Integrating our sexuality and spirituality

Photo by Becca Tapert on Unsplash

In religious circles, there is a common tendency to regard anything sexual as an enemy and an obstacle to the spiritual path. This is true for both Buddhism and for Christianity. Apostle Paul certainly thought of sexual desire as an obstacle. He wrote the following to the Corinthian Church:

Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. … Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. I say this as a concession, not as a command. I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.

Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion. (1 Corinthians 7: 1–9)

Thus, according to Saint Paul, sexual relations are a matter of concession and a compromise. For him…