Guest guest Posted October 19, 2000 Report Share Posted October 19, 2000 The question of the importance of celibacy was brought up on the Advaitin. I will pass this on to as well. The Sage of Arunachala was often asked questions on celibacy. Ramana Maharshi invariably taught that physical celibacy was not True Brahmacharya (To Be With the Self) and gave many examples to demonstrate his points. In his court deposition regarding the Ashram will, he spoke of Self-Realized beings who were married and had children. I recall the Sage giving one example of a Self-Realized Sadhu who engaged in sexual relations with a dancing girl and had a child by her and was therefore perceived as a fake by others. As Sunderji has noted, the word celibacy is a poor term to convey the concept of Brahamacharya (Being with the Self). The practice of celibacy or regulation of sexual conduct plays a role in Kundalini Yoga. For advanced Yogis, in whom Kundalini is rising to higher centers and Sahasarara, celibacy or good regulation of sexual conduct allows maintaining certain Samadhis for longer periods. However, celibacy is not the only factor. Another factor is regulation of sleep. All of this can be known only through meditative experience and not through reading books. Celibacy, therefore, may play a critical role for many people at various junctures of their spiritual life. Any absolute statements about physical celibacy should be viewed with caution. They are not consistent with the highest teachings and are often made by individuals who do not have deep experiential understanding of the Yogic and Tantric paths and the Samadhis and states they lead to. For those on the Jnana path, and the devotees of the Sage of Arunachala, the whole issue of physical celibacy is moot as the practice relates to the body. Brahmacharya is not a practice. It indicates living in the Self. Ultimately, instead of listening to the "experts" (who on closer examination may turn out to be novices), one with deep and abiding faith in the Heart, the Inner Guru, rests in His Own Nature. Love to all Harsha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2000 Report Share Posted October 19, 2000 hariH OM! i've been busy lately and was about to comment on this popular misconception but harshaji beat me to the punch! i agree with every single word. namaskaar Harsha wrote: > > The question of the importance of celibacy was brought up on the Advaitin. I > will pass this on to as well. > > The Sage of Arunachala was often asked questions on celibacy. Ramana > Maharshi invariably taught that physical celibacy was not True Brahmacharya > (To Be With the Self) and gave many examples to demonstrate his points. In > his court deposition regarding the Ashram will, he spoke of Self-Realized > beings who were married and had children. I recall the Sage giving one > example of a Self-Realized Sadhu who engaged in sexual relations with a > dancing girl and had a child by her and was therefore perceived as a fake by > others. > > As Sunderji has noted, the word celibacy is a poor term to convey the > concept of Brahamacharya (Being with the Self). The practice of celibacy or > regulation of sexual conduct plays a role in Kundalini Yoga. For advanced > Yogis, in whom Kundalini is rising to higher centers and Sahasarara, > celibacy or good regulation of sexual conduct allows maintaining certain > Samadhis for longer periods. However, celibacy is not the only factor. > Another factor is regulation of sleep. All of this can be known only through > meditative experience and not through reading books. > > Celibacy, therefore, may play a critical role for many people at various > junctures of their spiritual life. Any absolute statements about physical > celibacy should be viewed with caution. They are not consistent with the > highest teachings and are often made by individuals who do not have deep > experiential understanding of the Yogic and Tantric paths and the Samadhis > and states they lead to. > > For those on the Jnana path, and the devotees of the Sage of Arunachala, the > whole issue of physical celibacy is moot as the practice relates to the > body. Brahmacharya is not a practice. It indicates living in the Self. > > Ultimately, instead of listening to the "experts" (who on closer examination > may turn out to be novices), one with deep and abiding faith in the Heart, > the Inner Guru, rests in His Own Nature. > > Love to all > Harsha > > > Discussion of Sankara's Advaita Vedanta Philosophy of nonseparablity of Atman and Brahman. > Advaitin List Archives available at: http://www.eScribe.com/culture/advaitin/ > For Temporary stoppage of your Email, send a blank email to <advaitin-nomail > > To resume normal delivery of Email, send a blank email to <advaitin-normal > > To receive email digest (one per day) send a blank email to <advaitin-digest > > To to advaitin list, send a blank email to <advaitin-> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2000 Report Share Posted October 19, 2000 I am writing below Swami Vivekananda's obeservations on the practise of celibacy and the context of Raja Yoga which Sri Jayji mentioned. Swamiji says , "The yogis say that part of the human energy which is expressed as sex energy, in sexual thought, when checked and controlled, easily becomes changed into ojas and as the muladhara guides these, the yogi pays particular attention to that center. He tries to take up all his sexual energy and convert it to ojas. It is only the chaste man or woman who can make the ojas rise and store it in the brain. That is why chastity has always been considered as the highest virtue. A man feels that if he is unchaste, spirituality goes away, he loses mental vigour and moral stamina. That is why in all religions which have produced spiritual giants you will always find ABSOLUTE CHASTITY insited upon. That is why monks came into existence, giving up marriage. There must be perfect chastity in thought , word and deed, without it the practise of Raja Yoga is dangerous and may lead to insanity. " - The complete works of Swami Vivekananda Vol I. Doubtless, Brahmacharya means being established in Brahman. In Sanskrit the meaning of Brahmachari is Brahmani Charati iti Brahmachari. One who follows the path to Brahman is a Brahmachari. Sri Ramana Maharshi also observes (Talks with Ramana Maharshi) that practise of celibacy is an aid to Self Realization. Further in the Bhagavatam it is mentioned , "The practise of continence except for the purpose of procreation, the performance of regular obligations of life with purity and contentment and kindness to animals are amongst the duties of a householder". Regards, Anand ------------------ Get free personalized email at http://www.iname.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 19, 2000 Report Share Posted October 19, 2000 anand_natarajan [anand_natarajan] I am writing below Swami Vivekananda's obeservations on the practise of celibacy and the context of Raja Yoga which Sri Jayji mentioned. Swamiji says , "The yogis say that part of the human energy which is expressed as sex energy, in sexual thought, when checked and controlled, easily becomes changed into ojas and as the muladhara guides these, the yogi pays particular attention to that center. He tries to take up all his sexual energy and convert it to ojas. It is only the chaste man or woman who can make the ojas rise and store it in the brain. That is why chastity has always been considered as the highest virtue. A man feels that if he is unchaste, spirituality goes away, he loses mental vigour and moral stamina. That is why in all religions which have produced spiritual giants you will always find ABSOLUTE CHASTITY insited upon. That is why monks came into existence, giving up marriage. There must be perfect chastity in thought , word and deed, without it the practise of Raja Yoga is dangerous and may lead to insanity. " - The complete works of Swami Vivekananda Vol I. _____________________ Given the strength of Swamiji's statement, it is indeed our good fortune that the practitioners and advocates of Raja Yoga on this list are exceptions to the above mentioned rule and appear to have maintained their sanity quite well. :-). Love to all Harsha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 20, 2000 Report Share Posted October 20, 2000 namaste. The discussion in this thread is quite interesting. A small appeal, however. The discussants seem to be using the words celibacy, chastity and brahmacarya quite interchangeably. I am sure all know that these words have quite distinct and different meanings. I do hope that the discussants use the appropriate word in conveying their thoughts. Regards Gummuluru Murthy ---- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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