BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment?

BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (Full Version)

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Lorenzo19 -> BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/1/2010 6:43:19 PM)
I believe everyone has thier own path to spirituality. The Kama Sutra expouses how sexuality can be that path. BDSM-D/s has upped the ante in sexuality. Maybe it is time for Kama Sutra 2nd Edition. The question is: How is or can BDSM-D/s be a path to spirituality? What can BDSM-D/s teach us about the spirit? Do you feel more spiritual because of your BDSM-D/s experiences? Do you feel less spiritual (more animalistic) because of your BDSM-D/s experiences? I will give My view points later. I dont want this thread to start out as a debate of My opinions.

Smutmonger -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/1/2010 6:49:53 PM)
I find it simply part and parcel of being a free human. But I had shed most of my inhibitions and conditioning long before I began to practice in real life.

LadyAngelika -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/1/2010 7:01:49 PM)
I'm an atheist and not particularly spiritual. Any spirituality that I subcribe to is rooted in philosophy, such as Taoism. I always felt that sadomasochism brought me very much in touch with my humanity, my mind, my flesh, my body. - LA

Musicmystery -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/1/2010 7:25:56 PM)
How is this different from Tantric, Taoist, Hindi, or various pagan approaches to sexuality? [image]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Khajuraho-Lakshmana_Temple_erotic_detal4.JPG[/image]

Lorenzo19 -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/1/2010 8:31:50 PM)
quote: How is this different from Tantric, Taoist, Hindi, or various pagan approaches to sexuality? Nice picture. It looks hindu. Not sure what you are asking.

MasterSlaveLA -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/1/2010 10:58:05 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Lorenzo19 The question is: How is or can BDSM-D/s be a path to spirituality? NO What can BDSM-D/s teach us about the spirit? NO Do you feel more spiritual because of your BDSM-D/s experiences? NO Do you feel less spiritual (more animalistic) because of your BDSM-D/s experiences? NO

juliaoceania -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/1/2010 11:14:44 PM)
BDSM has Taoist elements to it, and in that way it can be an extension of playing with the yin-yang concept... Also, binary opositions have some facets that I consider spiritual, mirror images if you will... good/evil, soft/hard hot/cold sub/dom.... etc etc etc Then there is the archetypical angle to it too... living out and exploring archetypes.

sublizzie -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/1/2010 11:16:40 PM)
Can it be? Yes, but so can washing dishes or doing the laundry. If you choose to use your BDSM or D/s experiences to help you deepen your spiritual experiences it can because you want it to. However, I sincerely doubt that it would force someone to become spiritual against their will.

SylvereApLeanan -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/1/2010 11:21:06 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Lorenzo19 How is or can BDSM-D/s be a path to spirituality? I don't use BDSM in a spiritual way, but one of my friends does. He's particularly fond of The Ordeal Path by Raven Kaldera and uses pain/sensation to reach altered states of consciousness. He also uses the service aspect of D/s to facilitate spiritual growth. I know there are a couple of people here who have a very spiritual approach to BDSM, so I'm sure you'll get some good answers. quote: What can BDSM-D/s teach us about the spirit? This is very dependent on what spiritual lessons we need to achieve. For me, the energy exchange that comes from a scene helps maintain my overall health, both mental and physical. It helps keep me connected to the energy of the universe. It's not like going to church, but it has a spiritual component to it.

Lorenzo19 -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/1/2010 11:40:01 PM)
The mystery of sacrifice has spiritual meaning. I have learned alot. I found that in My long term TPE relationship I have done a lot of sacrificing and grown spiritually from it. My sacrifice sprung from My role as Dominant. I am responsible that all is well. To fulfill My role I had to make many sacrifices to ensure the well-being of My subordinates and the Family.

Whiplashsmile4 -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/2/2010 12:31:43 AM)
"On the most primal state of being with the physical energy/mental that is exchanged, regardless of how sublime or intense, however when you are in "That Momemt" of special state of mind or being, where you are as if connected as one with the other. That truely seems/feels like a spiritual state."

crazyml -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/2/2010 12:58:09 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Lorenzo19 I believe everyone has thier own path to spirituality. The Kama Sutra expouses how sexuality can be that path. BDSM-D/s has upped the ante in sexuality. Maybe it is time for Kama Sutra 2nd Edition. The question is: How is or can BDSM-D/s be a path to spirituality? Like LadyAngelika I'm an atheist, so I'm a little bit cynical about the term "spirituality", but if your deifnition includes the secular analog - "enlightenment" then I'd say that to some extent BDSM-D/s can be a path to enlightenment, but (without wishing to sound like a fortune cookie or the old guy in the karate-kid movies), a person has to travel many paths on their journey towards enlightenment (you can optionally add the word "Grasshopper" to the end of this line if you want to get the real karate-kid experience). In part it probably depends on how you identify your relationship with BDSM-D/s - For me it's an undeniable part of who I am, but it's not "who I am".. so for me it forms one of a range of collections of life experience which will take me closer (if I pay attention) or further away (if I don't) from enlightenment. Again, more fortune cookie pholosphy - "Any path can lead to enlightenment" I'm not being sarcastic when I say that for one friend of mine "golf" is a path to enlightenment - the focus, concentration, practice and commitment all have zen-like characteristics. quote: What can BDSM-D/s teach us about the spirit? Honestly, I'm not at all sure what it can teach us about the "spirit", but I'm sure it can teach us about ourselves. quote: Do you feel more spiritual because of your BDSM-D/s experiences? Not more spiritual - but more "enlightened", yes - But again, there are lots of different ways in which I learn about myself. quote: Do you feel less spiritual (more animalistic) because of your BDSM-D/s experiences? Can't answer this one - Except to say that from an enlightenment perspective the "animalistic" elements of some of my BDSM-D/s experiences have all helped me learn about myself - So no, I don't feel less enlightened because of my experiences. quote: I will give My view points later. I dont want this thread to start out as a debate of My opinions. Very interested to read your perspective!

