Sensual AND Spiritual

A source of great personal irritation is the societal tendency to see matters sensual and spiritual as mutually exclusive—as bearing absolutely no relationship to each other. This in spite of the fact that both are fundamental urges, potentially ecstatic and integral to all existence.

The sensual and the spiritual are not dichotomized in nature. Animals and plants live with the two deeply and profoundly intertwined.  It seems the human propensity for abstraction has allowed us to conceptually separate them, and, thus, literalize a false separation between the two. 

So, where's the life in that?!

Historically, the Hindu religion treated matters sensual as necessary to a spiritual life—part of divine experience. The Kama Sutra is the famous text outlining recommendations on how to live a virtuous and gracious life, which includes its sensual aspect.

When one really stops to think about it, this is just common sense. However, in the West, it seems practically revolutionary.

Here, the arbitrary separation of the two creates a whole world of misunderstanding where the true nature of sensuality and spirituality are concerned.

Humanity is hard-wired for the sensual pleasures of life and the search for meaning in mystery. They are both essential elements. The trick is to manage them in such a way that they edify life, rather than destroy it.

Which is to say, somewhere between the moralizing extremes of prim stuffiness on the one hand, and unbridled, undisciplined self-indulgence on the other, lies spiritual and sensual satisfaction.

I don’t mean to propose a boring balance between the two, just a slightly more studied approach leading in the direction of intelligence, vitality and warmth. 

This way we avoid the extremes of a burning heat which will only melt our wings, and the icy chill rendering them rigid, brittle and frozen.

Need I say more?

We can be sensual and spiritual at the same time. They are what an ecstatic and integral life are composed of.

Take two and call me in the morning …






P.S.

This is a lovely video which nicely illustrates what I mean by sensual AND spiritual. Enjoy!