Theos-Talk Archives (March 2005 Message tt00363)

Mar 19 2005



Re: Sex and Promiscuity -- Are there any rules or principles?



Dear Friends:





On the subject of sex. Are there any universal conventions on this delicate
subject?



What is the main REASON for intercourse ?



Is it to have children and take on the responsibilities of family life and
raising decent children or is it not ? [ Grihastha dharma ? ]



If it is pursued purely because of some pleasure -- then does that justify
promiscuity? And from that: degradation, rape, violence and prostitution ?



What is our attitude towards motherhood, sisterhood, one's wife or daughters
(or reversibly, one's father, brothers, sons, other men ?).



Apparently some degradation of the kamic (desire) principle (lust) has cast
the protective

instinct into the discard and glorified personal sexual appetites. Has not a
true use of the family relations between men and women -- which historically
and traditionally have been always regarded as very sacred matters, and, not
to be placed on display or made a plaything of?



Only the most vile of humans who have descended to the level of the
sub-bestial, have ever made of sex a matter of idle talk, usage and
conspicuous display -- and yet, here we now live in an age of
"permissiveness," and one's "rights" are thrown against the old customs and
the more healthy views of the past. Are we any the better, or safer, or
happier for this condition ? Personally, it disgusts me. 



One of the signs of the sad condition of our times is the fact that some
so-called psychologists have made it their work to find excuses and
persuasive reasons for promiscuous sex-life (and its many kinds of
perversions), and in doing so have devised reasons why it ought to be
advertised. If the continuing individuality of the immortal Monad
(reincarnation), and its attached Karma (effects that return to us for the
causes we generated in the past), are not to be considered, are we to do
worse than the animals do, who have their natural seasons for conception and
exercise usually the greatest protective care over their little ones ?



Why do honorable and responsible people feel a natural revulsion and disgust
for such a condition? Is it not the violation of one of the fundamental
objects of all Nature, not to mention the Theosophical Movement - and the
membership of the T S? I mean of BROTHERHOOD, and of that universal
generous compassion and protection that the strong instinctively extend to
the weak ? 



Where is true chivalry, one might ask. Does it no longer well up
spontaneously from deep within? Why is there in the world today such a
concentrated effort to make our children in their inexperience aware of
sexuality without the responsibilities (of family life) that are a
concomitant of exercising it ?



I would say that it is very fortunate to be brought up in an environment
where historically and customarily, respect for privacy, for women-folk is
still exercised. But, of course if this is exaggerated and carried to an
extreme there is also in those customs and their imposition an infringement
on free will and the right of self-education and self-decision. 



All these things need consideration and adjustment on the basis of that
which is 

reasonable. The Soul is neither male nor female. Only the body of the
present incarnation is provided under karma in one sex or the other for the
purpose of meeting and adjusting our past karma -- says Theosophy.



As students of Theosophy have we considered Karmically what promiscuity
implies -- in terms of liaisons now made, that may last for many lives --
in terms of children who are not PROTECTED by their fathers or mothers, and
are the real orphans, the changelings, that we have created by our
indifference in the world of today? 



This may appear a strange question. But Theosophy presents us with a view
of karmic reciprocity and its careful operations not provided in, or by any,
other source. It is one of real importance for us at this stage of our
joint evolution.



If it is said that occultism prohibits connubial life, one should ask why.
What is the pursuit of occultism as a motive ? Is it selfish, or is it for
the benefit of our neighbours and ourselves? 



Can one devote the same amount of importance to occult development (whatever
that may mean) if one is married, or not ?



Is it possibly a case of divided loyalties, in the sense that the very
careful work of developing one's occult nature (again, I say what is that ?)
and of executing all the responsibilities of family life demand too much
time in and of themselves ?



Now comes a clincher for me: Would it me possible for one to be both an
occultist and a family person simultaneously ?



Ancient Indian history records the case of King Janaka who did this. Sri
Krishna in the GITA uses him as an example. King Vikramaditya was another.
Sri Krishna himself, as myths surrounding him show, had this capability. 



If interiorly, in the recesses of our own True Nature we are
ATMA-BUDDHI-MANAS or the imperishable, IMMORTAL MONAD -- the True Man or
Woman - then, is not the practice of occultism and of family life
simultaneous ? Can we not call it an attitude of mind? 



There are some useful passages in the SECRET DOCTRINE offered on pages:
[SECRET DOCTRINE Vol. I, pp. 223-229.]



Best wishes to all,



Dallas



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