So often we see these sex and spirituality in confused light, and many get the two confused. Sex is Spirituality, or Spirituality is Sex. Neither is right or wrong, and each individual is free to choose their own expressions of sex and spirituality for themselves.

To this end, when looking upon Deepaks twelve "insights" there seems to be some ambiguities that need to be resolved, and indeed, some questions that need a response.

The first insight begins with the sentence "Sexual energy is the primal and creative energy of the universe". This would seem to be a giant presumption and without foundation or explanation. For those who practice a yogic path, Prana is often accepted as the universal energy from which all expressions of creativity are borne.

This insight goes on to say, based on the previous premise that sexual energy is the primal and creative energy of the universe, "In any situation -- where we feel attraction, arousal, awakening, alertness, passion, interest, inspiration, excitement, creativity, enthusiasm -- in each of these situations, sexual energy is at work"

As part of our being is sexual, there is always a residual sexual energy in all tasks we perform, however, this is not to say that this energy is driving, or motivational force behind our actions, merely a component of our being. When a person is inspired to create a haven for the homeless, the sexual energy present is lower than would be if a person was on a date with a prospective partner.

Whilst agreeing with Deepak that the forces are primal and of a single origin, this is not a sexual force. In each situation, the force at work is Love/God/Consciousness call the energy what you will.

This Loving Sacred Conscious energy can be channeled in any way we like, and expressed in any way we like, including sexually. To brand all energies as sexual, limits us to a single expression of the God beings we are.

In his second insight, Deepak tells us "Sexual desire is sacred and chaste. The suppression of sexual energy is false, ugly and unchaste."

What makes sexual desire sacred? What is the definition of Sacred? Here is one I use. "Dedicated to, or set apart for The Divine". If sexual desire were dedicated to The Divine, there would be far less people selling themselves for the purpose of buying drugs. To be Sacred is to be devotional to the all loving Divine.

Deepak makes a good point in the follow up here, that "The suppression of sexual energy is false, ugly and unchaste". How often do we hear stories of those who deny their sexual desires, clergy come to mind, only to explode on unsuspecting victims. Once again,there is nothing Sacred or Divine here.

In his third insight, Deepak tells us "During sexual union, there is union between flesh and spirit". Well no surprises there, but thanks for the reminder.

Next he tells us "Bliss, carefreeness and playfulness are the essence of sex.". Without a definition of "Bliss" this is hard to grasp. One persons bliss is another persons hell. If we consider that Deepak has already told us that "Sexual energy is the primal and creative energy of the universe" then "Bliss" is the essence of that energy. Again, without any clear definition of "Bliss", there is nothing of substance here and each person will need to find there own way. Here is a definition of bliss to begin with. Bliss that state of being when one is fully conscious. Consciousness/God/Love is the energy we are.

Deepak goes on to say "To improve your sexual experiences, get rid of your expectations." This is a no brainer. Expectations are the mother of all disappointments. Once again, thanks for the reminder Deepak.

Again, the next "insight" is a bit wordy in "In sex, as in all areas of life, resistance is born of fear. All resistance is mental. It implies judgment against what is being felt. Sex becomes a problem when it gets mixed with hidden emotions such as shame, guilt and anger".

Not totally with Deepak on this, but the message is good. To say that "resistance is born of fear. All resistance is mental. It implies judgment against what is being felt" leaves out the possibility of what I will call "healthy fear". Healthy fear is what we feel when we go outside and lion is charging at you. Unhealthy fear is locking yourself inside because a lion might charge at you.

Having said that, Deepak makes good on repression of emotions will affect all areas of our being, including our sexual being.

The seventh point is just bizarre. "Sexual intimacy is the road to the taste or experience of true freedom, because it is the one area of life in which we can become completely uninhibited and free."

What was that??

"the one area of life in which we can become completely uninhibited and free."

If sexual intimacy is the one area of life in which freedom is possible, then all other areas of life become redundant and meaningless.

The concept that sexual intimacy is the road to the taste or experience of true freedom" would perhaps be better expressed "Sexual intimacy CAN BE road to the taste or experience of true freedom.

The one size fits all shoe horning of people onto a single path may appeal to sheep and the blind, however, each person must be free to explore their own roads. Just because a person travels on another road, does not mean they are lost.

Insight number eight tells us "Sexual fulfillment occurs when the experience comes from playfulness instead of need. Frequently people bring their conflicts and needs into the sexual experience. When sex is used to fulfill needs, it leads to addiction. When sex comes from playfulness, the result is ecstasy".

