Attachment does not mean enjoying food,
sleep or beauty.
Those are responses of our organism,
and they are as natural as feeling hot near a fire or cold near ice.
Likewise, our responses of fear or sorrow are not attachment.
Attachment is quite precisely translated by the slang term 'hang-up'.
(Alan Watts)
Lust
‘Lust’ is defined as being a strong sexual desire, an overpowering urge.
It used to be considered a sin.
Taoism regards lust as healthy - having natural sexual responses
is a good thing.
Acting upon them can be even better.
Complication
Lust
becomes harmful when it becomes tainted by morality or the need to possess, to
own.
Or when thought is involved.
The human mind interferes without reserve.
Yet, our bodies know what they want.
Tai chi and taoism advocate an approach in which the individual listens to the
body rather than the other way around:
If your stomach rumbles, you eat.
If tired, sleep.
If you experience sexual desire... (you know the rest).
Denial
Everybody experiences lust.
Providing both parties are adult and consenting, sex is a healthy natural act.
Pretending that lust does not exist is a game that people play with themselves.
Studies
have found that people who live in monasteries are just as lustful as anyone
else; yet they pretend to ignore their bodies.
This is unwise.
It is like having a full bladder, but pretending that you are alright.
Sexual chemistry is powerful; it is linked to our survival as a species.
You cannot simply ignore it.
Sexual chemistry
Denying lust is inhuman.
Our bodies are biological organisms which respond appropriately to
potential sexual partners.
Taoism advocates going with the flow.
The way of nature is to let-go, explore what happens and enjoy the
experience.
Page created 9 December 2004