1. A Mindful Diet
The Third Mindfulness training reminds us that it’s sometimes necessary to take care of our sexual energy. Sexual energy is not just produced by the body but also by the mind. When we consume the Internet, video games, or other media unskillfully we can arouse sexual energy in our mind in a way that is completely disassociated from love. Advertisements can play into our sexual energy without us even noticing. When we feel that our sexual energy is too strong and could lead us to do things that will cause suffering, we need to look carefully at what we are consuming, both in terms of media and entertainment, and in terms of edible food. Changing our diet, eating healthier food, eating less, and not eating late at night, we can focus on what our bodies need and shift our physical focus more inward
The Third Mindfulness training reminds us that it’s sometimes necessary to take care of our sexual energy. Sexual energy is not just produced by the body but also by the mind. When we consume the Internet, video games, or other media unskillfully we can arouse sexual energy in our mind in a way that is completely disassociated from love. Advertisements can play into our sexual energy without us even noticing. When we feel that our sexual energy is too strong and could lead us to do things that will cause suffering, we need to look carefully at what we are consuming, both in terms of media and entertainment, and in terms of edible food. Changing our diet, eating healthier food, eating less, and not eating late at night, we can focus on what our bodies need and shift our physical focus more inward
2. Physical Exercise
Physical exercise is a wonderful way of taking care of sexual energy. Exercise your body every day, even if it’s just in small ways, a walk around the block or ten minutes of stretching. There are forms of exercise, including qigong and yoga, that are specifically designed to help channel sexual energy, but committing to physical exercise in almost any form will help your body and mind channel sexual energy in a way that is nourishing and healthy.
3. Metta Meditation
Metta means loving kindness. Practicing this meditation helps facilitate our access to compassion and true love. To practice this love meditation, sit still, calm your body and your breathing, and contemplate by using the verses below:
May I be peaceful, happy, and light in body and spirit.
May I be safe and free from injury.
May I be free from anger, afflictions, fear, and anxiety.
May I learn to look at myself with the eyes of understanding and love.
May I recognize and be in touch with the seeds of happiness within myself.
May I identify and embrace the sources of suffering in myself.
May I nourish the seeds of joy in myself every day.
May I live fresh, solid, and free.
May I be free from attachment and aversion but not be indifferent.
The sitting position is a wonderful position for practicing this exercise. Sitting still, you are not too preoccupied with other matters, so you can look deeply at yourself as you are and cultivate love for yourself.
Begin with yourself first. Later on you can use the same exercise to cultivate love for others, by replacing the words “May I” with: “May he/she/ they be peaceful, happy, and light, etc.”
You know how much you want these things for yourself and for others.
After you’ve meditated to feel true love for yourself, you know you have the capacity to realize these aspirations because you’ve experienced them to a greater or lesser degree. Then you can do the same meditation on someone else, first of all a friend or a dear one, then someone you feel neutral about, and then someone you dislike, and then someone you love very much and to whom you may feel a strong attachment. If you’re successful you’ll develop equanimity and be able to love and understand even the person you formerly disliked. You may also see the person you love in a different light with more understanding and fewer wrong perceptions. You’ll see the difficulties of that person. You may also see their shortcomings more clearly, but you’ll also have the capacity to accept them.
May you be peaceful, happy, and light in body and spirit.
May you be safe and free from injury.
May you be free from anger, afflictions, fear, and anxiety.
May you learn to look at yourself with the eyes of understanding and love.
May you recognize and be in touch with the seeds of happiness within you.
May you identify and embrace the sources of suffering in yourself.
May you nourish the seeds of joy in yourself every day.
May you live fresh, solid, and free.
May you be free from attachment and aversion, but not be indifferent.
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