I guess the magic two words are missing again from this "FOR ME". As part of being is sexual, we have sexual needs. The responsibility for meeting these needs is our own. Looking to others to fulfill our needs is handing over the power to another. We all bring these needs into our sexual experience. These needs are part of our HUMAN BEING. Not a human doing. When sex is used to fulfill our sexual needs, what comes is not addiction, rather the satisfaction that our needs, in this area, have been met. We can take the experience further into the spiritual realm, at the same time as not denying our primal needs.

If our primal sexual needs are not met, then we see the dysfunctional behaviors mentioned previously come to the fore and the whole sexual experience becomes a predator victim scenario.

To the ninth, and Deepak gives us this gem.

"All problems related to sex, neurosis, deviancy, sexual misbehavior, violence, abuse, can be traced to resistance, suppression and repression -- not to the sexual urges themselves. If we are allowed to discover our urges, desires and emotions, without outside inhibition, they won't go to extremes. Extremism, in any form, is a reaction to repression, inhibition and suppression. Aggression and violence are the shadow energies of fear and impotence".

This is all rather wishy washy without any real insight. Except, a definition of "shadow energy" would be nice.

In the tenth insight, this gem is presented "Sex is a means of escaping our little self or ego. It is many peoples' only experience of meditation". What sort of meditation is this? What is the intent of this meditation? No indication of this is given, however mediation is often thought of as a method to quiet the mind. This can be achieved in many ways, and as Deepak suggest, sex is "a means of escaping", and this can be beneficial and meditative is the practice is performed in a spiritual space that affords the contemplative insights that meditation provides.

The eleventh insight has Deepak tell us "Meaningful sex has to be value based. Values are personal". Well, not much insight there, meaning can only be attributed to those things of value, and can only be personal, once again Deepak, thanks for the reminder. He then follows on to say "Without values, we become spiritually bankrupt".

Values are, as Deepak suggests, personal. They come from the ego, the person, not from the spirit. Love has no values, Consciousness has no values. All values are created from the mind based on their attachments. Without values, we become detached from material things, and thoughts, ideas and values and are left to focus on The Divine.

To the ninth, and Deepak gives us this gem.

"All problems related to sex, neurosis, deviancy, sexual misbehavior, violence, abuse, can be traced to resistance, suppression and repression -- not to the sexual urges themselves. If we are allowed to discover our urges, desires and emotions, without outside inhibition, they won't go to extremes. Extremism, in any form, is a reaction to repression, inhibition and suppression. Aggression and violence are the shadow energies of fear and impotence".

This is all rather wishy washy without any real insight. Except, a definition of "shadow energy" would be nice.

In the tenth insight, this gem is presented "Sex is a means of escaping our little self or ego. It is many peoples' only experience of meditation". What sort of meditation is this? What is the intent of this meditation? No indication of this is given, however mediation is often thought of as a method to quiet the mind. This can be achieved in many ways, and as Deepak suggest, sex is "a means of escaping", and this can be beneficial and meditative is the practice is performed in a spiritual space that affords the contemplative insights that meditation provides.

The eleventh insight has Deepak tell us "Meaningful sex has to be value based. Values are personal". Well, not much insight there, meaning can only be attributed to those things of value, and can only be personal, once again Deepak, thanks for the reminder. He then follows on to say "Without values, we become spiritually bankrupt".

Values are, as Deepak suggests, personal. They come from the ego, the person, not from the spirit. Love has no values, Consciousness has no values. All values are created from the mind based on their attachments. Without values, we become detached from material things, and thoughts, ideas and values and are left to focus on The Divine.

Deepak finishes his 12 insights by telling us "True intimacy is union between flesh and flesh, between subtle body and subtle body, between soul and soul. Sexual energy is sacred energy. When we have restored the sexual experience to the realm of the sacred, our world will be chaste and divine, holy and healed".

Certainly Sexual energy CAN be sacred, but that is not always the case. Sometimes sexual energy is just that, sexual energy fueling our primal desires to get our base needs met. The leap from this primal desire, to that of dedication to The Divine is a great evolutionary jump, one that many fail to take in this life time.

The final sentence is perhaps all that needed saying in all these insights and perhaps contains the most truth for the most people.

When we have restored the sexual experience to the realm of the sacred, our world will be chaste and divine, holy and healed.