[Larisochka]

Thank you Aloka-D. This is a good article and very relevant to the discussion. It was particularly good in pointing out the different moral attitudes towards sex in ethnic and universal religions and how the principles advocated by them fit within the spiritual focus and practice. It was also good to read how some teachers teach a strict discipline to lay and monks alike around sexual energy - that it is a deterrent to meditation practice and must be forgone in order to reach enlightenment. Whereas other teachers will not have a stance on sexual practices other than the quality of the connection being non harmful and in accordance with Buddhist values.

I think it commented on a lot of the incongruancies we were discussing. I can see I am more aligned to the universal religions and attitudes than the ethnic ones. However I can see and appreciate the views of those who choose to abstain and remove sexuality from their lives as a way of focussing their mind during their journey towards enlightenment. I respect what they are doing. Anything that results in increased peace of mind has to be a good step along the way - less distractions the better

Sorry if bringing up Tantric sex was uncomfortable. I have heard some people speak of it in ways that gave me the impression it was not "low vulgar, coarse, ignoble and unbeneficial" that they were practising a very spiritual focus in the foreground through the activity as if the activity could have been any mindfulness based activity, the point was more in the teachings and practices that enhanced the spiritual connection and state more than driven by desire and outcomes. If not from Buddha, where did it come from originally? Why did it emerge? What are it's links to Buddhism?