THE MYSTERY OF SEX/PART 10
CHAPTER
X
REGENERATION
Nature
devotes a great amount of energy to the task of reproducing living forms. Many
of the lower forms of life seem to live merely for the purpose of reproducing
life -of passing along the flame of Iife from torch to torch. Nature's
reproductive energies are highly concentrated, and are wonderfully potent. The
amount of creative energy concentrated and compressed into the mustard seed is
equal to that diffused over a whole large plant -in fact the entire creative
energy which is to serve the plant for its lifetime must be stored up within
the seed itself, for the vital force cannot come from outside, although the
outer nourishment is needed to build up the physical shape, form, and
substance. The germ of the animal contains within itself enough stored-up
energy to carry the animal through its normal period of life. In the processes
of reproduction and procreation, Nature avails herself of her inner powers, and
every minute she works miracles of concentration and conservation of energy.
The
ancient occultists recognized the wonderful power stored in the reproductive
organism, which is given out not only in the act of actual reproduction and
procreation, but which may be also dissipated in the unnatural excesses and
practices to which the race is addicted. They soon discovered that this
wonderful concentrated power could be, and is, used not only for the purpose of
generation but also for the purpose of regeneration of the life activities
within one's own body, the exhaustion of which occurs if the vital forces be
not given out in procreation or waste. In other words, that the wonderful
concentrated forces of the sexual functions, if not otherwise used or
dissipated, might be used by the individual himself or herself in re-energizing,
re-charging, or regenerating the vital powers within his or her own organism.
This was one of the reasons that continence was enjoined as a duty upon the
members of the ancient esoteric and occult brotherhoods and sisterhoods.
A.
B. Stockham, M. D., says: "Physicists have demonstrated with
incontrovertible facts that it is eminently healthy to conserve the vital
principle. The seminal secretion has a wonderfully imminent value; and, if
retained, is absorbed into the system and adds enormously to man's magnetic,
mental and spiritual force. In ordinary married life this force is constantly
being wasted. Other things being equal, the man who wisely conserves is in
concentrated mental and physical power and effectiveness, like a Daniel amid
his companions. He builds and constructs, he is the organizer and executive
head of industries, he is the orator and the inventor. He is the leader of
great movements, because his power is drawn from an inexhaustible storage
battery. . . . Although woman has not the semen to conserve, yet equally with
man she has the thrilling potency of passion, that when well directed, heals
sensitive nerves, vitalizes the blood and restores tissue.”
Newton
says: "It is important to know that there are other uses for the
procreative element than the generation of physical offspring, far better uses
than its waste in momentary pleasure. It may, indeed, be better wasted than
employed in imposing unwelcome burdens upon toiling and outraged women. But
there should be no waste. This element when retained in the system may be
coined into new thoughts, perhaps new inventions, grand conceptions of the
true, the beautiful, the useful; or into fresh emotions of joy, and impulses of
kindness and blessing to all around. This is, in fact, but another department
of procreation. It is the procreation of thoughts, ideas, feelings of
good-will, intuitions of truth -that is, it is procreation on the mental and
spiritual planes, instead of physical, It is just as really a part of the
generative function as is the begetting of physical offspring. It is by far the
greater part, for physical procreation can ordinarily be participated in but
seldom, while mental and spiritual procreation may and should go on through all
our earthly lives -yea, through all our immortal existence."
J.
H. Kellogg, M. D., says: "It has been claimed by many, even by physicians,
and though with but a slight show of reason, that absolute continence, after
full development of the organs of reproduction, could not be maintained without
great detriment to health. It is needless to enumerate all the different
arguments employed to support this position, since they are, with a few
exceptions, too frivolous to deserve attention. . . . . .the popular notions
upon this subject are wholly erroneous. Their general acceptance has been due,
without doubt, to the strong natural bias in their favor. It is an easy matter
to believe what agrees well with one's predilections. A bare surmise, on the
side of the prejudice, is more telling than the most powerful logic on the
other side."
Prof.
Mayer says: "It is determined, in our opinion, that the commerce of the
sexes has no necessities that cannot be restrained without peril. . . .The
contrary belief appears to us to be erroneous, without foundation and easily
refuted. . . Health does not absolutely require that there should ever be an
emission of semen, from puberty to death, though the individual live a hundred
years,"
Acton
says: "There exists no greater error, nor one more opposed to
physiological truth, than that which holds that continence produces impotence.
In the first place, I may state that I have, after many years' experience,
never seen a single instance of atrophy of the generative organs from this
cause. I have, it is true, met the complaint; but in what class of cases does
it occur? It arises, in all instances, from the exactly opposite cause, abuse;
the organs become worn out, and hence arises atrophy. Physiologically
considered, it is not a fact that the power of secretion is annihilated in
well-formed adults leading a healthy life, and yet remaining continent. No
continent man need be deterred by this apocryphal fear of atrophy from leading
a chaste life. It is a device of the unchaste, a lame excuse for their own
incontinence, unfounded on any physiological law."
Dr.
