Fasting/Abstinence

[lunamoth]

Your pipi and her cha cha?

(Yes, I know, quite juvinile of me to pick that out of this whole long thread!)

And Chris, great observations as usual!

[Thomas]

I tend to look at this issue from a different viewpoint.

Fasting and abstinence is not because food is bad, sex is bad, this is bad, that is bad ... fasting and abstinence is a practical method of focussing and increasing willpower ... it's a means of practicing detachment, of taking control of your life.

+++

The physical aspects as ImpQueen mentioned are actual, and secondary, but are purely 'natural' — there's often more to 'healthy body/healthy mind' than meets the eye.

Spiritual development is like any endeavour, one has to train — Just because I'm me, it doesn't mean I can do or be whatever/whoever I want. So to think we can carry on with our self-indulgences, and yet aspire to the dizzying heights, is like assuming that 10 pints, 20 fags and whatever else we fancy will not impair our abilityt to run the 100 metres in under 10 seconds.

Thomas

[Thomas]

Hi Tao —

Originally Posted by Tao_Equus

... There are fewer experiences more spiritual than coming together in sexual union with the one you love ...

Have you experience of all the degrees of spiritual union?

Thomas

[Bruce Michael]

As for fasting, severity only ever works short term. I think a gentle approach is better.

I quoted recently-

"what has happened is that the human being has become the image of the gods
in the very organs which are normally called the organs of his lower nature.
The image of the gods has been debased in human beings as they are on
earth.The highest principle in human beings, the spiritual principle coming
from the cosmos, has become their lower nature....Our lower nature which is
due to Lucifer's influence, was actually destined to be our higher nature.
This is the contradictory element in human nature. Rightly understood it
will solve countless riddles in the world and life."

-Steiner

-Br.Bruce

[Tao_Equus]

Originally Posted by Thomas

Hi Tao —



Have you experience of all the degrees of spiritual union?

Thomas

I have no idea. I doubt it. But i do make a good cocktail.

[Thomas]

Really? Then a Scotch-based concoction my man, if you will, plenty of Scotch, not too much other stuff. I'm on my way ...

Thomas

[Dondi]

Originally Posted by Bruce

"what has happened is that the human being has become the image of the gods
in the very organs which are normally called the organs of his lower nature.
The image of the gods has been debased in human beings as they are on
earth.The highest principle in human beings, the spiritual principle coming
from the cosmos, has become their lower nature....Our lower nature which is
due to Lucifer's influence, was actually destined to be our higher nature.
This is the contradictory element in human nature. Rightly understood it
will solve countless riddles in the world and life."

What a great, thought-provoking quote, Bruce! I'm gonna have to agree. God made us and it was very good. He made our human nature, but because we allow ourselves to be subservient to our lowest base nature, we miss the highest that God wants for us. God invented sex, so sex is good, very good indeed. I will say there is a vast difference between just having sex, and making passion to someone you love. We tend to say gimme, gimme, gimme when in the heat of the moment, but if we slow down and share the moment with our lover and reach for their satisfaction, without ignoring our own, of course, it's just...Wow!

[Dondi]

O.K, I'm 43, and I don't have a problem resisting sex. We're talking sex with the wife, right? Maybe it's just me, but sex is a friggin' chore half the time. Maintenance sex, that's what it is. Now I know, I know we men have to have our pride, but the fact is...it's women who want sex all the time. My wife would laugh her ass off if I suggested that I was giving up sex for Lent!

I have the opposite problem. Wanna swap? (Just kidding, of course)

Seriously, I don't know where you get the idea that it's women who want all the time, but you are sadly mistaken. But I will say that there are times when she'll want it when I'm at my lowest energy level, usually when I'm just at the twilight of sleep, you know that moment just before knocking off and surrendering to the death of sleep, when your mind is teetering between consciousness and unconsciousness.

But then, I wonder if the reason we are together is to provide balance in the sex life. I mean, if we were both nymphomaniacs, then we'd probably burn each other out and nothing would get done around the house for we'd both be tired. On the other hand, if we were both frigid, the lack of intimacy might strain the relationship and our love for each other would grow cold.

