On Sexuality and Spirituality
There is a vast gap between the American neo-tantrics
and the Sutric-Renunciate spiritualities, which are both widely
available in these times. The American Neo-Tantrics often teach embracing a sexuality mingled with grasping and identities. Though their work has had many
beneficial affects, in general, it often appears to exhibit significant flaws
that act as obstacles to enlightenment. However since enlightenment is not necessary the goal of such work - it cannot be condemned for being what it seems to be - a vehicleto help people explore issues of spirituality, relationship and sexuality. On the contrary, the Renunciates
and Sutrics teach a method of refraining from sexuality, and
viewing sexuality as impure or an obstacle to spiritual work.
The view may even be that the “lay” or married practitioners
are somehow inferior practitioners. There
is another third option between these extreme presentations, but it is not well represented. That third approach is
the approach of MahaSiddha Dharma. This approach is to
teach how sexuality, like all of life may be used for creating
obstacles to awareness, or it can be used to further ones spiritual growth and sanity. To us, sexuality is a matter of how one relates with one's own mind and subsequently how well one can relate with another.
Many serious spiritual teachers refrain from discussing sexuality
and spirituality because they fear being associated with the
sensualist neo-Tantric groups. Or it is not discussed because
it is seen as “wrong.” However we feel that it
our responsibility to share on this potent subject, because
it affects practitioner's lives so tremendously and to continue the
transmissions we have inherited from our lineage stream. In
our tours we often encounter many students of renunciate teachers,
who are themselves married and sexually active, yet are
on a path where this is considered detrimental or a sign of weakness and impurity. This sets
up an internal struggle for them, which is unnecessary.
Sexuality,
like all aspects of life can be an aid for the path, or it
can be an obstacle to the path, depending on how one relates
with it. Through the teachings of the How to Be in Love, Red and White Essence I and II, practitioners train in becoming more conscious, compassionate, workable, and skillful about the nature
of romantic relationships, communication and sexuality. This is not a matter of reducing romantic satisfaction to sex-techniques - it is a matter of Buddha-nature goodness that gives way to true intimacy, egolessness, bliss-emptiness and openness. These teachings happen
in three weekends once a year and are almost completely open
to the public. Sexuality is addressed in the MahaSiddha
Dharma according to the view that all of life can become
fuel for realization.
MahaSiddha Dharma is a non-monastic and non-renunciate tradition. Sexuality is seen as private and personal and the value in our community is on long-term monogamous relationships, wherein one can work deeply to go beyond egoism, neurosis and unconscious habits in cooperation with one's partner in relationship.
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