Sex

M.K.!
Yes, I remember the exchange over the "L" posts. I haven't been following the "Yana Yoga" posts very closely, however, due to working 16 hour days at work!

Anyway, now that I'm somewhat coherent again.....

The issue of sex is a very crucial one for us aspirants. About all I can offer is to reiterate the importance of recognizing the principles and of applying them with love and compassion (for others and for oneself). The issue of how to handle one's sexual energy is definitely a "guardian at the threshold" along the path, blocking many from proceeding beyond a certain point.

In fact, A.D. , she comes right out and says that in meditation, when the kundalini energy rises out of the base of the spine (Saturn Center) and energizes the Mars center, she experienced an orgasm. The challenge was to not stop there, but to continue to raise the energy up to the heart center to experience Divine LOVE. I don't think many would be able to get past this "test" unless they had done a lot of work to "purify" their desire/love nature.

Looking at the 3 excerpts below, I'm not sure what your specific concern is. In the case of the "L" excerpt it may be that the advise was designed to get the woman to bring Love into her desires so that she could accomplish them. It may be that the soror intuited what level of maturity the woman was at, and so suggested a means by which the woman could grasp and apply the principle of Love to attract a positive change to her environment that was in harmony with her level of development. Better to take small steps at first, which means proceeding one step at a time from where one is at the time, so that the goal does not outstrip one's capacity to imagine it.

So I guess I don't see it as sexist or dated, but instead see it as advice based upon sound principle, but whose FORM is applicable to the understanding & intellectual/emotional maturity level the person is at, culture, etc... The woman wanted to learn a valuable trade and she also wanted to find a lover/spouse. This is natural. So by relating the two together, the woman was able to bring more love to her desire for a skill. In fact advertisers use this same tactic to sell us everything from oatmeal to automobiles. One may object to the form (because it is dated or comes from a past discredited culture) but the underlying principles (essence) are sound.

The principle which was being demonstrated (it seems to me) was that if you want to concentrate on something in order to accomplish a goal, one must be able to focus on it, and (accurately) imagine the outcome one wants. And one cannot do this unless they are in love with it (at some level), or there is Love involved with it's accomplishment. Venus is creative imagination and she is also desire and Love. If you ain't in love with it, you ain't going to be able to imagine it accurately and so you ain't going to be able to accomplish it. This is my understanding of the B. principles here.

Regarding the Jana Yoga excerpt. This quote is accurate and comes from A.D.'s teachings on Sexual Polarity. I have had similar experiences with women. In a past relationship that I once was in, the woman was projecting a lot of toxic emotions, which were overwhelming to me, as my spiritual practices has made me very "receptive" to the more subtle vibrations of energy. I eventually had to leave the relationship once I realized that I could not pull her up, and in fact she was dragging me down. I had to leave as a matter of self-preservation. I was very sad for months afterwards because I had to admit defeat. I was not strong enough or skilled enough to raise another person "up", who wanted to stay "down".

Regarding the excerpt, I agree with it wholeheartedly. Sexual energy is truly the sacred energy. The Tempter and the Redeemer are one in the same. About all I can say is that as long as there is LOVE involved you can't really go wrong. My most recent girlfriend has taught me this about sex. My experience is that Sex is not about "getting" something. It's all about "giving" to the other person. Giving them love, compassion, and kindness. When one does that, the physical aspect of touching the other with love/kindness/compassion comes naturally without any tension or other problems. K9 (The hermit) represents compassion, service and coition (Sex).
JC.