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Sex! What's it all about?
The origin of the activity known as "Sex" to Human beings is
lost in the volcanic mud of early planet Earth. The Scientific
community has tried to figure it all out but is still fuzzy about
how it all started and the whys and wherefores. The arts, all
cultures, religions, psychology, philosophies...all have
unbelievably different angles on IT...so different, it is hard to
remain informed without being dazed and confused by it all. To start with no one can argue that the purpose of sex is
about having children. For sex is by no mean the only method of
reproduction. Lots of organisms on this planet reproduce either by
division like amoebae, by laying self-fertilized eggs like aphids
or by hermaphrodite means like most flowering plants. So why have
Sex ? The currently much publicized and controversial genetic angle
focuses on understanding the huge amounts of information coded in
tiny bits of protein known as genes. This genetic material lays
inside every cell of most organic life-form on this planet. The
entire organism is coded in each gene. The cells organize
themselves in complex and coherent structures by switching on or
off certain parts of the coding they store. This muting of genetic
information allows for the generation of differentiated structures
co-operating to form elaborate life-forms.
When we have sex and reproduce, we "randomly" shuffle half of our
genetic material with half of our partner's thereby creating
diversity and multiplicity within the Human race. While an aphid's
offsprings are all completely identical, lest the occasional and
accidental mutation, us humans, show tiny variations within the
genetic signature we share. It is argued that there is an evolutionary gain in sharing
genetic material despite the heavy costs ensued by such a method of
reproduction. For example, because generations of aphids are all
the same, they become vulnerable to any pathogen that discovers the
key to exploiting such a bonanza of susceptible individuals. To a
point, our diversity protects us against a similar fate by offering
varied immune responses. As mentioned, sexual reproduction is costly. Taking into
account such factors as premature ejaculation, impotence, lack of
orgasm, menstrual problems, sexually transmitted diseases, the
complication of birth, the special vulnerabilities and demands of
infants, the inevitable conflicts between parents and between
parents and their children, sexual reproduction is fraught with
difficulty. On top of these costs, according to post-Darwinian
ideas, sexual reproduction is at the core of intense competition to
find and keep a mate which also causes more problems. While the
cost may be heavy for the individual, it seems outweighed by gains
beneficial to the whole species. All the same, most of us are not in touch with the ruthless
and selfish genes which are placed at the very core of our sexual
drive by geneticians. According to them, our sex-drive is purely
the result of a biological impulse to spread our own genetic
material. Most of us though, are in touch with the drive itself.
What we do with it largely depends on the culture in which we live.
In each culture, sexuality is wrapped in rituals, customs, rules
and believes which serve as regulating and connecting principles
for people. From the institutionalized homosexuality of ancient
Greeks to arranged marriages, I think it would be fair to say that
the whole range of possible sexual behaviour has been explored.
Whether certain aspects of this range are expressed or repressed
seem to be mainly informed by the local and prevalent Culture. And
whether these sexual acts are productive or not of offsprings seem
quite irrelevant when contrasted with the balancing affect it has
on the individual and on society as a whole. In fact, the
production of offsprings is often highly undesirable as evidenced
by the numerous methods of contraception devised by human
ingenuity. The Indian Chakra system offers a different and useful
perspective on sexuality. According to this system, the human body
has seven energy centres (seven Chakras). The root of this energy
is located at the base of the spine, in the genital region, and is
often symbolized by a coiled snake (Kundalini). The other Chakras
are located in key positions up the spine, in the throat, in
between the eyebrows and finally at the vertex of the head. With
the practice of meditation and yoga, the base Chakra energy is
raised to the other energy centres.
As this movement is initiated, the raw, primitive sexual energy is
transmuted and refined into more subtle energy expressed according
to the nature of the Chakra it has reached. Parallels to this
system can be found in both Western and Taoist Alchemical
traditions as well as in the Freudian idea of sublimation. Such
systems imply that personal responsibility is involved when
expressing purely sexual, transmuted or sublimated energy. What a
contrast with the genetic perspective in which we are puppets at
the hands of our genes ! Clearly, the question of relatedness also has to be addressed
when dealing with sexuality. Love (there ! I've said it !) becomes
the necessary binding agent to warm, humane and compassionate
relationships. "When power dominates, love cannot exist and
conversely when there is love there is no need for power" said Carl
G. Jung in an attempt to outline the incompatibility between the
gratification of raw, instinctual drives and a heartfelt approach
to relatedness. On this note, I leave you to meditate on these
mysterious and wonderful topics, till next time....take care of you
heart ! |