Spiritual Portal

From an early age I've learned the pleasure received from rubbing my genitals against something- with the help of ready made pornographic material online this later evolved into an addiction used to pass the time. For a brief moment, the bliss from an orgasm could calm the chaotic thoughts accumulated from the hussle and bussle of every day living. This passing was unfruitful and usually after it was over, I would experience some kind of regret or even, shun my indulgent experience with shame and disappointment. Only to later, lust and want to give into this feeling again. Even while in a romantic and purposeful relationship, I masturbate. Do I think it's wrong ? Not really. But I do think I do it often. I think it might interfere with my well being and possibly- the energy expelled from masturbating could go torwards more creative/purposeful outlets. So. I'm curious- From male or female perspective... Should I be weighing these things together ? Masturbation/Spirituality. How often do you masturbate- what are your thoughts and how does it affect your spirituality ?? 

PS. I heard there was a spiritual practice to injaculation. That you try to send the energy from cumming upwards into your body instead of out. This supposedly awakens a raw creative force. Have you heard anything like this ?

Hi friend. Quite a subject. Thanks for your open honesty. It is really appreciated. I am at work/service right now . This kind of topic has been something i have thought about for years. I hope others offer their input as well. Let us understand ourselves, our biological drives and passions that maintain life!

I want to cut through the speculation with one question:

Are you up for an experiment?

A group of us (Me, You, Steve, and Spirit Image if he is watching) hold each other accountable for 90 days. For 90 days we will go without porn, sex, or any form of seminal emission.

We will keep track of the days here https://chains.cc/

After the 90 days, we all report back to this thread and share our experiences.

Are you up for an experiment?

The problem I see with your experiment is mainly this: If one of us is in a relationship or start one during this time it is not really fair for a partner. I believe that physical expression of love to another person is often quite beautiful and brings people closer if only for a time. I am very happy about the intimacy I have experienced with those i have loved regardless of their reactions. Sex has many expressions some do not even require the things you have mentioned. Sex can be just a way of expressing your gratitude towards someone else. I commend you for breaking the ice on this conversation Brock. i just do not see sex as a scientific experiment but rather an expression of caring. No doubt there are many other views. Yet it is definitely an interesting topic. This has been shown to be true from the beginning of time as we know it.

Pornography and sexual expression do not interest me. Why? I cannot answer for anyone else but for me there has to be a warmth of feeling and a spiritual commonality otherwise it is all physical. There is so much more to life than the physical. Even in all forms of sexual expression.

For me: When and if some form of masturbation is taking place it is accompanied by warm feelings for someone close to me. I can not answer for others. However for me it is an act of love and caring. But I have begun to see everything in life that way.  If i have not answered your thread I apologize. I think we gain more control over sexuality through years of meditation but sometimes the control helps when we do express ourselves this way and in rare moments of intimacy it can be a beautiful expression of oneness with another human  being or thoughts of closeness (through physical means)  when someone is not physically near.

When every thing we do becomes an expression of love; Sex also fits this description, regardless of how we engage in it; alone or with someone else.

It's no problem for me to break the ice because there is no ice. I am not interested in playing games and bullshitting, and those ice cubes are made out of frozen bullshit.

So yeah, this experiment can be done whether you are in a relationship or not. I can't believe your partner won't understand, and if your relationship can't handle 90 days of abstinence I think you had better get out while you still can. This is a perfect chance to focus even more on the non-physical aspects of your relationship.

Steve, if you don't want to join that's all right. Does anyone else want to try? If not I will do it alone and report back to you.

I have been wanting to do this anyway.

And to answer your question: Lately my habit has been to masturbate about 2-3 times per week, usually all at once. I will usually use some sort of visual aid, mainly women masturbating, because I like to keep things somewhat "clean". But also I will sometimes go in for regular porno, although I prefer the softer and nicer kind. I will try to abstain for most of the week then end up giving in. However, when I can go longer periods I notice an increase in chi or prana.

I have read that even one sexual thought can break the flow of your prana and be a loss.

