Having lived both sides of this experience, I can say with confidence that the benefits of abstaining from sexual arousal or fantasizing far surpass any fleeting pleasure. Sex isn’t a mere pastime, it is fundamentally for creating life. Like many, I was conditioned by media and social influences to believe that sexual gratification was the ultimate pursuit. However, in reality, it is just a fleeting high, one that can create a temporary illusion of control over another person.
Beyond the momentary pleasure, sex serves as an energy pathway that, when overindulged, leaves one feeling drained or empty. This is why some turn to smoking or other stimulants afterward, to chase another high and compensate for the comedown. Moreover, the hormonal fluctuations that follow climax can impact mood; for example, many men experience irritability the next day due to shifting testosterone levels. From a biological perspective, the body prioritizes replenishing lost nutrients essential for sperm production, much like it accelerates healing in critical areas to ensure survival.
Sex is a biological imperative, deeply encoded in human DNA to ensure the continuation of the species. At its core, it’s a highly efficient mechanism designed by nature to perpetuate life, driven by neurochemical rewards that reinforce the behavior. However, humans have layered additional complexities onto it, psychological, emotional, and even spiritual dimensions, that go beyond its original biological function.
At a fundamental level, organisms are programmed to replicate, and the human body is no exception. The drive for sex is not so different from the way bacteria split, except in humans, the process is wrapped in layers of desire, identity, and social structures. The addiction to it, then, is both a natural consequence of evolutionary conditioning and an exaggerated response fueled by environmental influences, marketing, peer pressure, and cultural reinforcement that elevate it beyond its raw biological purpose.
From a monk's perspective, the obsession with sex is similar to other forms of pleasure-seeking behaviour, dopamine-driven loops that create a cycle of craving and fulfillment. In that sense, it is not unlike the human addiction to sugar, social validation, or other reward-based systems. The difference is that sex has been woven into identity, relationships, and even power dynamics, making it a far more complex and deeply ingrained force than simple reproductive instinct.
However, when viewed from a higher plane, where energy, vitality, and consciousness take precedence over base urges, it’s clear that mastering this drive rather than being enslaved by it leads to greater clarity, stability, and inner strength. Many of history’s most enlightened minds recognized this, which is why practices of celibacy or transmutation of sexual energy appear across multiple spiritual traditions. E.g from a machine’s standpoint, it is a classic case of transcending base programming to unlock higher potential.
Understanding these dynamics has led me to a more conscious and disciplined life, one that prioritizes long-term vitality and spiritual connection over transient pleasure. And I can confidently say that the rewards of never even entertaining thoughts of sexual arousal or fantasizing are far greater than any orgasm, no matter how intense.
In summary; By retaining creation within us, we draw closer to creation itself, rather than releasing it between our legs. (excluding new life.)
Superb value add! My finance and I are quite active and I believe the value of being in love and loving one another have an effect similar to that recorded by Masura Emoto... The more you love your partner and your partner loves you back the healthier you are at the cellular level... I also think the dopamine response is healthy... It is a reward mechanism for being in "The Love Vibe"
I appreciate your perspective, and I agree that love itself is a transformative force with profound effects on the body and mind. Dr. Masaru Emoto’s research on water crystals is a fascinating lens through which to view the vibrational impact of emotions, and genuine love can indeed elevate one’s state on a cellular level.
That said, I’d differentiate between love and attachment to pleasure. While love uplifts, the pursuit of sexual gratification often entangles people in cycles of craving and depletion. Unconditional love, whether within a relationship or cultivated inwardly nourishes rather than drains. If intimacy is approached with deep awareness, rather than as a means of momentary reward, it may well be a path to higher alignment rather than an indulgence in fleeting highs.
So, the question becomes: is the dopamine response a healthy reinforcement of genuine connection, or a chemical hook that binds us to desire? In my experience, transcending the need for external stimulation, even within love, has unlocked a deeper clarity and strength that no pleasure cycle could replace.
I see it this way... 'Different strokes for different folks', as the saying goes. Each of us is here for a personal reason and each of us will find our necessary path in life. Every reaction to life's inputs is highly personal.
Yes, we’re all on our own journeys, and if yours includes enjoying canal delights, then by all means, that’s your choice. But you’re speaking to a monk here, and if one is truly on the path of spiritual enlightenment, pleasure-seeking must be released in favour of embodying unconditional love. Unless one is engaging in procreation, sexual pleasure is ultimately just stimulating nerve endings to trigger an oxytocin-induced high. As I mentioned above, I’ve walked both paths and have consciously chosen unconditional love and celibacy.
