Jan. 14, 2026
Addressing the Arguments Against Management and Redirection of the Sexual Energy by the Spiritual Seeker
reference: Sri Aurobindo, Bases of Yoga, Chapter 4, Desire — Food — Sex, pg. 75This episode is also available as a blog post at https://sriaurobindostudies.wordpress.com/2026/01/12/addressing-the-arguments-against-management-and-redirection-of-the-sexual-energy-by-the-spiritual-seeker/
Video presentations, interviews and podcast episodes are allavailable on the YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@santoshkrinsky871
More information about Sri Aurobindo can be found at www.aurobindo.net
The US editions and links to e-book editions of SriAurobindo’s writings can be found at Lotus Press www.lotuspress.com
#Sri Aurobindo #yoga #integral yoga #spirituality #sexual energy #Brahmacharya #celibacy #retas #ojas
1
00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:03,960
People tend to get very
defensive about the idea of
2
00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:09,640
celibacy, sexual abstinence,
Brahmacharia, however it may be
3
00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:12,960
termed.
They argue that it is unhealthy.
4
00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,840
They argue that this is a
process in nature that ensures
5
00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:21,280
the continuity of the race.
They argue that the suppression
6
00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:25,880
of sexual expression leads to
all kinds of perversions and
7
00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:31,160
criminality, including
pedophilia, rape, or utilization
8
00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:34,160
of power dynamics to pressure
others into sex.
9
00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:38,880
All of these arguments have some
basis in fact.
10
00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:44,160
However, the spiritual seeker or
practitioner is not the general
11
00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:48,240
case but a very specific
instance for a very small
12
00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:52,840
percentage of the population,
and thus some of the arguments,
13
00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:57,400
such as those relating to
continuation of the species, are
14
00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:02,760
actually not relevant here.
With with respect to the health
15
00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:07,120
argument, a factual review finds
that a case can be made either
16
00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:10,880
way, depending on the actual
circumstances.
17
00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:15,680
Elite athletes, for instance,
frequently abstain from sexual
18
00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:19,800
activity before a competition
based on their experience of the
19
00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:24,520
potential weakening effect short
term of the expression of sexual
20
00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:28,120
energy rather than holding it in
the core of the being.
21
00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:33,080
This is easily understood.
It takes energy to produce the
22
00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:37,680
sexual seed, the sperm, as well
as the semen that carries the
23
00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:41,280
sperm.
Every time a sexual act occurs,
24
00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:46,000
these elements are dispersed and
then the body begins to devote
25
00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:50,400
energy to rebuilding them.
This energy takes away from the
26
00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:53,360
energy that could be used
elsewhere in the system.
27
00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,840
Where health issues can arise is
when the sexual energy is
28
00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:02,120
artificially suppressed and yet
creating pressures that disrupt
29
00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:05,920
the vital energy, the emotions
and the mental focus.
30
00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:10,960
Active suppression can disrupt
the nerves, the emotions and the
31
00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,560
mental balance.
On the other side, excessive
32
00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,880
sexual expression can deplete
the core energy of the physical
33
00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:21,720
body and make the nerves weak
and exhausted.
34
00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,160
Positive health benefits have
been noted by many.
35
00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:30,040
If the sexual energy is
conserved and allowed to provide
36
00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:34,120
positive support to the physical
foundation, and if it is
37
00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:39,360
refocused on positive growth
processes, the artificial
38
00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:44,560
suppression without redirection
of the sexual energy can indeed
39
00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:49,320
cause unhealthy fixations that
can tend to lead to expression
40
00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:53,160
of sexual energies in ways that
are harmful to others in the
41
00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:56,600
society.
A potentially greater cause of
42
00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:01,280
these societal harms, however,
lies in the hypersexual focus of
43
00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:05,680
the society at large.
When sexual energy, sexual
44
00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:10,040
imagery, sexual provocation
surround people on all sides,
45
00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:13,800
there is no doubt that it will
breed a certain amount of
46
00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:18,560
fixation that is unhealthy and
without a reasonable outlet.
