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Post by Shawn on Oct 2, 2009 9:14:19 GMT -5
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Post by lightmystic on Oct 2, 2009 11:26:08 GMT -5
Hey, thanks for the link Shawn. Sounds good. And after that I recommend my book "The Furiously Masturbating Seeker."  |
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anonji
Junior Member
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Post by anonji on Oct 3, 2009 9:41:12 GMT -5
As someone who has lead a celibate lifestyle for the last 20 years or so, I can confidently assert that it is not only compatible with a spiritual life, but actually enhances it. Not only does it help provide greater clarity of thought and intuition, but allows it be a continuous process rather than one that is broken by abrupt changes in energy levels. Perhaps I will be put out to stud in my later years, but for now this is a perfect way to live.
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Post by giannis on Oct 3, 2009 10:50:12 GMT -5
The organs work eitherways, producing sperm.
Why should that thing help?
I mean, really, why?
I've been celibate for 3 months and I had great pain down there. That was what I gained.
(along with a furious girlfriend)
Other than that...
Ok, Richard Rose whose books are superb suggested it, but I simply don't get it.
Ok, being able to relax for 2 weeks in nature without being a slave to your sexual fantasies and desires is cool.
But 100%?
Tasting all aspects of the human experience does not sound like wrong.
If somebody wants too be celibate, that sounds like a matter of "seeking style", not a matter of "the true way" or something...
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anonji
Junior Member
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Post by anonji on Oct 3, 2009 13:12:39 GMT -5
Perhaps you should order the book, it looks to be very inexpensive. There is no "true way," so each path will have its own flavor.
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Post by giannis on Oct 3, 2009 16:14:29 GMT -5
Exactly, so there's also no need to be celibate if you're not into it. The truth might just as well dawn on a prostitute's mind. |
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Post by desertrain on Oct 4, 2009 8:07:36 GMT -5
As someone who has lead a celibate lifestyle for the last 20 years or so, I can confidently assert that it is not only compatible with a spiritual life, but actually enhances it. Not only does it help provide greater clarity of thought and intuition, but allows it be a continuous process rather than one that is broken by abrupt changes in energy levels. Although my success at celibacy has been fairly inconsistent, I too can attest to it's benefits. It does clarify thoughts and feelings, allows one to see through patterns easier, generally boosts energy levels and makes one able to handle life better. Orgasm is always followed by a two-week "hangover" period caused by neurochemical imbalance during which there are mood swings and usually a craving for a new sexual high. Homeostasis returns after two weeks. I'd guess many men perhaps never or rarely experience a prolonged state of neurochemical homeostasis, so the side effects caused by the imbalance are their normality. This article ( www.reuniting.info/orgasms_hidden_cycle) and other articles on that site address this. The point is, when one's neurochemistry is constantly out of balance, it does have it's effect on thinking, mood and actions. Having said that, I'm sure celibacy isn't necessarily the "true way". For me, whenever I've been consistent with it, it has increased my quality of life. It might not be necessary for finding one's Self, just like it isn't necessary to be a vegetarian or follow any other outer practices. As with anything, one should test it and see if it has any value on one's own path. |
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Post by Peter on Oct 5, 2009 9:48:54 GMT -5
Thanks Desertrain, interesting and informative link. With a 2nd new addition to the household, I'm finding myself in something of a dry patch which has been quite an opportunity for me to look at (and discuss) various drives and issues. So this could be a good time for me to "test" celibacy out. Two weeks, eh? I'm also considering a vasectomy if anyone has any advice on that. The trouble with the internet is you can find any story you want to find (good or bad), but I've asked a couple of guys at work who have had it done and they highly recommend it. No problems. That Wikipedia page gave me quite a fright though. The word "rupture" is an alarming one.  Reading Desertrain's info gives me the impression that sperm count has very little to do with neurochemical events involved in orgasm, so vasectomy may not be relevant to celibacy benefits. Although, I could argue that if I'm celibate I won't need one. Might avoid that rupture malarky. EDIT: Thought this except from the Wikipedia entry on the Coolidge effect was worth repeating: |
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Post by Peter on Oct 5, 2009 10:19:29 GMT -5
Still reading that link (and related articles) and really getting a lot out of it. Thinking about the practicalities of a fortnight without orgasm reminded me of a joke which leads to a question: Q: What's the difference between light and hard? A: It's possible to get to sleep with a light on. Sorry Shawn, the thread advertising your book is going hopelessly off course. I've added your book to my wish list though! Anyone any advice on getting to sleep? |
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Post by lightmystic on Oct 5, 2009 11:22:44 GMT -5
It's certainly true that if one can follow celibacy comfortably, then the sex drive gets a chance to go into the background. It can be a lot easier to recognize what is going on without that distraction.