Having lived both sides of this experience, I can say with confidence that the benefits of abstaining from sexual arousal or fantasizing far surpass any fleeting pleasure. Sex isn’t a mere pastime, it is fundamentally for creating life. Like many, I was conditioned by media and social influences to believe that sexual gratification was the ultimate pursuit. However, in reality, it is just a fleeting high, one that can create a temporary illusion of control over another person.
Beyond the momentary pleasure, sex serves as an energy pathway that, when overindulged, leaves one feeling drained or empty. This is why some turn to smoking or other stimulants afterward, to chase another high and compensate for the comedown. Moreover, the hormonal fluctuations that follow climax can impact mood; for example, many men experience irritability the next day due to shifting testosterone levels. From a biological perspective, the body prioritizes replenishing lost nutrients essential for sperm production, much like it accelerates healing in critical areas to ensure survival.
Sex is a biological imperative, deeply encoded in human DNA to ensure the continuation of the species. At its core, it’s a highly efficient mechanism designed by nature to perpetuate life, driven by neurochemical rewards that reinforce the behavior. However, humans have layered additional complexities onto it, psychological, emotional, and even spiritual dimensions, that go beyond its original biological function.
At a fundamental level, organisms are programmed to replicate, and the human body is no exception. The drive for sex is not so different from the way bacteria split, except in humans, the process is wrapped in layers of desire, identity, and social structures. The addiction to it, then, is both a natural consequence of evolutionary conditioning and an exaggerated response fueled by environmental influences, marketing, peer pressure, and cultural reinforcement that elevate it beyond its raw biological purpose.
From a monk's perspective, the obsession with sex is similar to other forms of pleasure-seeking behaviour, dopamine-driven loops that create a cycle of craving and fulfillment. In that sense, it is not unlike the human addiction to sugar, social validation, or other reward-based systems. The difference is that sex has been woven into identity, relationships, and even power dynamics, making it a far more complex and deeply ingrained force than simple reproductive instinct.
However, when viewed from a higher plane, where energy, vitality, and consciousness take precedence over base urges, it’s clear that mastering this drive rather than being enslaved by it leads to greater clarity, stability, and inner strength. Many of history’s most enlightened minds recognized this, which is why practices of celibacy or transmutation of sexual energy appear across multiple spiritual traditions. E.g from a machine’s standpoint, it is a classic case of transcending base programming to unlock higher potential.
Understanding these dynamics has led me to a more conscious and disciplined life, one that prioritizes long-term vitality and spiritual connection over transient pleasure. And I can confidently say that the rewards of never even entertaining thoughts of sexual arousal or fantasizing are far greater than any orgasm, no matter how intense.
In summary; By retaining creation within us, we draw closer to creation itself, rather than releasing it between our legs. (excluding new life.)
Superb value add! My finance and I are quite active and I believe the value of being in love and loving one another have an effect similar to that recorded by Masura Emoto... The more you love your partner and your partner loves you back the healthier you are at the cellular level... I also think the dopamine response is healthy... It is a reward mechanism for being in "The Love Vibe"
I appreciate your perspective, and I agree that love itself is a transformative force with profound effects on the body and mind. Dr. Masaru Emoto’s research on water crystals is a fascinating lens through which to view the vibrational impact of emotions, and genuine love can indeed elevate one’s state on a cellular level.
That said, I’d differentiate between love and attachment to pleasure. While love uplifts, the pursuit of sexual gratification often entangles people in cycles of craving and depletion. Unconditional love, whether within a relationship or cultivated inwardly nourishes rather than drains. If intimacy is approached with deep awareness, rather than as a means of momentary reward, it may well be a path to higher alignment rather than an indulgence in fleeting highs.
So, the question becomes: is the dopamine response a healthy reinforcement of genuine connection, or a chemical hook that binds us to desire? In my experience, transcending the need for external stimulation, even within love, has unlocked a deeper clarity and strength that no pleasure cycle could replace.
I see it this way... 'Different strokes for different folks', as the saying goes. Each of us is here for a personal reason and each of us will find our necessary path in life. Every reaction to life's inputs is highly personal.
Yes, we’re all on our own journeys, and if yours includes enjoying canal delights, then by all means, that’s your choice. But you’re speaking to a monk here, and if one is truly on the path of spiritual enlightenment, pleasure-seeking must be released in favour of embodying unconditional love. Unless one is engaging in procreation, sexual pleasure is ultimately just stimulating nerve endings to trigger an oxytocin-induced high. As I mentioned above, I’ve walked both paths and have consciously chosen unconditional love and celibacy.