So What Does Meditation Have To Do With Sex Anyway?

"Yoga has never been truly described for what it is. It is an art and a science with which you can leap over the pitfalls of life. It is a science, and knowledge, and art, where mind and body can work in union and spirit will back it up." 
- Yogi Bhajan 

In this blog, I'm sharing an experience from my ten-day retreat with you that should be of benefit to you. The retreat I attended was on an ancient tantric yoga method, called Tummo, which is a technological system to work with an "inner energy network." This has also been commonly known as Kundalini yoga. The particular method I will be referring to is from the Buddhist tradition. I realize many of you may have no idea what this so called "subtle energy body" or "kundalini" is or if you do it conjures up ideas of silly jargon or crazy new agey nonsense. I have to admit that my more skeptical, analytical science mind is called front and center on this whole thought system. That being said, once I had the experience at retreat in working with this powerful energy and reading the "true" science about it, well, that skeptic took a watchful seat.

The National Institute of Health (NIH) recently published through PubMed an article title, "Neurocognitive and Somatic Components of Temperature Increases during g-Tummo Meditation: Legend and Reality." Although the sample size was small, it's still rather impressive when assessing this technique. Of course, all the neuroscience converging on meditation is speaking for itself. Tummo Meditation is uniquely different from mindful meditation in that the breathe is utilized more forcefully at times with very specific guided imagery techniques.  This study is an interesting read.  I've provided the link for you.

Tummo is within the Tibetan Buddhist Tantric tradition. It is considered a very high tantric practice that is rarely taught and holds to a very tight secrecy. This ensures that the method of teaching and transmission is kept in alignment with the origin of the practice.  Transmissions are received from qualified teachers so the practitioner receives the full benefit from the practice.

The basics of this method provide access to a very profound energy system that is mostly dormant in our body/mind, so with breathe techniques the awakening of this vital energy is brought forth.  When this is set in motion through breathe and meditative guided imagery this subtle energy circulates through a central channel deep within the core of our bodies. It is here where connecting sexual energy to higher levels of awareness can mingle and rise.

Because the word Kundalini may arouse (no pun intended!) the idea of having great sex (even though it can), let's not get trapped into leaving such powerful energy in a raw, superficial and fleeting experience.  The ultimate intention is to move this subtle energy to higher levels of awareness.  What this means is the more aware we become in our day to day lives, we make better choices.

My work in Sexuality Counseling is about helping heal sexual dysfunctions and I repeatedly see patients desperately grasping  onto various sexual ideas that they feel at the time will finally make them feel better and their partner feel better. I see the deepest benefit that breathe and meditation with guided imagery can have.  Attempts to find ultimate satisfaction with fleeting and limited sexual experiences often lead to the road of distress, despair, and suffering.  

I see the practice of Tummo as a liberating force to free us from keeping our sexual desire at such elementary levels of momentary satisfaction. It was said during our retreat that ordinary orgasms we experience are about 0.01% of the ultimate bliss we could experience when we fully harness this subtle energy body. I can only slightly fathom what even a 10% orgasm would be based on this statement. Guess we would all be willing to sign up for this method of meditation!! Cheers!