All from the original post seem good guidelines towards STO.
Overall, your post is excellent! Thanks for posting.
As many have said, *lovemaking* can be definitively STO, as is an exchange, and there is no problem with having self-pleasure, while sharing and giving to others.
Sex can be also at times STS; I guess the main problem is that if you dominate the other.
If we neglect the giving and sharing process in lovemaking, then sex is more serving self and not the other.
The key here is having a good balance.
Masturbation for instance would be service to self, but no one said that we need to be 100% service to other. If you dont have a partner, I guess there is absolutely no problem, as this release of energy would be better than creating a blockage.
I agree with the key idea, that is best to make sure we are happy and fullfilled in order to joyfully serve others.
I think our focus should be in not worring with our self-serving needs, but instead practicing STO in our daily encounters.
Another issue is occult groups. In my humble experience, most "spiritual" groups seem to fall into STS behavior, even if their original intentions were STO. Larger groups / communities often tend to gravitate towards hierarchies and one philosophy, having mixed orientations, and many rules and "musts" to my like.
I have found STO groups mostly in charity, ecological and humanitarian activities. A small meditation group can also be STO. In a ideal STO environment, the individuals associate spontaneously by heart and not by obligation. The focus would be supporting others, not by imposing or philosophy but true love and friendship.
In my life, I often try to practice STO in my family and job situations. :-)
Overall, your post is excellent! Thanks for posting.
As many have said, *lovemaking* can be definitively STO, as is an exchange, and there is no problem with having self-pleasure, while sharing and giving to others.
Sex can be also at times STS; I guess the main problem is that if you dominate the other.
If we neglect the giving and sharing process in lovemaking, then sex is more serving self and not the other.
The key here is having a good balance.
Masturbation for instance would be service to self, but no one said that we need to be 100% service to other. If you dont have a partner, I guess there is absolutely no problem, as this release of energy would be better than creating a blockage.
I agree with the key idea, that is best to make sure we are happy and fullfilled in order to joyfully serve others.
I think our focus should be in not worring with our self-serving needs, but instead practicing STO in our daily encounters.
Another issue is occult groups. In my humble experience, most "spiritual" groups seem to fall into STS behavior, even if their original intentions were STO. Larger groups / communities often tend to gravitate towards hierarchies and one philosophy, having mixed orientations, and many rules and "musts" to my like.
I have found STO groups mostly in charity, ecological and humanitarian activities. A small meditation group can also be STO. In a ideal STO environment, the individuals associate spontaneously by heart and not by obligation. The focus would be supporting others, not by imposing or philosophy but true love and friendship.
In my life, I often try to practice STO in my family and job situations. :-)