For those that follow Paramahansa Yogananda, there can be no question: masturbation is weakening and against what he teaches. "Don't let the frogs of weakness kick you around". I can support this if you want quotes.

http://www.anandaclaritymagazine.com/2005/09/yogananda-sex-yoga-meditation/

I think for most of us the act of masturbation is so marred by guilt that it is almost unenjoyable. Whatever joy we experience in the act is marred by the guilt, shame, and self-loathing about it.

I'm not saying sex or even masturbation is "bad". Technically, from the perspective of yoga everything is bad that is not union with God. Everything is wrong that doesn't lead us back to the divine home. Yogananda said, "Evil is the absence of true joy."

Even if you come down from the point of saying it is a evil act, and simply say that it is a loss of prana, that is just changing the language. You will feel guilty for losing your prana, etc.

I like you too  :D.  There was a devotee that used to like to see the Master (Paramahansa Yogananda). Every time he would see him he enjoyed being around him but told him.'I can't give up sex, women, drinking and smoking and I cannot meditate.' The Master told him the same thing each time he saw him. 'You don't have to give up these things... just meditate 10 minutes a day.'
He kept telling the man that and gradually the man meditated more and more with the techniques he had been given and replaced the other things with meditation. So you see this is the path. We slowly give up the pleasures of the senses and replace them with the joys of the soul. Step by step... slow by slow we are being transformed. It is for us to enjoy the path back home.. not begrudge it. Rome wasn't built in a day.

Jitendra

Here is a book which looks good on the subject: http://www.amazon.com/Tantric-Sex-Men-Making-Meditation/dp/1594773114

There are many books on this topic and probably also good websites and maybe youtube videos which would explain how to do this.  I read a book on this topic years ago which was written by a Chinese herbalist, I can't remember the name of that one though.

It is a beautiful feeling, and when experienced with a partner who is on the same page can lead to incredible heights of spiritual union in sex, with dedicated practice.  The "raw creative force" this releases in the body, when practiced in sex or masturbation, could also be called kundalini or prana, and is a powerful energy which can raise awareness.

The sexual taboos against masturbation and sex in general are a shame.  While it may diminish a bit of energy momentarily, I think the taboo really stems from condescending puritanism and totalitarian "religious institutions"/governments from the past.  I think it was Robert Anton Wilson who said the reason power structures try to control the sex life of people is because it is at the core of where we all come from.  It is a nasty trick. 

Even if prana is temporarily lost from masturbation, or sadness or being very angry at someone or illness or many other possible things, it will return to the body shortly, and more truly, I think the source of the prana is an infnite well.

I masturbate usually just to help fall asleep lately.  Ideally, I would prefer to not to, but I think I've learned to not feel guilty about this.  We are spiritual beings in animal bodies, and all life has come from these Universal desires which causes more life and the evolution of all species!

It is most important to first eliminate the guilt and shame I think from these things, and then to try to consciously choose to do what is best for you and/or your partner. 

What  are you talking about?

Most apparently one would wonder. If we met one another the way I say that phrase would become much more clear. It is a
rather loaded phrase since it usually follows interchanges that are not always in agreement. Yet it indicates that regardless of such incidental matters; I like you any how!  ::) so say it with me  ;D. I.... like ...you.... too lol

I guess no one is going to do the experiment with me, so I will report back in 90 days. Keep you posted along the way.

90 days no porn, masturbation, or sex.

Starting tomorrow since I masturbated last night.

That is.......

/:();?,!'@-  hilarious!  I think.... your on to me!

sorry brock.... not sure if I can make it.... but with your help....maybe I could loose all interest... just send me some more of those Barney Fife pictures. I think I could laugh off any potential erection!   :-\

Go to you tube and find that episode "barney gets his man". that might do it.

hey brock. i'll try your challenge with you.

just got this today. so have you started yet ?

Well, I masturbated last night but it was past 12 o clock. So I am not counting today. So it will start tomorrow. I will use https://chains.cc/ to keep track. You can create one and link it to mine if you want.

I am glad you are joining me.

So I will be posting inspirational and encouraging quotes here to assist us in the endeavor. It won't be easy. 90 days is a long time. There are many pitfalls. A few to be avoided are:

* Situations (know the situations that trigger your desire for sexual expressions of various kinds and avoid those)

* All forms of tantric excuses (for this 90 days, forget that you ever heard of tantra: no getting "power" from looking at naked pictures, etc.)

