Sexuality
Sexuality spans pleasure, power, shame, intimacy, and transcendence. Spiritual communities have both illuminated and harmed this domain.
Key principles
Section titled “Key principles”- Consent and clarity are non-negotiable
- Transcendent feelings do not override boundaries
- Desire is not automatically ego; repression is not automatically purity
- Teachers hold heightened ethical responsibility
Common distortions
Section titled “Common distortions”- Using nonduality to pressure partners
- Tantric language masking abuse
- Equating celibacy with realization
- Bypassing trauma through “energy” narratives
Direct investigation
Section titled “Direct investigation”Notice how spirituality has shaped your relationship to desire. Ask:
- Where do I use ideals to avoid honest conversation?
- What would ethical intimacy look like here?
- Do I need support from a therapist or trusted guide?