Human sexuality

Human sexuality is the capacity of humans to have erotic experiences and responses. A person's sexual orientation can influence their sexual interest and attraction for another person. Sexuality may be experienced and expressed in a variety of ways; including thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviors, practices, roles, and relationships. These may manifest themselves in biological, physical, emotional, social, or spiritual aspects. The biological and physical aspects of sexuality largely concern the human reproductive functions, including the human sexual response cycle and the basic biological drive that exists in all species. Physical and emotional aspects of sexuality include bonds between individuals that is expressed through profound feelings or physical manifestations of love, trust, and care. Social aspects deal with the effects of human society on one's sexuality, while spirituality concerns an individual's spiritual connection with others. Sexuality also impacts and is impacted upon by cultural, political, legal, philosophical, moral, ethical, and religious aspects of life.

Sexuality (album)

Sexuality is the third studio album by French artist Sébastien Tellier, released on 25 February 2008. The album was produced by Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo, who is best known as one of the members of Daft Punk.

Conception

Sexuality is the first studio album by Tellier produced by someone other than himself. When de Homem-Christo was asked to produce the album, he was flattered and immediately agreed to do it. He expressed that Tellier "is maybe the best singer and composer in France today" and felt that the album was one of the few collaborative efforts in which he could contribute significantly and uniquely. "If you feel it and if you feel something creatively interesting then it’s possible." Their previous professional meeting was during the production period of the film Daft Punk's Electroma, in which Daft Punk requested the use of Tellier's song "Universe".

The first "taster" from the album was "Sexual Sportswear", which was revealed on Tellier's MySpace page. He described the instrumental track as "a direct combination of what I was doing before and what Guy-Man can do." When questioned on the two seemingly strangely juxtaposed words in the title, Tellier replied: "In my own sexual fantasies I always think about women in sportswear. I like women in sports pants and prefer peeling them off women to lifting up their skirts."

Buddhism and sexuality

In the Buddha's first discourse he identifies craving (tanha) as the cause of suffering (dukkha). He then identifies three objects of craving: the craving for existence; the craving for non-existence and the craving for sense pleasures (kama). Kama is identified as one of five hindrances to the attainment of jhana according to the Buddha's teaching. Throughout the Sutta Pitaka the Buddha often compares sexual pleasure to arrows or darts. So in the Kama Sutta from the Sutta Nipata the Buddha explains that craving sexual pleasure is a cause of suffering.

The Buddha then goes on to say:

The 'flood' refers to the deluge of human suffering. The 'far shore' is nibbana, a state in which there is no sexual desire.

The meaning of the Kama Sutta is that sexual desire, like any habitual sense pleasure, brings suffering. To lay people the Buddha advised that they should at least avoid sexual misconduct which meant following generally accepted norms of sexual morality and behavior. From the Buddha's full-time disciples, the ordained monks and nuns, strict celibacy (called brahmacarya) has always been required.