight meditation like Vipassana? Is it a practice solely focused on opening the heart and untying the knot in the heart but that does nothing for the other parts of the broad aproach that needs to be taken? Is it just a concentration practice that needs to be coupled with insight practice or alchemy? It is very important to figure out these things so that you know if your practice is the only needed, only temporary, beneficial but ultimately a dead end by itself etc. If you don`t know what insight practice is then google Daniel Ingram and read his free online book and you will be very well informed.

 

 

Good Luck

[Sunya]

I concur on the suggestion to read Daniel Ingram

 

http://www.interactivebuddha.com/

[Spiritual_Aspirant]

Hi curiouswanderer,

 

Sexual energy is indeed connected with creativity. I'll explain this in the perspective of energy. The energy center or chakra responsible for sexual energy and lower creativity is the Swadisthana chakra, or now commonly called the sex chakra. This chakra is connected to the Visuddhi chakra, or commonly known as the throat chakra which is responsible for higher creativity. These two have a close link. The throat chakra can only be healthy if the sex chakra is healthy. Sexual energy fuels higher creativity. If you observe the artsy people, almost always they have a healthy sexual appetite in varying degrees. Sexually repressed people find it difficult to be creative because their sex chakra is malfunctioning and the energy cannot go up to the throat chakra. A strong throat chakra = a strong sex chakra. The flip side is not necessarily true. A strong sex chakra does not automatically mean the throat chakra is also strong. This usually happens when there is an energy blockage somewhere along the energy channels that prevents the energy from going up. These people usually have vigorous sexual appetites that might reach unhealthy levels.

 

In your case, I think you suppressed your sex chakra. Sex is natural, sex is good. Have a healthy attitude towards sex. There are practices to sublimate of alchemize sexual energy to higher forms of energy. The idea to conserve sexual energy comes from the teaching that sexual energy can be alchemized to be used for spiritual development. Therefore, sex energy should not be suppressed. Healthy exercise and a healthy attitude towards sex should fix your problem. It's better if you can come into contact with experienced energy healers to work on you but you can work on your problem on your own if you want. If you are interested, I suggest you read the Pranic Healing books written by Master Choa Kok Sui. His books deal extensively with energy healing.

 

Be blessed.

[curiouswanderer]

I concur on the suggestion to read Daniel Ingram

 

http://www.interactivebuddha.com/

 

Thanks, I'll have to take a look.

 

In your case, I think you suppressed your sex chakra. Sex is natural, sex is good.

I would agree, but masturbation is far from sex. During sex, as you probably know, energy is replenished.

 

I don't understand why so many people say things like "Masturbation is fine, it's completely natural. People have been raised to think its a taboo and that is why they feel guilt. Animals masturbate in nature." Well, lets think about what is actually happening during intercourse - two people are coming together to make one. When you are sitting in front of your computer, and you ejaculate into the air.. your energy isn't going anywhere. You need both the yin and yang to be whole, ya know? What can possibly come out of spilling seed? Sure, tension was released, but I don't think it would be healthy for the second chakra.

 

At the same time, I don't want to have any more sex with out love. I want to treat it as more of a sacred act, you know? I guess I've reached a point where simply engaging in intercourse doesn't do it for me anymore. I want to feel a strong bond with my partner, I want meaning behind it. However, I havn't had anyone to share somebody with lately.. I would personally rather not have sex again until I do find somebody I have strong feelings towards.

 

In my eyes, this way seems more healthy spiritually - but I could of course be wrong.

 

The energy center or chakra responsible for sexual energy and lower creativity is the Swadisthana chakra, or now commonly called the sex chakra.

 

The chakra book I use for reference is called The Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith. In her book she says the second chakra deals with both the sexual and emotional. Here are a few quotes from her book that come to mind:

"Chakra two is yin, tus encompassing more of the "feminine" qualities associated with receptivity, emotions, and nurturance." (Judith, 117)

"Pleasure, as befits the duality of the second chakra, is a two-edged sword. It's an easy chakra to get trapped in, yet the trap can result in avoiding pleasure as much as indulging in it." (Judith, 118)

When I look back on my relationships through high school and college, I can honestly say only one felt right sexually. We respected and cared for each other. Aside from that, I feel I have been kind of sinful with sex for a majority of my life. A one night stand or hooking up with a friend just to have a good time is something I want to get away from, ya know? Sure, I am having less sex but it feels like the right thing to go about things. A more healthy sex life might take patience and time, but I think it's for the best.

 

Aside from that, being emotionally healthy will also lead to a stronger second chakra. I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't think frequent sex is an absolute neccesity to a healthy second chakra, especially if you have vicious views towards sex in general. For example: a prostitute will get laid all the time, but they will not make love. In that situation, the sex just doesn't seem healthy, ya know? Or the drunk pair at the bar who just met and go home for a one night stand.

