So, what about sexual arousal?

“By the union with shakti there is excitation and in the end, one is absorbed into shakti. That bliss (of union) which is said to be the nature of Brahman (ever-expanding consciousness), that bliss is (in reality) one's own self.” Vijnana Bhairava Tantra.

Let’s be honest, unsolicited dick pics are pretty obscene. Obvious sexual arousal is the general demarcation between artful nudity and pornography, and an erect penis is enough to prove a public indecency offence. Even the naturist movement take a dim view of sexual arousal, with erect men being advised to turn over, cover it up or go for a swim – in some cases, they are even asked to leave the area.

The train of thought here is obvious: arousal = sexual = obscene.

The ancient practitioners of tantra took a more liberal view of sexual arousal though. Many of the pre-tantric sects practiced a harsh form of asceticism and for them sexual arousal without an accompanying sexual act was a demonstration of self-discipline. This evolved into various sexual rituals where the practitioner was expected to practice semen retention, with ejaculation being seen as a ritualistic failure. These austerities were viewed as a means to obtaining spiritual or supernatural powers, and the unsuspecting sexual partner (always a female) was little more than a convenient object of lust. Many of these practices can still be found in the Buddhist Tantras and Daoist texts.

Whilst perhaps taking some inspiration from these early practices, the Indian Tantras approached them from a different perspective. They espoused the view that our bodies are physical manifestations and expressions of God. As such, there is nothing about our bodies that should induce a sense of shame, guilt or impurity – providing we are acting with a conscious awareness of our own innate divinity. And it’s not just our bodies that are expressions of the divine – it is everyone else’s too, so everyone should receive the same level of respect as physical manifestations of divine energy. Following this train of thought, as with the earlier pre-tantric tradition, sexual arousal is not something to be ashamed of. But rather than using arousal to gain supernatural powers, it is to be used to gain a greater insight into our own divine nature, as beings capable of feeling and enjoying pleasure - but not the pleasure of gratification; this is a detached pleasure, a pleasure of simply being in the moment. Indeed, non-sexual arousal eventually came to symbolise an enlightened individual, someone who has experienced a Kundalini awakening.

The creative energy that exists throughout the universe is often deified within the Indian Tantras as Shakti, and Kundalini can be thought of as the internal manifestation of this creative force within our own bodies. Kundalini energy is often likened to sexual energy, but it is actually the unification between our internal and universal energy centres that causes arousal. In this sense, arousal is not sexual at all, it is an expression of the supreme unification between our physical bodies and our universal divinity - between Kundalini and Shakti. This is the experience that is often termed "a Kundalini awakening". Rather than thinking of this as sexual arousal then, it can be better understood as Kundalini arousal - the arousal that occurs when we unify with ourselves both internally and universally. With Kundalini arousal there is no lust or objectification, because you are the object. You are both subject and object, and arousal is the physical manifestation of this unification.

When understood this way, rather than being an expression of uncontrollable lust, sexual arousal becomes a symbol of spiritual ascension. Historically, this was especially the case for an erect penis (see the blog on The Mysterious Khecari Mudra).

So, Tantra offers us new ways to understand our bodies and our arousal. And it’s important that we come to accept this view if we are to continue our practice. Certainly, for me, I’m rarely able to meditate for any length of time without becoming aroused. But rather than feeling shame, or embarrassment, or confusion – or even the need to seek sexual gratification – I now recognise this not as sexual arousal, but as Kundalini arousal. It reminds me of my divine nature as an individualised manifestation of a universal soul whose primary means of experiencing itself is through detached ego-less pleasure. If anything, it’s something to celebrate.

What does this mean for eco-tantra? Well, the naturist movement aspires to ‘normalise nudity’, and it would be nice to normalise arousal too, because let’s be honest, being occasionally aroused is perfectly natural and most arousal does not result in a sexual act. But I fear this is probably a long way off. In the meantime, be sensible. Remember that displays of obvious sexual arousal can cause distress to others and is likely to constitute a criminal offence in many countries. So, if you’re outdoors and likely to be observed, keep your arousal hidden. But if you’re able to find somewhere remote and secluded, somewhere private where you’re not going to be seen or disturbed, why not embrace your practice and everything it brings.