Sexuality in Yoga

For some reason, it flashed in my mind, an incidence which happened some twenty or more years ago, when I was in Guyana. I was invited to a Diwali festival ceremony at a temple in Georgetown. At such functions there are usually only devout Hindus. It was unusual to be invited because I use a black body which was not caste assigned at its birth.

However, I got there before the ceremony began. I knew that if I arrived after, it would be awkward and persons sitting in the audience would notice that I disrespected the schedule. When I got there, I was escorted to a row of seats which were reserved for specially invited guests. We were to sit there until just before the ceremony would commence, after which we were directed to sit near the central ceremony.

Suddenly I noticed an elderly lady approaching. I recognized who she was but I did not feel that she would come directly to me. This she did. She smiled and said this, “Interlock every button especially the one at the top of the kurta (shirt). I greeted her respectfully because she was the mother of an important pandit priest. She was highly respected for being born in a brahmin caste family.

I did as she instructed.; There was also a mental energy which she radiated which was this,

“If the top buttons are not sealed, it would be a sexual invitation to certain females. That would be inappropriate at this place. Be sensitive to the way others view you. A saintly person (sadhu) cannot afford such mistakes.”

Recently I remembered this twice. I know for sure that I would see this lady later in some heavenly world hereafter. At the time, I would thank her for the advice which I follow when attending similar ceremonies. Sometimes when students come for instruction, I may give an advice regarding the garments worn but over all I try not to get involved in such corrections because most students resent being instructed in that way, especially if the instruction may curtail their fashionable and stylish lifestyle.

Once when I instructed a student, he pitied my situation of having grey hairs. He felt that I could be pardoned because of having an elderly body. A yogi should be careful to reduce sexual attraction as much as possible. Once a sexual attraction is triggered for whatever reason, it is almost impossible to safely manage it. That is costly in time and energy for any serious yogi.