A discussion of the purpose that sex and sexual relationships play in connection to spirituality and spiritual progress. Sex itself can be used for spiritual and creative purposes, or destructive and selfish purposes. Sexual relationships are beneficial for knowing oneself and cultivating unconditional love. The union of sexual partners in sexual pleasure is the precursor to the permanent bliss which is established by the ultimate union between an individual and the Creator.

In this enlightening book, Puryear, a clinical psychologist, explores the subject of sexuality and spirituality based on the readings of the renowned American psychic Edgar Cayce.

Why do we often feel sad after intercourse? In the West, the emphasis has been on the physical pleasure and satisfaction of the individual. This is to miss out on a whole exhilarating dimension that has long been recognized and thoroughly explored in eastern traditions: the spiritual dimension. Drawing from eastern traditions such as Taoism and Tantric Buddhism, erotic literature from China and Japan and the celebrated treatises from Persia and India (The Perfumed Garden and The Kama Sutra), The Spiritual Traditions of Sex shows you how you can tap into the great circle of energy that flows through the universe, how to transform a physical act into a loving, focused ecstatic meditation where souls share, exchange and reinforce each other's energies. Clear explanations of the philosophies of these great traditions and a series of simple, practical and pleasurable exercises are given to help you understand and learn the techniques from the east. The Spiritual Traditions of Sex will show you how the energy and ecstasy of sex can restore balance and harmony to both body and soul.

"Does physical desire affect my spiritual development?" "What is 'normal' sex?" "Is sex outside of marriage a sin?" In this enlightening book, clinical psychologist Herbert Puryear explores the subject of sexuality and spirituality based on the work of renowned American psychic Edgar Cayce. This guide provides excerpts from the Cayce readings to reveal how sex "can be one of the most beautiful modes of expression of love that approaches the Divine," and much more, including: The relationship between sexuality and creativity The body-beautiful as a temple The difference between creative sexuality and selfish sexuality The role of sexuality in your spiritual path Birth control Separation and divorce This thought-provoking book sheds new light on the relationship between the body and the soul, and shows how we can develop a healthier and more spiritually based understanding of sex through the work of renowned seer Edgar Cayce.

The secret and mystical sexual practices at the heart of William Blake’s creative and spiritual life • Reveals newly discovered family documents connecting Blake’s mother and Blake himself to Moravian and Swedenborgian erotic and visionary experimentation • Shows Blake had access to kabbalistic and tantric techniques of psychoerotic meditation, which used sexual arousal to achieve spiritual vision William Blake (1757-1827) has long been treasured as an artist and poet whose work was born out of authentic spiritual vision. The acutely personal, almost otherworldly look of his artwork, combined with its archetypal casting and depth of emotion, transcend societal conventions and ordinary experience. But much of the overtly sexual work has been destroyed or altered, deemed too heretical by conservative elements among the mystic Moravians and Swedenborgians, whose influence on Blake has been uncovered only recently. The author’s investigation into the radical psychosexual spiritual practices surrounding William Blake, which includes new archival discoveries of Blake family documents, reveals that Moravian and Swedenborgian erotic and visionary experimentation fueled much of Blake’s creative and spiritual life. Drawing also upon modern art restoration techniques, Marsha Keith Schuchard shows that Blake and his wife, Catherine, were influenced by secret kabbalistic and tantric rituals designed to transcend the bonds of social convention. Her exhaustive research provides a new context for understanding the mystical practices at the heart of Blake’s most radical beliefs about sexualized spirituality and its relation to visionary art.

“A must-read for anyone interested in incorporating meditation into their lifestyle.” ––Sanjay Gupta, MD, chief medical correspondent for CNN Heartfulness is an ideal, a spiritual way of living by and from the heart that is inclusive of all ideologies, beliefs, and religions. In this heart-centered book, a student in conversation with his teacher, Kamlesh D. Patel—affectionately known as Daaji, the fourth and current spiritual guide of the century-old Heartfulness tradition—present a unique method of meditation with the power to facilitate an immediate, tangible spiritual experience, irrespective of a person’s faith. Our modern, fast-paced world can be an overwhelming place. Every day, we’re bombarded with messages telling us that in order to be happy, fulfilled, and worthy, we must be better, do more, and accumulate as much material wealth as possible. Most of us move through our busy lives with our minds full of these ideas, multitasking as we strive to navigate the responsibilities and expectations we must meet just to make it through the day. But what if there is another way? What if, rather than letting the busyness of life overtake our minds, we learn to be heartful instead? Based on Daaji’s own combination of approaches and practices for the modern seeker—which draws from the teachings of Sahaj Marg, meaning “Natural Path”—Heartfulness is a contemporized version of the ancient Indian practice of Raja Yoga, a tradition that enables the practitioner to realize the higher Self within. While many books describe refined states of being, The Heartfulness Way goes further, providing a pragmatic course to experience those states for oneself, which, per the book’s guiding principle, is “greater than knowledge.” Heartfulness meditation consists of four elements—relaxation, meditation, cleaning, and prayer—and illuminates the ancient, defining feature of yogic transmission (or pranahuti), the utilization of divine energy for spiritual growth and transformation. Using the method, detailed practices, tips, and practical philosophy offered in this book, you’ll reach new levels of attainment and learn to live a life more deeply connected to the values of the Heartfulness way—with acceptance, humility, compassion, empathy, and love.