Hi BillyG.: To me, the ideas of perfection discussed in the sutras are themselves products of the ego, intertwined with ego, not free of it, and borne of wanting to avoid pain. Patanjali also says that one can reach the powers of perfection that arise from pure contemplation through the use of herbs and spells. This sounds like he might advocate eating magic mushrooms, smoking opium, marijuana, etc. for "enlightenment." I'm not judging this, necessarily, but enlightenment through herbs sounds like a pothead's dream come true. It still seems borne of the craving to avoid pain, to escape the dailiness of living embodied in society.
Re your comment: --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "BillyG." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > "The purpose of sex is > procreation not fun, look at all of the misery in the world due to > using sex for fun, from disease to broken hearts." does not answer my question: > --- In FairfieldLife@yahoogroups.com, "Mary Ann" <buttercookie61@> > wrote: "Rather than separating spirituality and sexuality this way, and spirituality from daily living in the world, why not instead cultivate in all people respect for and value of all humanity, including the needs of the body, the longing for love, for sexual expression, and developing emotional and intellectual maturity to go with these?" Regards, Mary Ann
