Chastity
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I found a link to it here:
www.hermetic.com/crowley/littleessays/chastity.html -
I would like to post some results of my own work with yoga. I have come to the conclusion that chastity is quite beneficial to the practice of yoga. I have noticed that it is not as painful, and it is a great deal easier to go for longer periods of time when chaste. When I speak of chastity I speak of complete refrain from any kind of sexual stimulation whatever. I would also like to point out this is not to say that others may be fine without being chaste, just to say it works well for me. Does anyone care to comment on their experiences here?
I am particularly curious as to why people think it makes it easier. Let me know. Thanks,
Kenneth
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My own personal theory. Being chaste probably helps some avoid thinking of sexual acts, and helps them clear their mind.
However from a male perspective after thinking of the way the sun / moon work in male / female I can theorize that perhaps being chaste in males can help them be more feminine by instead of projecting male energy, storing it and becoming a vessel.
How being chaste for women works, I have no theories.
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@Vod-Vil said
""He shall hold himself chaste,and reverent toward his body,for that the ordeal of initiation is no light one.This is of peculiar importance in the last two months of his Probation."
Does this mean that you have to abstain from sex during the whole probationary period,or just the last two months of probation?"
The last two months. Additionally, such other as the Probationer may choose to take on.
"Is this a recommendation or a requirement to pass to neophyte?"
It's a requirement to move to Neophyte.
"Are there other A.'.A.'. grades that call for periods of abstinence?"
No.
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@Techpries said
"I would like to post some results of my own work with yoga. I have come to the conclusion that chastity is quite beneficial to the practice of yoga. I have noticed that it is not as painful, and it is a great deal easier to go for longer periods of time when chaste. When I speak of chastity I speak of complete refrain from any kind of sexual stimulation whatever. I would also like to point out this is not to say that others may be fine without being chaste, just to say it works well for me. Does anyone care to comment on their experiences here?
I am particularly curious as to why people think it makes it easier. Let me know."
Different people react differently to this, and the same person may react differently under different circumstances. I suggest reading Crowley's essay Energized Enthusiasm (especially the early sections) for some insights into this.
You don't mention what facet of yoga you mean, and I'm not sure that the answer would be the same for all aspects of practice. But, speaking most generally, I think the key factor is how much commotion there is in the psyche. In most people in most circumstances, sexual activity stirs a lot of inner commotion. Even more so, navigating one or more relationships in order to have sexual activity can especially cause inner commotion. On the other hand, pent-up sexual pressures can also cause a lot of inner commotion. On the other other hand, truly moving into the chastity (a perfect continence of mind and body - which means one isn't fighting it!) can bring peace while accumulating subtle energies that feed and strengthen one - as long as it isn't practiced too long! ("Too long" varies with the individual.)
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I was refering to asana. And as far as the sexuality goes, even minus the relationship, I think that even solitary sexual stimulation can effect the practice. I was thinking it may have something to do with discipline.
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I apologize for perhaps taking this a bit further off the topic, but I gotta ask. I read by Wilhelm Reich that the supposed orgone particles turn into a damaging reaction if left to simply build up. Is there a special emphasis on doing some inner activity (like lots of yoga) with the orgone particles instead of having sex, or has his theory become moot?
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@Malaclypse said
"I apologize for perhaps taking this a bit further off the topic, but I gotta ask. I read by Wilhelm Reich that the supposed orgone particles turn into a damaging reaction if left to simply build up. Is there a special emphasis on doing some inner activity (like lots of yoga) with the orgone particles instead of having sex, or has his theory become moot?"
Bypassing the literalness of Reich's theory and going for the underlying principles...
Reiterating all of the "depends on the person for the details" remarks I made above, we can generalize that the build-up, if left sufficiently liong and stagnant, will pathologize.
One question in this, though, is, "What is too long?" Another is, "What makes it stagnant?" Analogies to water enhance the intuition in navigating this, but not as completely as one might like.
Non-sexual expression of the same energy can prevent stagnation, particularly if that activity is distinctively creative. Allowing it to build for a time is a valuable preparation for some magical workings, but this prep will fail if one builds up by shutting oneself down. That is, the juice must be flowing.
I think that, more than the build-up itself, the more direct cause of pathology is if one resists this energy's presence, or tries to shut down the channels. Sexual repression is far more destructive than "just not getting any." An important key is to continue having sexual feelings, continue letting the enrgy move through you and generate the physical and emotional reactions, delight in it but (for purposes of chastity) don't seek it. Living with this life-force flowing through you is quite different than living while trying not to have sexual feelings. (Most adult humans still prefer "not feeling it" if they're "not getting any." That's the mistake.)
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@Jim Eshelman said
"An important key is to continue having sexual feelings, continue letting the enrgy move through you and generate the physical and emotional reactions, delight in it but (for purposes of chastity) don't seek it."
This much easier said than done though!
How exactly does one cultivate and flow with this energy, rather than become mired and distracted in a miasmic mental fog of sexual craving?
It can be hard to remain "chaste" and one-pointed when you're already ...... one pointed after another fashion.
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@Her said
"
@Jim Eshelman said
"An important key is to continue having sexual feelings, continue letting the enrgy move through you and generate the physical and emotional reactions, delight in it but (for purposes of chastity) don't seek it."This much easier said than done though!