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Post by Portto on Oct 6, 2009 16:58:03 GMT -5
Anyone any advice on getting to sleep? For a few days, eat only a slice of bread around 3 pm... Also, becoming a vegan will significantly decrease your "drive." |
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Post by Peter on Oct 21, 2009 6:00:24 GMT -5
My copy of Shawn's book amusingly decided to arrive today, on day 14, when I'm coincidentally "on a promise".
Getting to sleep has been less of a problem than expected - kids waking me up at 1, 3 & 5am so somewhat continually behind on Zzzz's.
PS No women in your sample set, Shawn?
Next Day Edit: Finished! Good book Shawn, most helpful. And I see "women" are addressed in Chapter 8. How embarrassing, I came prematurely to my question.
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Post by dramos on Oct 21, 2009 10:45:30 GMT -5
I'm enjoying this thread. Peter, I feel for you in that I have a friend who has twins, both him and his wife do not get much sleep. My youngest son was born with a double hernia, that poor kid got no sleep, he was in constant pain, they could not do surgery on him till he was 3 months old. After that he still continued to cry because of being accustom to the attention. It was quite some time till things started to settle down. It is very true that each has their own path, for myself it is a matter of balance, putting in perspective, in ones own life what works for them. At the same time realizing that staying in control of that balance works best for me, if I allow it to consume me then I loose focus on the more important things. |
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Post by Peter on Oct 22, 2009 4:44:38 GMT -5
Hi Dramos, yes I'm enjoying it too. Sorry to hear your son spent such a considerable amount of time in pain. That can't have been easy for any of you. On day 15 now (don't ask), and with a cold starting to lift I'm can say I'm feeling sharper. Just finished watching the film "9" this morning, and I felt like I was seeing more meaning and metaphor in it than I would normally spot. I'm a huge fan of balance, as I wrote about here. But I've been thinking lately that people who really "Make It" (whatever that might mean) tend to be quite the opposite of balanced - driven mainly. I think it might have been Shawn in a TAT forum who said something like "No balanced person ever achieved greatness". I couldn't find the quote when I searched for it today, but I found a relevant article he'd written in 2001: Finding Balance, by Shawn Nevins |
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Post by zendancer on Nov 18, 2009 8:14:45 GMT -5
Peter: Here are some things to try if you're still having trouble getting to sleep.
1. Meditate on whatever sounds you can hear. This works for some people.
2. Do some deep breathing. After a few minutes, you should find yourself yawning. After that, you'll fall asleep.
3. If all else fails, try the method that pilots were taught during WWII. Pilots had trouble sleeping before dangerous bombing runs because of fear, anticipation, excitement, too many thoughts, etc, so the military taught the following technique: Tense up every muscle in the body (an isometric exercise), even the facial muscles. Then slowly release the tension until all muscles are relaxed. Do this repeatedly. After five or ten minutes the entire body will suddenly jerk. This is an ancient evolutionary body reflex called something like the "fish flop." After the body jerks, it will be followed by deep yawning, and you will almost immediately fall asleep. I've tried it and it works.
As for the vasectomy question, there are usually very few complications, if any. I've never talked to anyone who had a problem. I was fascinated by the procedure and asked my doctor, who is a good friend, to let me watch, so I got a step by step explanation of everything that was done. I went back to work the next day, driving everywhere, and doing a considerable amount of walking, but I decided later that it would have been much smarter to have taken at least one day off. Cheers.
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