Taoism

[illumination]

I thought I should mention Daoism here because there are some very detailed teachings about sex. Like Buddhist teachings, it's not about what is right and wrong exactly so much as what is healthy and conducive to happy mind states.

In esoteric Daoism, the essence (semen) is considered to contain huge amounts of spiritual energy, which is lost in ejaculation, especially if it is when we are strongly attached to a fantasy image. Daoist practitioners learn to have sex without ejaculation, circulating the sexual energy through the body so it is not lost but does not build up into sexual frustration. There are exercises to do this. It's important to circulate the energy to avoid the problems that some people have with celibacy. Ultimately it is said that the sexual energy can be transformed into spiritual energy for meditation. I have very little idea what this means, but I have noticed I feel drained if I ejaculate too often.

The longest I have been without ejaculation is about two years. Interestingly, since I stopped using porn, my ability to control my sexual energy has decreased. I still use the sexual energy control techniques to get over the initial over-excitement in sex and get to the 'plateau phase'.

[Scooter]

You gotta be kidding me illumination, two years?! Woah... I dont think I could ever do that... that must be a very spiritual journey. Is what your writing here similar to tantric sex? I really dont know anything about it....

Your post reminded me of the old Monty Python song "Every sperm is sacred.... If a sperm is sacred god gets quite irate". I have often pondered if 'wasting sperm' was bad... as a young teen I used to get very paranoid that I was doing something bad. Its interesting to think about.

[illumination]

It's similar but apparently the main difference is that in the tantric practice the energy is held in the head, whereas in Taoist yoga it is circulated. This is supposed to be safer. The Taoist practice is for everyone, but the Indian type is only for very advanced yogis.

Those two years weren't amazingly spiritual or anything. The techniques just allowed me to cope with sexual frustration. I didn't have a Daoist teacher or anything, just learning from books, so maybe it didn't work very well. I can't say I've ever had any massive, sudden, spiritual breakthrough. Just a gradual change over the years. I'm probably totally missing the point. Ah well.

Yes I remember the Monty Python scene and I do wonder if any of this is really true or not. The Daoist teachers certainly do not recommend feeling guilty about anything.

[showmelove]

2 years is amazing... I'm at close to 9 weeks myself so I'm really qurious what effects did you experience from that overall? Also, did you use any P during that time but without ejaculating?