Refraining from masturbation

[naturewalker24]

Is it true that when you don't masturbate, it increases your ability to see light because its creates a profound sense of self control. I myself have not watched pornography or masturbated for a long time, about 1.5 years, and really only did so minimally prior for a good 4-5 years. In high school and college I did it a little more often but woke up to the bigger picture in 2013, and immediately felt I should really refrain from it.

I am sure there are a million articles online about the benefits of masturbating...

Anybody else feel like its a good thing to refrain from masturbation. I undwrstand some times it can be tough, especially if you're alone.

[Rain95]

Lot's of medical science saying one needs to empty periodically for health reasons.

[ocean breeze]

An increase in energy level, aggression, memory, and awareness. I find it beneficial to my training. For women it may be different.

[Starman]

How we think about things will effect those things, i.e. how we see something will determine how we approach it. Balance and moderation, in my opinion, is always prudent. But one person’s moderation may be excessive for another person.

I believe that it is important for us to be comfortable with ourselves. Monks, nuns, and priests, from different religions have vows of celibacy, which includes sexual abstinence. Although I would guess that many of them do occasionally masturbate. A monastic lifestyle is not for everyone.

So I think a person has to gauge and monitor his or her own behavior, just like it is wise to monitor what we eat or drink, we also need to monitor our own sexuality. There are some who may be too restrictive sexually while other might act too freely. We all have our own gauge, or standards, of what we call “balance,”

I am divorcing now and have a young girlfriend who I like A LOT (but she lives abroad so we see every 3 months), so I basically live alone

My libido is pretty high and I am sorry to say but I am surviving through masturbation. It might have negative consequences to my spirituality and I have tried, I have REALLY TRIED but I am too weak; I admit it and so lately I have been doing it with no sense of remorse

[iamthat]

The following excerpts are from baliayurveda.com which considers the subject from an ayurvedic perspective.

Ojas is one of the three “subtle” or “vital” essences within the body – the other two being prana and tejas.

Ojas is a vital, energy that, with the help of prana, controls important life functions. It is our primal vigor and maintains the auto-immune system, mental intelligence and is the vital energy that governs our hormonal balance. When translated the world ojas literally means vitality or bodily strength. Balanced ojas is necessary for biological strength and immunity.

Basically more ojas = better health, longevity, virility, resilience and resistance to disease. Depletion occurs when we are using our ojas up at a faster rate than we are creating them.

Key to the functioning of ojas, prana, and tejas is the reproductive fluid, which functions as their container in the physical body. It is the ultimate product of the food we take in and holds our strongest energies.

At the moment of orgasm ojas are dissipated and dispelled. Because of this those who indulge excessively in sex and masturbation will quickly diminish their stores of ojas. Strive to balance with meditation

This is especially so for men – as sex often results in the loss of the vital essence semen.

So there are benefits to retaining semen and I understand that those who are serious about kundalini yoga will hold on to their sexual energy and transmute it.

Mantak Chia and others have written extensively on working with sexual energy and how to direct the chi. Sex is not considered to be shameful; instead the correct use of sexual energy can lead to greater health and vitality, as well as connection with the Divine.

Not all of us can follow these precepts, so perhaps moderation is the answer. Don't beat yourself up for beating yourself!!

Peace.

[Starman]

Men who are skilled in tantra yoga will release their semen in sexual activity but
will pull that semen back up into themselves before it reaches the outside world.
It is called “semen retention” and skilled tantra practitioners can separate ejaculation
from orgasm. Semen is considered the life force and tantra yoga teaches that it
should remain in the body.

Most people who have sex, especially males, rush towards orgasm, and for most
men orgasm, or the release of sperm, means sex is over, or at least a rest period.
This is because we drain our physical body of semen. Foreplay, either alone with
your self or with a partner, can be as orgasmic as ejaculation, and can extend
sexual activity.

Unfortunately, most of us do not have the skill to separate ejaculation from orgasm.
But through tantra yoga it can be taught. Tantra teaches that semen remaining in the
body supports the brain and central nervous system. We can train ourselves to have
a sexual orgasm without releasing sperm, or semen. There are people who think that
eating chocolate is better than sex and some of them have an orgasm
when eating chocolate.

Below is a link on sperm retention:
http://www.authentictantra.com/semen...nge-your-life/

[Rah nam]

It's not so much whether you do or not, but rather what you do with the energy that is available.

[shivatar]

Originally Posted by naturewalker24

Is it true that when you don't masturbate, it increases your ability to see light because its creates a profound sense of self control. I myself have not watched pornography or masturbated for a long time, about 1.5 years, and really only did so minimally prior for a good 4-5 years. In high school and college I did it a little more often but woke up to the bigger picture in 2013, and immediately felt I should really refrain from it.

I am sure there are a million articles online about the benefits of masturbating...

Anybody else feel like its a good thing to refrain from masturbation. I undwrstand some times it can be tough, especially if you're alone.

Any spiritual practice should be done with the help of a master or highly advanced spiritual teacher. Otherwise it can cause more harm than good.

refraining from masturbation and porn is good on many levels. it helps the brain by not causing extreme waves of dopamine and serotonin. it also helps to keep hormone levels balanced.

the power in celibacy is in redirecting the sexual energy into a higher place. The sexual force cannot be destroyed nor can it be enhanced. it is a constant. We can create resistance to it or lower our resistance to it.

Over time, and with celibacy in all forms, the sexual energy becomes transmuted into the highest form of energy. This supreme benefit takes years of practice and extreme discipline. Even sexual thoughts must be transmuted, and sex with a partner is obviously off limits.

If you just want to avoid masturbation, that will give some benefits, but it doesnt automatically translate into a transmutation of higher energy. that comes with effort and intention, it doesnt just happen.

if the sexual force is not released through sex or masturbation, it just builds and builds. it doesnt always build it good ways either. it can build into anxiety, depression, paranoia. it has to be channeled into the right places, or transmuted into higher energy, if it is to be made good use of.

without channeling it into the right places, its like storing up fireworks in a shed. it's nice and fun to take a few fireworks out here and there, but it also becomes dangerous when the shed is overflowing. one spark could set it all off in a destructive way.

[Ghost_Rider_1970]

Originally Posted by mindanalyzer

I am divorcing now and have a young girlfriend who I like A LOT (but she lives abroad so we see every 3 months), so I basically live alone

My libido is pretty high and I am sorry to say but I am surviving through masturbation. It might have negative consequences to my spirituality and I have tried, I have REALLY TRIED but I am too weak; I admit it and so lately I have been doing it with no sense of remorse

I don't think you are weak at all, and are simply enjoying a human experience. Where in my view, not having any remorse over masturbation is a healthy and balanced mindset for essentially what is a normal activity for getting in touch (literally! ) with our innermost emotions and sensual side. Especially if you find intimacy sacred - including personal intimacy - so will not be detrimental to your spirituality, but actually benefit with you getting lost in the moment of yourself, with yourself.

Originally Posted by Rah nam

It's not so much whether you do or not, but rather what you do with the energy that is available.

If anything, I completely agree with Ram nam. Consequently, it is how you view yourself and channel your energy with masturbation being a natural element of our very 'Being'.