*Edging (enjoying the sensations of lust without ejaculation)

I don't have a partner, but if you do I would recommend having a talk with her and letting her know your intentions - that they are only temporary and that for the duration of the experiment you would like to focus on non-physical aspects of your relationship and express love in non-physical ways.

I also say we check in with a progress report every sunday evening, reporting our experiences, until the final report on July, 16.

Also, if you ever feel a temptation come back to this thread if possible.

It also may be helpful if we take a temporary vow for the 90 day period to help strengthen our commitment. I have small contract written up to solidify the commitment. I need your name and email address and you can sign it virtually.

Finally, please go to https://chains.cc/ and create an account and link to me.

"Just as hunger, not greed, has a legitimate purpose, so the sexual instinct has been implanted by Nature solely for the propagation of the species, not for the kindling of insatiable longings. Destroy wrong desires now; otherwise they will remain with you after the astral body has been separated from its physical casing. Even when the flesh is weak, the mind should be constantly resistant. If temptation assails you with cruel force, overcome it by impersonal analysis and indomitable will. Every natural passion can be mastered." - Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri

So, these quotes are going to serve as inpsiration for the experiment. However, we are not necessarily taking on any views for or against sex or it's metaphysical components. We are merely going to practice total abstinence for 90 days to observe it's effects on us.

Are you sure you're up for the challenge?

"Conserve your powers. Be like the capacious ocean, absorbing quietly all the tributary rivers of the senses. Daily renewed sense yearnings sap your inner peace; they are like openings in a reservoir that permit vital waters to be wasted in the desert soil of materialism. The forceful, activating impulse of wrong desire is the greatest enemy to the happiness of man. Roam in the world as a lion of self-control; don't let the frogs of sense weakness kick you around." Swami Sri Yukteswar Giri

another helpful resource: http://yoganandaharmony.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/Sex-Force-Transmutation.pdf

Brock thanks for the article. I have seen similar exercises in the SRF lessons. I wonder what this organization is? Anyhow the kriyas are also a helpful exercise for control since they bring the vital energies upward. I want to express one more time though I believe that balance is a more productive path rather than abstinence, until all our passions are under control. Yet everyone has their own unique path that is why Paramahansa Yogananda offered various methods and approaches to spiritual advancement. I appreciate your contributions. When I was speaking with a Brother in California he recommended a certain book to me since I was living a monastic type of life at that time and at various periods of my life i have been celibate. There are also various factors and events in our lives that promote different views of sexual or non sexual stances and physical expression. If you are interested I will find out  the name of the book again.

Jitendra

In theory I am against this. But that is why I am going with the experiment.

Steve-o, I think you're saying the correct thing. A lot of this just creates unhealthy individuals who are sexually disturbed. But what can I say? You know it is a crazy person you are talking to.

I am going to try this, but I wouldn't blame you hippo if you opt out. It's probably not right for your situation and 90 days is longer than you think.

Perhaps it might be better to see if moderation can be practiced. At least in this way there is no failure. My father used to say to me; ' Son you never fail unless you give up. '  I am quite sure he was not speaking about this experiment but that adage fits most circumstances. Quite frankly; I have met some sick individuals who have pretended to be celibate but I also have met some very exalted souls who were.

Life is for learning.

Well let me assure you, this time it is an exalted soul you are speaking with.

and quit trying to dissuade me from this experiment, I already said I am going through with it.

It is something this one has done -  not as an experiment but rather because I was looking for something more than what life had offered me and I was disappointed with my most recent romantic encounters.

So how long did you do it for and what were your experiences?

