Unlike in Christianity, Sex Isn’t Taboo in Hindu Spirituality

Times of India
September 6, 2013

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-09-06/india/41832876_1_celibacy-priests-asaram-bapu

NEW DELHI: Asaram is being pilloried by everybody, from parliamentarians to journalists, for alleged sexual assault on a teenager and is in jail now. Some of the horrified public responses at his alleged act can also be attributed to the general notion that dissociates sex from spirituality. This notion considers everybody on the spiritual path as 'wedded' to celibacy. But is this perception correct?

A spiritual person, such orthodoxy goes, must not have a carnal side, a belief that stems from the sanyasi tradition where it is popularly believed that a seeker after God renounces all desires. This possibly explains why many Hindi newspapers and TV channels are aghast at the preacher's "fall from grace". In the English language media, the same horror is related: that men of cloth, like the Christian missionaries, must be celibate and breaking the vows of chastity would call for de-frocking of the erring priest.

In fact, the Boston Globe in the United States had run a series of reports on sex abuse in the Catholic church. Several such reports have appeared also in TOI. Since 2002, much of the US media has been critical of the approach of the bishops while dealing with sex abuse by priests. The net has a number of reports like this and this. This is because in Catholic church priests are bound by religion to be celibates. The instances of aggravated sexual transgressions by priests are worse as they involve under-age children, often of the same sex.

However, according to many Indian traditions, the path of spirituality does not preclude sex. In fact, drawing from the divine Krishna tradition, there is a spirit of joy and celebration around the idea of sex and loving union. It follows logically that sex forms a vital part of self-realization. Osho Rajneesh, a modern master, said forced celibacy was not just wrong, it was damaging to the soul of man.

It was against man's natural instincts. Celibacy as a vow had to be voluntary, and under the guidance of a capable preceptor. Otherwise, there was every possibility of the act of self-mortification destroying the initiate. All Hindu gods had families while several Indian traditions emphasized the sense of the sensual.

However, other streams of Indian spiritualism also grew, drawing from more severe notions of renunciation. One of the best that exists in Sanatani philosophy on the subject of the human body is Patanjali's statement, 'Swa-ang jugupsa, parai asansargah.' It means that with increasing spiritual insights, with greater realization, with the mind's constant attachment with truth, there develops apathy for the physical body, and it loses its physical affiliation with others. This is considered a high state of spiritual being, and that is what has made celibacy the plinth of sanyas as many understand it.

Yet, ancient Hindu rishis were known to have families and children. Even modern spiritualists like Swami Ramakrisnha Paramhansa, Lahiri Mahasaya and Sri Yukteswar Giri, the master of Paramahansa Yogananda, were all householders.

If Asaram has broken the law with the alleged sexual assault on a minor then of course the book must be thrown at him.