From Incest To Continence

'Incest' one of the gravest taboos, extant from the time immemorial, is a proof for the fact that mankind had always tried to tame sexual instinct. Unlike other species of animal kingdom, human beings believed that sex drive can be regulated, controlled, suppressed and even sublimated.

Attitudes of different cultures towards incest, polygamy, marriage, family system etc, in addition to serving many other purposes aim at disciplining sex drive. Why mankind felt such a need to regulate sex drive especially by delaying its gratification? There are theories which try to answer this question. To preserve vital energy and sublimate it into a constructive socially acceptable channel is one of the explanations.

Do you remember when did the first thought of incest come to your mind? It may be from books, news paper stories or from films. You would have received the concept with a shudder, if you hadn't gone through life situations in which incest is involved. You might have felt dejected while digesting the thought about incest that entered your consciousness for the first time. Yet, for some, this may be the critical point at which Oedipus complex of Freud began its functioning in themselves. Otherwise it would not have surfaced. Everything would have gone on as usual.

Of all taboos incest is considered as the gravest. Why? I feel, at some turning point of evolution mankind decided that nature of bonds between family members should exclude sex, except that between wife and husband. That means, family system proved that a relationship sans sex is possible between a male and a female. Family system is the laboratory where such a possibility is tested and later implemented widely.

Many celibates and religious figures who claim to have observed life long continence would have thrived on this norm; it seems, that brotherly or sisterly relationship is possible between a male and female if we consider the whole universe as our family. But modern society scorns the possibilities of maintaining a bond sans sex between a male and female who do not belong to same family. Sex revolution which is a byproduct of globalization exhorts this attitude of younger generation. So, in many cultures there is no question of delaying gratification of sex till marriage.

Nowadays Adam's apple does not stick in the throat of modern guy. He sheds off his inhibitions, chews the forbidden fruit and consumes it without any prick of conscience. He is in search of an eve who is ready to provide it. And it is not difficult to get one.

While incest is the dirtiest facet of sexuality, celibacy and continence are the most sublimated and sacred facet of it. On reading news paper reports of sexual abuse especially that of incest, one doubt whether humanity is heading towards the negative extremity of sexuality while running away from sublime possibilities of sexuality.

Sexual energy if preserved and channelised to virtuous, lofty goals can work wonders. Present generation is eager to experiment with new possibilities of sexual pleasure. But nobody cares to experiment with the concept of continence. Regulation in sex behavior is an old norm. There was a time when moral standard one had to observe before entering into active sexual life considered sacred. Youth had to delay their gratification till right time. Today those unwritten noble standards are discarded both surreptitiously and publicly. Ever missing thing is the beauty of a disciplined sex life in which sex drive is deemed as something inseparable from mutual respe