Do not want to dissuade you or feed you with my experiences at this point because it is your experiment. Let us compare notes when you are finished with your experiment. In the meantime I encourage you to continue. All of life is quite a trippy experiment!
No soliloquies for now Brock.   ;D

I don't know how to tell you just how crazy this life feels...

brock  :Dlol
that is funny
so i started 4/16/2014. if i break it i'll let you know. i don't post much except for when i'm at work. we can continue to carry on in PM or we can continue to share here. i appreciate your quotes for keeping us focued. i discussed my intentions last night and all is well. you came up with some additional rules here, i'm going to have to re-read everything. also, going to get the app when i can.

i'm ok on the vow thing. i've already started, i don't need it to be more official then that :P

my chains account name is odd_dang

gotta go

good luck  :)

you have to join the group, try it here:

https://chains.cc/groups/HUdkoP3soM9Ttnk

It is one thing to have your own dreams but then to have a recognition that you are also part of God's dream makes life indeed surealistic. It is fortunate that a few of us have found each other and are waking up.

im in

You know. You know. You know. Or don't you know? The way this goose has masturbated is quite unusual. It requires a tantric technique that be-googles the mind, transcends the feathers and and and tickles the fancy. Are you up for it fair feathered friends?  ???

                                                         Laughing Goose

Hey cheesy one... go jump in a pond and cool off, otherwise we'll have to put you back on ice. By the way fair feathered friends is the name of a song  that came from inside this one. It was not intended to use in tandem with your tantric practices.

although it's only day 3 i've felt a lot of positive energy this morning. i woke up a little earlier to take a morning walk and stretch around the house before going to work. it was a great way to start the day. : )

hope you're hanging in there mr brock :P
i like your lion quote.

Yes, no real temptations yet...

don't notice any increases in energy right now but I also don't feel drained either. Even keel. This is day two for me.

By the way, on the https://chains.cc/groups/HUdkoP3soM9Ttnk page, there is a link over to the right hand side of the page. You need to click "add" to add your chain to the group.

well brock i broke the chain.

i think i'm going to try again. i did notice that i enjoyed not always giving into that energy right away and or so absentmindedly
there's some things take from it all as i continue my personal journey and live my human life.
 :)

Too bad. I told you the next few days would be challenging as the energies are starting to power up. I'll still keep you posted to show you what you could have done.

These things i have noticed make it difficult:

1. Being placed on a difficult schedule and kept awake.
2. Having to much leisure time.
3. Too much exercise stimulates the carnal nature.
4. Being placed in situations where someone is using you  for another purpose who appeals to your carnal nature.

Again I want to emphasis if it works for you then use the method that works best. I find it a good time to practice control if there is no one there to express warmth and love with through physical expression. This being the case (especially being alone)  it is a good time to practice control to witness the affects on your spiritual development. However sometimes we be placed in situations where are partner may not have the same
sexual drive as we do. This to would be a good time to practice control. Although it is also possible that are partner is in more than one relationship.

It seems that the Lord puts us in solitude for a reason. Sometimes it is genuinely just so we search deep into our inner nature.  (So we should not think others are necessarily more fortunate because they have romantic  relationships.)To do this we often must look deep inside and calm all our desires and passions so we can hear that inner voice within.

For me, lust is a sign that the energy is moving in a certain way. As the yogis describe, they say that it is in the sexual centers, which makes sense. When the energy moves upward in a certain way, bodily attractions become almost obsolete. When you have moments in the higher centers, even if you think of a womans body, it won't attract you in the same way. I have experienced it in my own way, but it's temporary. Then the energy falls back into the sex center. The more you give in to the sex center, the more the energy becomes localized there.

The sexual center is there to promote survival, but if you live exclusively in them you also become one dimensional, experiencing life as a struggle for survival and all that. It also carries the energies of aggression, possessiveness and anger as well. Many things.

Yesterday and today I have felt tempted to look up pictures of women on the computer. The lust energy is coming in on its schedule. I am not giving in though. One way you fail at this is just entertaining tempting thoughts. I am going to keep in there.

(http://sandiegofreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/sdfp-barney-fife.jpg)

98% of the time this will be bullshit.

Being spiritual does not necessitate being rite. Yet one can be rite being wrong towards someone else.

You mispelled right.

http://youtu.be/yx5d3haRG7M

Your rite!

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_S-1vVxRhx5c/S84nkGT7GkI/AAAAAAAAACI/FI3dJMVAgsg/s1600/fife2.jpg)

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#!!!!!!!!!!!&*^()!!!!!!!!!!()LOL[○○○○○○○○○○○○]¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿

Hippo,

I don't know why I didn't say this earlier, but I honor you for giving the experiment a shot. I have tried this and failed many times. I hope you will give it a try again. If you want to start over just reset your counter.