[LeoSalinas22]

hi tao,

Again its a bit of a generalisation and even then I do not mean more sex = more material success. Rather that those with a healthy sex life tend to be happier and more well rounded and balanced.

you are right, i see what you mean. having sex does keep you sane as opposed to doing something stupid and breaking a few laws. i thought you meant you had to become some sort of male gigalo to be truly happy. my bad again.

Well I am not at all materialistic, wealth holds no attraction for me, I have few possessions and an old beat up banger for a car. I rent rather than own my own home. The 2 businesses I started were both more to do with trying out ecological initiatives than making a profit. Money never bought me anything really worth having and so I view it more as a necessity to meet my practical, limited needs than something to collect just for the sake of being rich. I have not found any religion / belief system that encompasses how I feel about creation so I walk alone. I do not believe the universe to be here by chance alone and I am in awe and wonder at the myriad aspects and infinite beauty of what I see. This is what I call my spirituality.

thank you very much for your thoughtful and considerate reply, tao. it is always nice to be proven wrong about what one thinks of a certain person and then you get knocked on your arse because this person ends up being completely different from what previously thought. it is also nice when someone shares their personal thoughts about themselves. not unlike some people who are just "cold and calculating". thanks and God bless...

[LeoSalinas22]

hey china, as always you make me laugh my ass off. don't stop!

Maintenance sex, that's what it is.

maintenance, what do you mean by maintenance? geez i envy you. i have to struggle all the time with my self. man, you would make a better christian than me!

Now I know, I know we men have to have our pride, but the fact is...it's women who want sex all the time.

WHAT! i don't believe this. either i am in the wrong part of the world or you are making fun of me and dondi.

My wife would laugh her ass off if I suggested that I was giving up sex for Lent!

LMMFAO!

As one of a vanishing breed of slender people, I don't have the problem with gluttony (gasp!!!), that many of my peers suffer. I know, though, that's it's more complicated than that. But, being blessed with the ability to just say no to food, I can honestly relate the positive benefits of the occasional fast. It's good to be genuinely hungry when one eats, and I find that a day long fast, usually on a weekend day, helps me get back to feeling lean and mean if I feel sluggish. When my body is processing food efficiently I know it because I'm poopin' right. If you're not pooping right you know your body isn't able to keep up with what you're putting into it.

BRAVO! China! BRAVO! control the self, not the self control you.thanks for the laugh, china. God bless...

[LeoSalinas22]

Originally Posted by lunamoth

Your pipi and her cha cha?

(Yes, I know, quite juvinile of me to pick that out of this whole long thread!)

sorry, i can really be a dumbass sometimes.

[Faithfulservant]

Im on my second day of fasting right now.. food not sex :P I imagine that I know what the young Native American braves felt like when they fasted and purified before they went out on their spirit walks. I have a couple reasons for this fast... I need an answer from the Lord about what to do about a career choice and a friend of mines brother has a brain tumor and she asked for a group to come pray over him.

I have noticed that in depriving my flesh I am more attuned to my spirit... Its kind of awesome. Everything is more intense. The blessing you get from the sacrifice is amazing.

[Snoopy]

Originally Posted by Thomas

I tend to look at this issue from a different viewpoint.

Fasting and abstinence is not because food is bad, sex is bad, this is bad, that is bad ... fasting and abstinence is a practical method of focussing and increasing willpower ... it's a means of practicing detachment, of taking control of your life.

+++

The physical aspects as ImpQueen mentioned are actual, and secondary, but are purely 'natural' — there's often more to 'healthy body/healthy mind' than meets the eye.

Spiritual development is like any endeavour, one has to train — Just because I'm me, it doesn't mean I can do or be whatever/whoever I want. So to think we can carry on with our self-indulgences, and yet aspire to the dizzying heights, is like assuming that 10 pints, 20 fags and whatever else we fancy will not impair our abilityt to run the 100 metres in under 10 seconds.

Thomas

I agree.

But I don't like cocktails.

s.

[Thomas]

Originally Posted by Snoopy

I agree.

But I don't like cocktails.

s.

Ssshhh! Don't tell him that, ask for a Scotch-based cocktail, and give it to me...

[Snoopy]

Originally Posted by Thomas

Ssshhh! Don't tell him that, ask for a Scotch-based cocktail, and give it to me...

WHAT'S IT WORTH?