Sex and alcohol/tobacco stand on different levels. Sex is normal and natural whereas alcohol and tobacco are unnatural and harm a number of important body organs. Most importantly they damage the brain and the nervous system (and the circulation) which have an important role in life as well as sadhana. The body has its importance in the sadhana since it is the first seat within which the consciousness is established. If this seat becomes unstable, prone to nervous excitement, if the brain and heart become weak, the two important hubs for the higher and deeper consciousness to act, then it is impossible to pursue any proper yoga. Besides, they impair concentration which is a critical capacity for success in any endeavour including spiritual life. One can’t sit on a shaky stool and meditate.
Sex stands on a different ground though partially the same logic applies here too. Sexual energies and sexual activities are rooted in the mooladhar chakra, the base centre in the subtle body. Frequent sexual engagement, not only the physical act but dwelling upon it mentally stimulates these nerves excessively and prevents the consciousness from rising through the mooladhar or as in Sri Aurobindo’s Yoga, fixing into the body through the restless and disturbed base. Except for certain forms of Kundalini Yoga and Sri Aurobindo’s Yoga, especially for the physical transformation part, sex is not a taboo. What is adviced is moderation and balance as desires tend to easily topple the balance of the seeker by driving him on an overspeed. This advice of moderation and regulation, samyama, is not only for sex but also for ambition, lust for power, greed for money, fears etc.
PS: Basically the advice for samyama is because an unregulated vital driven by impulses and passions is like a storm that raises vibrations of the lower nature and, by affinity, opens doors to all kinds of harmful adverse forces. But knowing the difficulty of mastering thesse long standing habits of physical nature the advice of moderation is given with the idea of weakening and eventually eliminating them. Alcohol and tobacco are however a perversion, a seeking for distorted pleasure often followed by becoming an easy prey to adverse forces. Hence they must be completely avoided.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