47
00:03:18,920 --> 00:03:23,080
It works to disrupt both
internally and externally.
48
00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,480
The solution here is to
recognize that for the spiritual
49
00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:31,680
seeker, the optimum approach is
to conserve and refocus the
50
00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:36,960
energy and the application of it
towards the spiritual objective.
51
00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:41,520
This is done through separation
from identification with the
52
00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:46,200
ego, personality and the
external action, and shift the
53
00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:50,120
standpoint to that of the
psychic being with its
54
00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,800
expression of love and devotion
focused on the divine,
55
00:03:55,120 --> 00:04:00,040
Sriorobindo notes quote.
The contrary opinion of which
56
00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:03,680
you speak may be due to the idea
that sex is a natural part of
57
00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:08,560
the human vital physical whole,
a necessity like food and sleep,
58
00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:12,440
and that its total inhibition
may lead to unbalancing and to
59
00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:17,399
serious disorders.
It is a fact that sex suppressed
60
00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:20,560
in outward action but indulged
in other ways, may lead to
61
00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:23,520
disorders of the system and
brain troubles.
62
00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,600
That is the root of the medical
theory which discourages sexual
63
00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:31,160
abstinence.
But I have observed that these
64
00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:35,000
things happen only when there is
either secret indulgence of a
65
00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:40,200
perverse kind replacing the
normal sexual activity, or else
66
00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:45,320
an indulgent of it in a kind of
subtle vital way by imagination,
67
00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:50,160
or by an invisible vital, vital
interchange of an occult kind.
68
00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,800
I do not think harm ever occurs
when there is true spiritual
69
00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:57,600
effort at mastery and
abstinence.
70
00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:02,000
It is now held by many medical
men in Europe that sexual
71
00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:05,920
abstinence, if it is genuine, is
beneficial.
72
00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:10,800
For the element in the ratus
which serves the sexual act is
73
00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:15,560
then changed into other elements
which feeds the energies of the
74
00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:19,520
system, mental, vital and
physical.
75
00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:23,960
And that justifies the Indian
idea, Brahmacharya, the
76
00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:28,600
transformation of ratus into
ojas and the raising of its
77
00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:33,240
energies upward so that they
change into a spiritual force.
78
00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:39,960
End Quote reference Srioro
window Faces of Yoga chapter 4
79
00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:44,160
desire food sex page 75.
00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:03,960
People tend to get very
defensive about the idea of
2
00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:09,640
celibacy, sexual abstinence,
Brahmacharia, however it may be
3
00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:12,960
termed.
They argue that it is unhealthy.
4
00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,840
They argue that this is a
process in nature that ensures
5
00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:21,280
the continuity of the race.
They argue that the suppression
6
00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:25,880
of sexual expression leads to
all kinds of perversions and
7
00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:31,160
criminality, including
pedophilia, rape, or utilization
8
00:00:31,160 --> 00:00:34,160
of power dynamics to pressure
others into sex.
9
00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:38,880
All of these arguments have some
basis in fact.
10
00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:44,160
However, the spiritual seeker or
practitioner is not the general
11
00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:48,240
case but a very specific
instance for a very small
12
00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:52,840
percentage of the population,
and thus some of the arguments,
13
00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:57,400
such as those relating to
continuation of the species, are
14
00:00:57,400 --> 00:01:02,760
actually not relevant here.
With with respect to the health
15
00:01:02,760 --> 00:01:07,120
argument, a factual review finds
that a case can be made either
16
00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:10,880
way, depending on the actual
circumstances.
17
00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:15,680
Elite athletes, for instance,
frequently abstain from sexual
18
00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:19,800
activity before a competition
based on their experience of the
19
00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:24,520
potential weakening effect short
term of the expression of sexual
20
00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:28,120
energy rather than holding it in
the core of the being.
21
00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:33,080
This is easily understood.
It takes energy to produce the
22
00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:37,680
sexual seed, the sperm, as well
as the semen that carries the
23
00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:41,280
sperm.
