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ORIGINAL: TigerNINTails

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ORIGINAL: raynchk

Putting the above thought into the realm of bdsm, I wonder if the growth that comes from roleplay, the acting out of fantasies and having needs met transports one to a place where D/s relationships are no longer necessary.

Speaking for myself, my slave, and those that I've trained (at least during their training),  the dynamics generated between two or more people in that effort are far from role play. While we might be in a role, within that dynamic, I, for one, am not playing that role. I am that. Period. It's an important distinction to make.

This is a very deep seated and necessary aspect of the way that I live. Or prefer to live, in times when I must put some of it aside. It's not a place I've put myself in, but rather a way of being that comes from within.

Having your needs met, actually, from my experience, reinforces and inexorably binds the lifestyle into every aspect of someones being. It isn't something that will simply transport you to a place where the dynamics you've grown used to will simply disappear suddenly.

In fact, I'd gather that, from my experience, the more you experience it, the more you partake of anothers service, devotion, offerings, pain, pleasure and dedication, the more you will find it wraps itself through you, and the more you will need it. And want it. The more you do it, the more you internalize it.

Keep in mind, I'm saying "you", not because I pretend to know what "you" want, but rather in a general sense, for any reading. As with all things, some will relate to this, some will not.

So, to me, it's not about something that I do, but rather something that I am. I am a BDSMer. I'm comfortable owning women. I'm a sadist. I'm a guide. I'm a trainer. I'm a slut even. Above all, I'm a human being. All these things will be with me probably beyond death, and I highly doubt I'll be transported to a plane where a D/s or M/s dynamic is no longer necessary. Well, maybe once I die, but that's besides the point.

As it's been said by others, in their own ways... I'll say it in mine... There is no way in hell I could do without this, any more than I could do without eating, breathing, dreaming or any of the other myriad things that I do without concious thought, or question.

So that said, when it comes down to it, some will eventually come to a point where they will walk away from it.

For me, that will never happen.

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ORIGINAL: raynchk

Do you eventually outgrow all this stuff or does the 'rope work' just become more intricate and complex along with our partners? Simplistically: Once a Master/dom/sub/slave always a Master/dom/sub/slave?

Out grow it? LOL! Are you kiddin me?! Hahahahaa! Hell no. And I really can't tell you if the people get more complicated, but as times change, so do peoples values and view points. But my rope work has gotten a bit more intricate, or complicated over the years.

Now if you're talking about the framework of my relationships... No... That hasn't gotten more complicated... It's refined, but that's for simplicities sake, not complication.

So to me, yes, once a Master, always a Master. Just because you owned a dog once and don't now, doesn't make you less of a pet owner or dog lover. Once a human, after all, always a human.

My inclinations and attractions to this way of life are very significantly interwoven deeply into my very being, so far as I can tell. I can't imagine being without them. I've been this way as long as I can remember, damn near. I don't plan on that differing just cause I get old and grey.

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ORIGINAL: raynchk

I know that being human has to do with growth and development, with learning about oneself and others, eventually exchanging one set of challenges for another more complex set of challgenges -- and eventually -- one would hope, resulting in a mellowing of the spirit and an appreciation for what one encounters along the way.

This confuses me... Why would one hope that the spirit mellows? I for one hope my spirit continues to rage against the night, while developing a deep, deep, deep appreciation for everything that I encounter along the way.

To me, a mellowing spirit would seem to be one that has resigned to complacency. Just a thought.

But I agree... Part of being human is about growth and development, both in ourselves, and our relationships with others.

So that said, even if ones enlightened... Why would they step down their natural human inclinations of maintaining that contact with other human beings? I know I wouldn't. That I can say with absolute certainty. No matter how satisfied I was being by myself. Or within myself. Or whatever.

And yet again, Tiger strikes with yet one more small book. I guess I'm just not cut out to express something in a few words. Peace.

TNT

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ORIGINAL: dawntreader

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ORIGINAL: raynchk


I have a theory/belief that comes from C'han Buddhism. It goes something like this: when one achieves enlightenment (or self realization) there is a blending of the yin and yang energies and one becomes fully self-contained. The need for relationships (with the same or opposite sex) is gone, and one is left to experience the internal bliss of meditation and cavorting with internal archetypical energies of the psyche or *God* realization as some choose to describe it.

Answering from a Daoist point of view, self-containment is not enlightenment and while "need" for physical relationships may eventual transfer to "desire" as one becomes enlightened, i feel it enhances the physical enteractment between individuals particularly in D/s. Speaking from a personal standpoint...my spiritual beliefs enhance my BDSM activities to the point that neither exists without the other~