 

Having healthy views towards sex, in my opinion, will do more for the second chakra than having sex. I guess I'd just rather be patient and find somebody I feel right with than carelessly throw myself at people who I'm attracted to.

 

It's tough. I've thought this through more than once, so it is obviously something that often times bothers me. The fact that it does bother me may hint towards supression of this chakra, so I really don't know what to do besides do what feels right. I just want to approach sex as something special than a form of gratification. As much as I hate to say it, for most of my life I viewed it as a form of gratification. I want to transform the way I think about things and this seems like the only way...

 

I'd appreciate any comments people have. This is a topic I have argued about with friends time and time again. There seem to be a lot of ways to look at situations such as the one I have. I find it to be an interesting topic.

Edited August 12, 2009 by curiouswanderer

[markern]

Mixing the energy of the second chakra with the heart and heart chakra balances both and makes the often difficult to integrate sexual energy more benign. If you have loving sex then this type of alchemy happens largely by itself which helps a lot in every way and certianly is heplfull and balancing and makes retention a lot more easy. You can find the beldning technique on alchemicaltaoism.com

[Spiritual_Aspirant]

Thanks, I'll have to take a look.

I would agree, but masturbation is far from sex. During sex, as you probably know, energy is replenished.

 

I don't understand why so many people say things like "Masturbation is fine, it's completely natural. People have been raised to think its a taboo and that is why they feel guilt. Animals masturbate in nature." Well, lets think about what is actually happening during intercourse - two people are coming together to make one. When you are sitting in front of your computer, and you ejaculate into the air.. your energy isn't going anywhere. You need both the yin and yang to be whole, ya know? What can possibly come out of spilling seed? Sure, tension was released, but I don't think it would be healthy for the second chakra.

 

At the same time, I don't want to have any more sex with out love. I want to treat it as more of a sacred act, you know? I guess I've reached a point where simply engaging in intercourse doesn't do it for me anymore. I want to feel a strong bond with my partner, I want meaning behind it. However, I havn't had anyone to share somebody with lately.. I would personally rather not have sex again until I do find somebody I have strong feelings towards.

 

In my eyes, this way seems more healthy spiritually - but I could of course be wrong.

The chakra book I use for reference is called The Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith. In her book she says the second chakra deals with both the sexual and emotional. Here are a few quotes from her book that come to mind:

"Chakra two is yin, tus encompassing more of the "feminine" qualities associated with receptivity, emotions, and nurturance." (Judith, 117)

"Pleasure, as befits the duality of the second chakra, is a two-edged sword. It's an easy chakra to get trapped in, yet the trap can result in avoiding pleasure as much as indulging in it." (Judith, 118)

When I look back on my relationships through high school and college, I can honestly say only one felt right sexually. We respected and cared for each other. Aside from that, I feel I have been kind of sinful with sex for a majority of my life. A one night stand or hooking up with a friend just to have a good time is something I want to get away from, ya know? Sure, I am having less sex but it feels like the right thing to go about things. A more healthy sex life might take patience and time, but I think it's for the best.

 

Aside from that, being emotionally healthy will also lead to a stronger second chakra. I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't think frequent sex is an absolute neccesity to a healthy second chakra, especially if you have vicious views towards sex in general. For example: a prostitute will get laid all the time, but they will not make love. In that situation, the sex just doesn't seem healthy, ya know? Or the drunk pair at the bar who just met and go home for a one night stand.

 

Having healthy views towards sex, in my opinion, will do more for the second chakra than having sex. I guess I'd just rather be patient and find somebody I feel right with than carelessly throw myself at people who I'm attracted to.

 

It's tough. I've thought this through more than once, so it is obviously something that often times bothers me. The fact that it does bother me may hint towards supression of this chakra, so I really don't know what to do besides do what feels right. I just want to approach sex as something special than a form of gratification. As much as I hate to say it, for most of my life I viewed it as a form of gratification. I want to transform the way I think about things and this seems like the only way...

 

I'd appreciate any comments people have. This is a topic I have argued about with friends time and time again. There seem to be a lot of ways to look at situations such as the one I have. I find it to be an interesting topic.

 

There are taoist techniques to alchemize sexual energy even without a partner. Try looking for Mantak Chia's books.

 

From the school where I was trained, the sex chakra is not the seat of emotions. There are two chakras that control emotions, the solar plexus and the heart. The solar plexus chakra controls the lower emotions or the emotions pertaining to the self. The heart chakra controls the higher or nobler emotions like selflessness, etc. Although all chakras have an emotional effect, these two are the main emotional centers.