"You're right about that one!
Which is probably why this isn't historically assigned to people at an early stage of the training.
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@Jim Eshelman said
"Which is probably why this isn't historically assigned to people at an early stage of the training."
True, but even the probabtioner must contend with this to some degree in the final two months of probation.
The strength of sex drive differs quite widely from person to person. So while a person with a naturally low drive would breeze those two months, another person might end up banging their head against a wall out of sheer frustration instead of focusing on their probationary tasks. -
@Her said
"True, but even the probabtioner must contend with this to some degree in the final two months of probation."
At the end of Probation, yes.
And I consider anyone who gets to Probationer in A.'.A.'. already as not "in the early stage of the training."
But this becomes much easier - WAY easier - after a couple of more grades.
"The strength of sex drive differs quite widely from person to person. So while a person with a naturally low drive would breeze those two months, another person might end up banging their head against a wall out of sheer frustration instead of focusing on their probationary tasks."
But a person who breezes through due to a low sex drive isn't going to get much out of it. It's the person with a strong sex drive who can really be transformed in a very big way by the alchemical workings of this task.
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
I've often wondered if this is meant to draw the initiate away from the chemical response of being "in love," namely the endorphins and such.
And what of the partner in all this? Speaking as one is who is "in love" with my partner, and whose sexual activity goes toward what is perceived as a holy spiritual bond well beyond the typical endorphin response, how to justify the refrain for the other person? To those intellectualizing this, it's very simple. To the victims of this abstinence, it's perceived as torture. Sensuality is the only glue for many bonds.
I'm not trying to undo the requirement. I'm literally asking for advice.
Love is the law, love under will.
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@jlpugh said
"And what of the partner in all this? Speaking as one is who is "in love" with my partner, and whose sexual activity goes toward what is perceived as a holy spiritual bond well beyond the typical endorphin response, how to justify the refrain for the other person? To those intellectualizing this, it's very simple. To the victims of this abstinence, it's perceived as torture. Sensuality is the only glue for many bonds."
The fact that you used the word "victim" suggests you're missing some of what happens in this practice.
In any case, one would hope that, in a relationship such as you are describing, there would be support from the partner for tasks you need to undertake for your selected personal work.
Personal opinion: I would have to question the long-term value of a relationhip where sensuality is the only glue. (Obviously that touches on an issue you would need to decide for yourself.)
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Vi veri universum vivus vici
It is a challenge, but we found it to be highly beneficial to the interpretation of neccesities leading my personal quest for Augoeides, if you are having difficulty refraining from sexual stimulation consider utilization of a chastity device, and accountability to a trusted person for the committment of non-accessibililty. (We used a CB-3000 for 6 months)
Should you wish to bypass this undescribable experience you may consider that you may not be ready for the resulting perceptual views that are added to the conciousness of any person willing to accept this truly magickal undertaking.
D' wat thou wilt -
If you need an external device to control you, then you aren't really practicing chastity. - It is the internal (psychological, energic) chastity that matters more than the physical details.
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Perhaps one could consider the human suit which we wear in the first place to be an external device, and for that matter the very inadequate (in regards to magickal perception) processing unit commonly known as a brain to also be an external device as far as the "true self/will" is concerned.
We do not feel it is important whether or not one uses a guide book, online resources, encouragement from friends and/or aquaintances, motivation gained by belief in a moral system or agenda, visualization, psychology, ritual or set of rituals or any material basis for support in the endeavor to commit to chastity.
It is neither required, nor justifiable to assume that the etheric and physical rewards of retraint from temporal sexual stimulation cannot be attained through many methods using any number of spiritual, mental, or material resources.
Any time we let the ego convince us that there is a specific way to accomplish any undertaking, we have already closed the door on all other possible routes to success.
We realize that because of the nature of groups such as T..O..T.. that there is a probable tendency to formulate dogma, however this must eventually become unacceptable to those persons who wish to have wisdom and power beyond the potential of cognitively persuaded dimensionally limited beings such as are the species of earth.
Nothing is true, everything is possible.
Namaste -
@MEridianshos said
"Perhaps one could consider the human suit which we wear in the first place to be an external device, and for that matter the very inadequate (in regards to magical perception) processing unit commonly known as a brain to also be an external device as far as the "true self/will" is concerned."
It's also the particular mechanism that needs to handle this particular practice / discipline.
"It is neither required, nor justifiable to assume that the etheric and physical rewards of retraint from temporal sexual stimulation cannot be attained through many methods using any number of spiritual, mental, or material resources."
I think that's a fair statement. That is, the practice of chastity is hardly a universally useful technique. - But if that's the particular practice undertaken, then physical restraints or barriers aren't going to actually accomplish its purpose because it's mostly not about whether a physical thing happens.
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Excellent responses sir, and very nice to have intelligent people to discuss the mysteries of existence with. i am now curious what we may gain from Mr. Eshelman's suggested alternative to physical restraint, and intend to begin immediately the practice of chastity enforced only by my own psychological intent.
i look forward to the further association with members of this system of thought, and the many perceptual realizations that i am hopeful may be inherent to the practice of its diciplines.
On behalf of our coven so do i will. Let then my journey to thelema begin; so mote it be!