crazyml -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/2/2010 12:59:53 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: sublizzie Can it be? Yes, but so can washing dishes or doing the laundry. If you choose to use your BDSM or D/s experiences to help you deepen your spiritual experiences it can because you want it to. However, I sincerely doubt that it would force someone to become spiritual against their will. Grin... spot on.

allthatjaz -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/2/2010 1:17:33 AM)
My spirituality is my freedom and freedom has allowed adverse conditions very bearable and favorable conditions not so conceited. I wasn’t always this way. I was brought up in a convent school and had Catholicism pumped down my neck from a young age. I am not a Catholic now. I spent a very large chunk of my life trying to keep up with the Jones and my only mission in life was to get through it successfully and reaping all its material rewards. I had a very scientific mind. Everything was explainable, even quantum physics! My first Shamanic experience was in a BDSM club!! and I have to say that I had never heard nor would of believed in Shamanism then. Of all people, this was not supposed to happen to me because my mind wasn’t open to such things. It was meant to be a shocking BDSM scene but ended up being something deeply spiritual for us both. My spirituality now borders on Sufi and Shamanism and Tantric and has been helped along greatly by this lifestyle and the freedom to express the inner soul (the one that most hide and take with them to the grave) Sufis believe that a baby cries as it enters this world because it grieves its loss of freedom. That it has been captured in a limited body of flesh and bone and for the rest of its life is conditioned but will always unconsciously be seeking for freedom. My spirituality is not about a ‘God’ its about letting go of my years of conditioning and becoming more in tune with nature and our ancestors unconditioned instincts. Its about embracing sexual pleasure and its about opening my eyes.

Lorenzo19 -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/2/2010 1:18:17 AM)
quote: Like LadyAngelika I'm an atheist, so I'm a little bit cynical about the term "spirituality", but if your deifnition includes the secular analog - "enlightenment" Oh Yes. By all means. I truely believe Atheism is a path that can lead to enlightenment (spirituallity). And the Atheist opinion is valid here as are all Faiths and cultures. (I identify with no religion. I believe Truth is universal and not proprietary to any one religion.)

Lorenzo19 -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/2/2010 1:56:05 AM)
I'll take a shot at it. For a frame of reference I identify with no religion. I believe Truth is universal and not proprietary to any one religion. God is whatever It is. My spirituality is about developing My soul: becoming more human; discovering what it means to be human; my place in this world and all the worlds of God; my relationship with God and all His creatures. Specifically how BDSM has spiritually enlightened Me: Before enlightenment I sorta felt everyone was on thier own and was mostly concerned with helping Myself. I discovered that helping people can bring Me great happiness. My girl (unbeknownest to Me when I collared her.) was very needy. Her needs were a great stress and distress on everyone involved. Everybodies advice was to "get rid of the bitch". I could not get rid of her because I promised I would never abandon her. I had no choice but to help her with her needs. As a direct result of our TPE style relationship I was able to help her. I doubt I could have helped her in a more traditional style relationship. I dont do really long posts so I'll leave it there for now. More later.

LadyAngelika -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/2/2010 4:22:38 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Lorenzo19 Oh Yes. By all means. I truely believe Atheism is a path that can lead to enlightenment (spirituallity). Enlightenment, yes. Spirituality? Well it depends how you define spirituality, and that is one of the problems I have with the word: it can mean a very different thing for you and I, therefore doesn't make for a good word to use when trying to define things. You'll find a fair amount of atheists who don't buy into spirituality. You might like to read some of Austin Cline's writings. I find he writes some pretty spot on summaries: http://atheism.about.com/od/atheismquestions/a/Spirituality.htm For the record, I do not find that it my Atheism, or BDSM for that matter, leads to spirituality. I feel meditation and reflexion does. - LA

DarkSteven -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/2/2010 4:26:49 AM)
I rely on my Judaism for spiritual enlightenment. I don't consider the lifestyle to be that path. It's odd because they're two separate codes of living. But they don't conflict, so I simply follow both.

DesFIP -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/2/2010 4:40:16 AM)
Since I never started with any shibboleths or repressions about my sexuality, it is no more spiritual to me than eating. It may be different with people filled with guilt and shame about being sexual. I wouldn't know.

eyesopened -> RE: BDSM: Path to Spiritual Enlightenment? (3/2/2010 5:20:39 AM)
If one is seeking spiritual enlightenment, then the paths are many and BDSM could be another path. If one is not seeking then none will be (or needs to be) found. Like you, I don't align with any one particular religion. The Yoruba way of the Orisha teaches that each religion has a piece of the Truth and only by global unity will all the Truth be known. I happen to like this particular way of thinking. But I can say this, that by learning how to surrender to my Master, I understood better what it means to find oneself by losing oneself. So I can thank the "lifestyle" for that.

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