Every time a sexual act occurs,
24
00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:46,000
these elements are dispersed and
then the body begins to devote
25
00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:50,400
energy to rebuilding them.
This energy takes away from the
26
00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:53,360
energy that could be used
elsewhere in the system.
27
00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,840
Where health issues can arise is
when the sexual energy is
28
00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:02,120
artificially suppressed and yet
creating pressures that disrupt
29
00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:05,920
the vital energy, the emotions
and the mental focus.
30
00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:10,960
Active suppression can disrupt
the nerves, the emotions and the
31
00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:14,560
mental balance.
On the other side, excessive
32
00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,880
sexual expression can deplete
the core energy of the physical
33
00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:21,720
body and make the nerves weak
and exhausted.
34
00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,160
Positive health benefits have
been noted by many.
35
00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:30,040
If the sexual energy is
conserved and allowed to provide
36
00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:34,120
positive support to the physical
foundation, and if it is
37
00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:39,360
refocused on positive growth
processes, the artificial
38
00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:44,560
suppression without redirection
of the sexual energy can indeed
39
00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:49,320
cause unhealthy fixations that
can tend to lead to expression
40
00:02:49,320 --> 00:02:53,160
of sexual energies in ways that
are harmful to others in the
41
00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:56,600
society.
A potentially greater cause of
42
00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:01,280
these societal harms, however,
lies in the hypersexual focus of
43
00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:05,680
the society at large.
When sexual energy, sexual
44
00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:10,040
imagery, sexual provocation
surround people on all sides,
45
00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:13,800
there is no doubt that it will
breed a certain amount of
46
00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:18,560
fixation that is unhealthy and
without a reasonable outlet.
47
00:03:18,920 --> 00:03:23,080
It works to disrupt both
internally and externally.
48
00:03:24,360 --> 00:03:27,480
The solution here is to
recognize that for the spiritual
49
00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:31,680
seeker, the optimum approach is
to conserve and refocus the
50
00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:36,960
energy and the application of it
towards the spiritual objective.
51
00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:41,520
This is done through separation
from identification with the
52
00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:46,200
ego, personality and the
external action, and shift the
53
00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:50,120
standpoint to that of the
psychic being with its
54
00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,800
expression of love and devotion
focused on the divine,
55
00:03:55,120 --> 00:04:00,040
Sriorobindo notes quote.
The contrary opinion of which
56
00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:03,680
you speak may be due to the idea
that sex is a natural part of
57
00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:08,560
the human vital physical whole,
a necessity like food and sleep,
58
00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:12,440
and that its total inhibition
may lead to unbalancing and to
59
00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:17,399
serious disorders.
It is a fact that sex suppressed
60
00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:20,560
in outward action but indulged
in other ways, may lead to
61
00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:23,520
disorders of the system and
brain troubles.
62
00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,600
That is the root of the medical
theory which discourages sexual
63
00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:31,160
abstinence.
But I have observed that these
64
00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:35,000
things happen only when there is
either secret indulgence of a
65
00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:40,200
perverse kind replacing the
normal sexual activity, or else
66
00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:45,320
an indulgent of it in a kind of
subtle vital way by imagination,
67
00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:50,160
or by an invisible vital, vital
interchange of an occult kind.
68
00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,800
I do not think harm ever occurs
when there is true spiritual
69
00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:57,600
effort at mastery and
abstinence.
70
00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:02,000
It is now held by many medical
men in Europe that sexual
71
00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:05,920
abstinence, if it is genuine, is
beneficial.
72
00:05:06,560 --> 00:05:10,800
For the element in the ratus
which serves the sexual act is
73
00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:15,560
then changed into other elements
which feeds the energies of the
74
00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:19,520
system, mental, vital and
physical.
75
00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:23,960
And that justifies the Indian
idea, Brahmacharya, the
76
00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:28,600
transformation of ratus into
ojas and the raising of its
77
00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:33,240
energies upward so that they
change into a spiritual force.
78
00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:39,960
End Quote reference Srioro
window Faces of Yoga chapter 4
79
00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:44,160
desire food sex page 75.