Kellogg makes the following important statement, which corroborates the
theories of the ancient occult teachers:
"Recent
investigations have shown that the sexual glands are useful, not only as a
means of race-perpetuation, but for the physical well-being of the individual,
through the vital stimulus exercised by them, through the influence of
their peculiar secretion upon the processes of development and nutrition. In
view of this fact, it is evident that, so far as the individual is concerned,
physical benefit is to be looked for, not in the loss of the secretion of the
sexual glands, but in its retention and appropriation. In other words,
reproduction is accomplished at the sacrifice of individual interests, a law
which prevails throughout the whole organic world, being, in some instances, so
pronounced that the development of progeny is accomplished only through the
death of one or both parents. These discoveries afford thoroughly satisfactory
and scientific explanation of two facts which heretofore have rested solely
upon a basis of observation and experience: I. That continence is favorable to
physical vigor. 2. That sexual intemperance is productive of exhaustion and
debility to a most extraordinary degree."
Dr.
Nicholas says: "It is a medical and a physiological fact that the best
blood in the body goes to form the elements of reproduction in both sexes. In a
pure and orderly life this matter is reabsorbed. It goes back into the
circulation ready to form the finest brain, nerve and muscular tissue. This
life of man, carried back and diffused through his system, makes him manly,
strong, brave, heroic.. . .The suspension of the use of the generative organs
is attended with a notable increase of bodily and mental vigor and spiritual
life." And, as another writer has said: "Nature finds another use for
the unexpended sexual energy in employing it for the building up of a keener
brain and more vital and enduring nerves and muscles."
Outside
of the list of the occult brotherhoods, all of whom were strictly continent,
history gives us a long list of eminent men who followed the practice of
continence, which indicates the correctness of the old occult teachings of
regeneration. Newton, Kant, Paschal, Michelangelo, Plato, and many other
eminent men were strictly continent. All the great occultists and mystics of ancient
times observed strict continence.
The
Greek athletes training for the great Olympic games were compelled to observe
strict continence, the experience being that by this course they were able to
conserve their vigor and strength much better. The prize-fighters of today are
compelled by their trainers to observe strict continence during the period of
training. Many of the former "champions" who "went to
pieces" suddenly, owe their downfall to a violation of this rule. Dr.
Henderson, after years of experience in tropical countries, has said: "I
have seen many suffer severely, destroying their strength, health, happiness
and life, by following the promptings of their unbridled passions. Need I say
that I have never seen a man suffer from keeping himself pure?
Dr.
Kellogg well states the philosophy of continence as follows: "The sexual
function is double in its purpose; first, the sexual organs are always active,
even when not exited to such a degree as to obtrude their activity upon the
consciousness, as they supply the body with a needed vital stimulus and
regulator; secondly, they furnish the only means by which the physical life of
the individual and the perpetuation of the race may be accomplished. In neither
of these important functions is the personal gratification of the individual
the primary consideration. The exercise of the sexual function with a purely
selfish purpose would seem to be a debasement of the sacred function in which
man approaches most nearly to the creative power of which he is the
image."
But
there is quite a difference, however, between the intelligent practice of
continence on the one hand, and the practice of an unnatural asceticism on the
other. In intelligent continence, the sexual power, function and organism is
respected as one of the highest pieces of Nature's handiwork -the symbol of the
great creative force of the universe- to be used either for the purpose of
procreation and reproduction, or else for the equally high purpose of
regeneration, of self-strengthening and development. On the other hand the
unnatural view of certain schools of asceticism regards the sexual power, function
and organism as something impure and vile. The continent occultist or mystic does
not revile his sexual power, nor does he despise it -on the contrary he rejoices
in its possession, but instead of wasting and dissipating it in excesses or unnatural
indulgences, he transmutes it in Regeneration, and builds up his physical; mental
and spiritual nature. Those who despise the sexual nature, and who fear and loathe
it, bring upon themselves the inevitable reaction which always accompanies the unnatural
practice of opposing any of Nature's plans and processes as evil. They bring upon
themselves the negative condition by which their creative forces are neutralized
and inhibited, and they suffer in health, mind and spirit. There is nothing impure
about Sex -the impurity lies in the abuse and unnatural use of the sexual functions.
Continence is a positive process. Asceticism is a negative process. There is a difference
as wide as the poles between the two. Do not make the mistake of trying to "kill
out" the sexual nature -instead, strive to strengthen and develop it, but transmute
its energies scientifically, intelligently and naturally, in accordance with
the world-old occult and mystic teachings of Regeneration. This, then, is the
Ancient Wisdom regarding Regeneration, stated in a few pages. Consider it
carefully and you will be richly rewarded. The Ascetic places himself in
opposition to the currents of Nature's Creative Forces -the Continent
individual places himself in full accord with the great Life Forces of Nature.
Instead of neutralizing his force he conserves and transmutes it. Grasp the
inner meaning of the Paradox of Sex, and you will have in your hand the control
of many of the Finer Forces of the Cosmos. We can but hint at the whole truth
here. The time is not come for the full teaching -neither is this the place.
But he who practices the teachings contained herein will place himself well
upon the road to attainment, and the further truth will come to him as he
progresses. Such is the Law of the Path of Attainment.
END
OF THIS BOOK.
Comments
Post a Comment