What is Chastity? – (449)

Introduction

The opposite of the defect of lust is chastity. I think that it is very useful to know the opposite of the defect, the virtue, inside out. Why you may ask. The reason why, is because it makes cultivating it and annulling the defect much easier.

Know the Defect Know the Virtue

To know the virtue we must know the defect. As soon as we know the defect we can know the virtue, by the law of opposites.

We have to understand though that chastity is not abstinence. Chastity is sexuality but a different sexuality to what lust presents. The commonly understood chastity is the non-use of sexuality.

The Middle

There is always the middle in everything, even in sexuality. There is the use of sexuality, then there is the overuse or abuse and then there is the non-use. Obviously the wise use as with everything else in life is the best. So then, chastity has a lot to do with the wise or balanced use of sexuality.

With and Without Love

Lust has been defined as sex without love, so then chastity is sex with love. It can’t be no sex with love because that is not sexuality. Lust and chastity have to do with sexuality.

Sexuality Trapped and Free

Lust is sexuality trapped or conditioned by the senses, sensations, matter, relativity, duality and the mind. Therefore chastity is sexuality free or unconditioned. This free or unconditioned does not mean a ‘free love’ sexuality without boundaries, respect or limits but rather a sexuality free of these mental conditionings but operating within the parameters of respect, wisdom, decency, ethics and spirituality. Whereas lust is conditioned sexuality but sexuality that breaks respect, limits, decency, wisdom, ethics and is devoid of spirituality.

Transmutation

Chastity has a lot to do with transmutation whereas lust is the opposite. Chastity concentrates on the Divine Being within and directs the sexual energy inwardly, whereas lust concentrates on the sensations and directs the flow of sexual energy outward outside of the body.

Balance and Order, Unbalanced and Disordered

Chastity interacts with the opposite sex within the order of things, that is within what is the balance and natural order. It does not have intentions that are out of order, it does not work with the subconscious. Whereas lust certainly does the opposite of this. It can interact with things outside of balance and order. A person may be married and then flirt with the intention of trying to acquire some sort of sexual sensations or relation with the person. Chastity does not do that because it interacts within what has been established and within what is orderly and balanced. What is orderly and balanced is what maintains or keeps something ordered or stable. Acting lustfully while married threatens a relationship and can destabilise it. I t is not common sense to be married and then flirt with someone, get divorced and then flirt. Chastity leads to maintain and stabilise anything, whereas lust seeks to destroy and destabilise relationships and things that have already been established.

Chastity gives the interactions with the opposite sex the right proportion. Lust exaggerates it. Because a lady is attractive a man gives way too much attention because he is bottled in the senses and thinks that by being nice he can get her favour.

Conclusion

This is just something to begin, I hope to expand more upon what chastity is, in subsequent posts. As I mentioned before to know the virtue helps in cultivating the virtue. So to know what chastity is and how it works in our psychological and inner processes will help us to develop it.

End (449).