Having others know about our efforts seems to give me an extra boost this time around.

This has also made me realize something about any achievement in life. If you have a group of encouraging people watching you, and that you can show off for, it will probably give you extra motivation. That is interesting.

If you decide to do it again, we can trade numbers or something and be a kind of accountability partner...whenever we feel temptation we can text each other or something and talk one another back into shape. That is an idea you can consider.

Practicing transmutation. Notice i wear a mask so no one will recognize me if i don't make it!

quote author=brock link=topic=3077.msg15865#msg15865 date=1398070116]
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_S-1vVxRhx5c/S84nkGT7GkI/AAAAAAAAACI/FI3dJMVAgsg/s1600/fife2.jpg)
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Practicing the running exercise Yogananda recommended. If you observe closely you will see i am more or less in one position.

I must say, experimenting with this beats all the theory and conversations in the world.

I am glad I took this up. It's now day 6 of the experiment and I am already realizing that this is the only way to for anyone who is serious in their spiritual life.

Certain things are already bubbling up to the surface (forgive me for being vague). My insight is that we use sexuality and masturbation as an escape from unresolved things in our lives which are also holding us back spiritually.

Concentration is easier.

More to come.

Well i have already done your experiment Brock so it appears I am disqualified. I have been a celibate for years of my life.

yes i suppose your rite because the other two percent were bird droppings.

Brock I'm in love ... I'm in love.... keep in tune on your radio dial to lust and love for further details.  ;D

So, I gave in last night and broke the chain. I don't know why but it seems like it was out of boredom (which concerns me). So I guess all my tough talk comes to naught. But it was definitely a good exercise. I  I am going to start the counter over again. I made it to day 7. So I didn't even get off the ground.

Some things I noticed. Meditation was easier, my mind could think more clearly. Lust did not trouble me for these 7 days as much as usual because I was not taking the bait of those thoughts. It is when you take the initial bait that it gets harder to control. It is like a fire that is small at first, but if you entertain it in thought it can grow out of proportion. When you dwell on these things that is when the issue arises. If you have the initial will to not entertain the thoughts, they fall away naturally.

I would like to make it the full 90 days. I am going to keep trying. I think it would be easier if I wasn't doing it alone.

You are not alone. Some of us may just be a bit more shy about the subject. Yet your words are helpful.

Because evil appears to promise great happiness, most people are at first attracted by the extra gloss of the spurious coin of mundane sense lures. Thoughts of dishonesty, temptation, or revengefulness that may come to mind are dark soldiers of the misery-making senses. They want to conquer the kingdom of happiness within and to keep you prisoner in the dungeon of unhappiness and misery. As soom as the soldiers of wrong thoughts rally together to attack your inner peace, wake up your soul soldiers of light, honesty, self-control, and desire for good things, and wage a furious battle.

Paramahansa Yogananda: Temptation Verses Self-Control
 

hey brock. i haven't been keeping up with the 90 days. i think the most i've gone was 5. lol. pretty sad i know.
i don't really go to the chains website. although i appreciate your enthusiasm and getting me to sign up... i've decided, if i feel i've been over doing something and want to exercise some discipline then i'm going to try a 30 day trial. something to me that seems more realistic for a first time approach in breaking what is almost a decade old habit. i'm not trying yet because, i don't think i'm being unhealthy and doing something in a way that would cause me to worry. i don't feel the need to dictate or focus on this as much as i want to focus on other things in life. such as income and weight loss. my dad is a big enforcer of moderation. my aunt who has been a spiritual beacon for me has taught me- growing up, we learn how to center, by going to much one way and then to much the other- eventually those drastic pulls become less and less as we begin to understand ourselves and our center.

Sounds like a wise lady.

Nice reply.... i think most of us are more drawn to behavioral patterns because of past life conditioning. Some of us are being trained by a guru because we have asked for help. In this way many of our past life patterns are being made clear to us despite ourselves. We are in a type of spiritual boot camp.