What Does Celibate Mean?
The dictionary meaning of celibacy is the state of abstaining from marriage and sexual relations. As in “a priest who has taken a vow of celibacy”. But the question always arises ‘why abstain at all?’ Why do you want to deny the body such a beautiful experience? It is obviously good for physical and mental health. So why? There are couples who have deliberately chosen to remain celibate. A survey says that several young couples in the state of Gujarat have opted for celibacy within the marriage. When asked why they chose to stay together, the answer was that they enjoy the companionship and for financial stability. They are the examples of how to be celibate and happy. So do they curb their sexual needs or is it a natural decline of the sexual urges? While I cannot answer that question I can share my reasons for choosing to be celibate.
Benefits of celibacy
You might wonder what exactly are the benefits of celibacy when everywhere a good sexual relationship is regarded as a source of bliss within a marriage. In fact, there are many people who choose to be celibate after being sexually active. One lady who decided to become celibate for six years after going through a series of sexual fantasies and sex addiction wrote in her blog it worked for her totally because it gave her better concentration, she channelised her sexual energy to creativity, there was no fear of contracting sexual diseases and she felt a complete leap in capability to process information and use it conducively. The difference between celibacy and abstinence is that people abstain till they are married or till they have found the right person to have sex with. But celibacy is a more serious decision, a prolonged one and when taken in a marriage two people have to be definitely on the same page. In case of couples being celibate helps to understand emotional bonding better where sex is kept out of it and maybe there is more affection involved with cuddling and kissing which does not end in penetrative sex. Masturbation is accepted in celibacy, even two people can indulge at the same time but there cannot be any form of sexual intercourse if you are calling yourselves a celibate couple.
How My Life Became One Without Sex
I considered myself to be a high libido woman. I could think non-stop about sex like most men do. Also I was never as conditioned by religion or society to curb bad thoughts. So I was like a free bird in my mind. However, I also stayed within boundaries and did not join the Osho camp that was just 10 kms from my house in Pune. I maintained that delicate balance of what I want and what I could do – decently. I was not a nymphomaniac either – the gardener or the bus-conductor could not turn me on, I needed an intellectual connection before I could shed my inhibitions or my clothes. Also, I needed to be in love. That is a huge gate to cross.
I lost my virginity at 18
I started my sexual journey when I was 18 years old and have chosen my partners carefully or rather I found it very difficult to find anyone suitable and spent long stretches of time without sex. If I were born in this generation I guess I could have it solved by having serial one-night stands. In my time most people were anyway waiting for the official channels of arranged marriage to start their married life with sex. That was a path that was near impossible for me for two reasons, I was adamantly against dowry, and my brother was battling a mental health condition that was such a huge stigma in our society. So with great trepidation I allowed myself the freedom to explore sex before marriage. Therefore the last thirty years I went through a roller coaster of emotional upheavals that were related to sexual encounters. Though my men numbered only 4 they were enough to fragment me into a thousand pieces, psychologically and emotionally.
What I really wanted
Then about 8 years ago when I turned 50 years old, I meditated on what I really wanted. I had 2 grown up kids and no husband or lover. I wanted to go back to that 14 year old, who was so perfect, whole and complete. She was a lover with no man, she was happy; she was in tune with the universe and with nature. I wanted to be that little girl. I had begun to meditate some 20 years ago and I got my answers from my own inner voice or from a divine source, through meditation or in my dreams. And that’s when I decided I am better of without this activity – sex. Did I want sex? Maybe. But the men had set the bar too high. They were all very handsome and extremely good in bed. I had enjoyed tantric sex and a lifetime of multiple orgasms. What more could I have asked for? So decided to become celibate after being sexually active for so long and enjoying it thoroughly.
Do I have any anxiety about this decision to be celibate?
None! I am calm, satisfied and only engage in masturbation for maintenance of the Netherlands. Every woman should do so, to keep her uterus in place and keep the pelvic muscles in good health. Do I still get attracted to men? No. I don’t even feel that for my exes, anymore. What changed? The peace and calm that fills my mind, and the solitude that keeps me sane, far away from the drama and anguish that sexual relationships seem to bring along. And if we are talking about effects of celibacy on women. If I look at my inner self it’s really calming. There is no anxiety, anguish or jealousy that arises from sexual relationships. I have friends, a couple actually, who joined a religious order and
