THE GLORY OF BRAHMACHARYA

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8. THE GLORY OF BRAHMACHARYA

There cannot be any language without vowels. You cannot draw a

picture without a canvas or a wall. You cannot write anything without

paper. Even so, you cannot have health and spiritual life without

Brahmacharya. Brahmacharya brings material progress and psychic

advancement. It is the basis for morality. It is the basis for

eternal life. It is a spring flower that exhales immortality from its

petals. It is the substratum for a life of peace in Atman. It is the

firm support for Brahma-Nishtha, which is eagerly longed for by

sages, aspirants and Yogic students. It is the shield for waging war

against the internal Asuras—lust, anger and greed. It serves as a

gateway to the bliss beyond. It opens the door of Moksha. It

contributes to perennial joy, to the uninterrupted and undecaying

bliss. Even Rishis, Devas, Gandharvas and Kinnaras serve at the feet

of a true Brahmachari. Even Isvara applies to his forehead the dust

of the feet of a genuine celibate. Brahmacharya is the only key to

open the Sushumna and awaken Kundalini. It brings glory, fame, virtue

and Mana-Pratishtha. The eight Siddhis and the nine Riddhis roll

under the feet of the true celibate. They are ever ready to obey his

command. The Lord of Death flees from him. Who can describe the

magnanimity, majesty and glory of a true Brahmachari!

 

Brahmacharyena Tapasa Deva Mrityumupagnata. The Vedas declare that by

Brahmacharya and penance the Devas have conquered death. How did

Hanuman become a Mahavir? It is with this weapon of Brahmacharya that

he acquired unsurpassable strength and valour. The great Bhishma, the

grandfather of the Pandavas and the Kauravas, conquered death by

Brahmacharya. It is only Lakshman, the ideal Brahmachari, who put

down Meghanada, the man of inestimable prowess, the conqueror of the

three worlds, the son of Ravana. Even Lord Rama could not face him.

It is through the force of Brahmacharya that Lakshman was able to

defeat that invincible Meghanada. The valour and greatness of emperor

Prithviraj was due to the strength of Brahmacharya. There is nothing

in the three worlds that cannot be attained by a Brahmachari. The

Rishis of yore knew fully well the value of Brahmacharya and that is

the reason why they sang in beautiful verses about the glory of

Brahmacharya.

 

Just as the oil comes up in a wick and burns with glowing light, so

also, the Veerya or semen flows up by the practice of Yoga Sadhana

and is converted into Tejas or Ojas. The Brahmachari shines with

Brahmic aura in his face. Brahmacharya is the bright light that

shines in the house of the human body. It is the blossomed flower of

life around which the bees of strength, patience, knowledge, purity

and Dhriti wander about humming hither and thither. In other words,

he who observes Brahmacharya will be endowed with the above

qualities. The scriptures declare emphatically:

 

"Ayustejo Balam Veeryam Prajna Sreescha Yashastatha

Punyamcha Sat-Priyatvamcha Vardhate Brahmacharyaya"

 

By the practice of Brahmacharya, longevity, glory, strength, vigour,

knowledge, wealth, undying fame, virtues and devotion to the truth

increase.

 

Secret of health and longevity

Pure air, pure water, wholesome food, physical exercise, outdoor

games, walking with brisk steps, rowing, swimming, light games like

tennis—all contribute to the maintenance of good health, strength and

a high standard of vitality. There are indeed many ways to gain

health and strength. These ways are doubtless indispensably

requisite. But, Brahmacharya is the most important of all. Without

Brahmacharya, all your exercises are nothing. It is the master-key

for opening the realms of health and happiness. It is the corner-

stone of the edifice of bliss and unalloyed felicity. It is the only

specific that keeps up true manliness.

 

The preservation of semen is the secret of health and longevity, and

of all success in the physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual

planes. He who has even a little bit of Brahmacharya will tide over a

crisis of any disease very easily. If it takes a month for an

ordinary man for recovery, this man will be completely all right in a

week.

 

The Srutis declare a full life or age of one hundred years for a man.

This you can attain only by the establishment of Brahmacharya. There

are instances of men who have attained longevity and intellectual

powers despite their loose, immoral ways. But they would have been

still more powerful and brilliant had they possessed a good character

and continence as well.

 

After Dhanvantari had taught all the details about Ayurveda to his

disciples, they enquired about the keynote of this medical science.

The Master replied, "I tell you that Brahmacharya is truly a precious

jewel. It is the one most effective medicine—nectar indeed—which

destroys diseases, decay and death. For attaining peace, brightness,

memory, knowledge, health and Self-realization, one should observe

Brahmacharya, which is the highest Dharma. Brahmacharya is the

highest knowledge; Brahmacharya is the greatest strength. Of the

nature of Brahmacharya is verily this Atman and in Brahmacharya It

resides. Saluting Brahmacharya first, the cases beyond cure, I cure.

Aye, Brahmacharya can undo all the inauspicious signs."

 

Practice of Brahmacharya gives good health, inner strength, peace of

mind and long life. It invigorates the mind and the nerves. It helps

to conserve physical and mental energy. It augments memory, will

force and brain power. It bestows tremendous strength, vigour and

vitality. Strength and fortitude are obtained.

 

The eye is the window of the mind. If the mind is pure and calm, the

eye also is calm and steady. He who is established in Brahmacharya

will have lustrous eyes, a sweet voice and a beautiful complexion.

 

Celibacy promotes concentration

By the establishment of continence, vigour is obtained. The Yogi gets

Siddhi or perfection by attaining perfect mental and physical

Brahmacharya. Brahmacharya helps him in gaining divine knowledge and

other Siddhis. When there is purity, the rays of the mind are not

dissipated. Focussing of the mind becomes easy. Concentration and

purity go together. Although a sage talks a few words only, a deep

impression is produced in the minds of the hearers. This is due to

his Ojas Sakti, which is conserved by the preservation of semen and

its transmutation.

 

A true Brahmachari in thought, word and deed has wonderful thought-

power. He can move the world. If you develop strict celibacy, Vichara

Sakti and Dharana Sakti will develop. Vichara Sakti is the power of

enquiry. Dharan'a Sakti is the power of grasping and holding the

Truth. If a man persistently refuses to yield to his lower nature and

remains a strict celibate, the seminal energy is deflected upwards to

the brain and is stored up as Ojas Sakti. Thereby the power of the

intellect is intensified to a remarkable degree. The intellect

becomes sharp and clear by continence. Continence increases

infinitely the power of retentive memory. The strict celibate has

keen and acute memory even in old age.

 

A man who has the power of Brahmacharya can turn out immense mental,

physical and intellectual work. He has a magnetic aura around his

face. He can influence people by speaking just a few words or even by

his very presence. He can control anger and move the whole world.

Look at Mahatma Gandhi! He had acquired this power by constant and

careful practice of Ahimsa, Satyam and Brahmacharya—non-violence,

truth and celibacy. He influenced the world through this power alone.

Through Brahmacharya and Brahmacharya alone can you get physical,

mental and spiritual advancement in life.

 

It is worth repeating that a true Brahmachari possesses tremendous

energy, a clear brain, gigantic will-power, bold understanding,

retentive memory and good Vichara Sakti. Swami Dayananda stopped the

carnage of a Maharaja. He broke the sword with his hands. This was

due to his power of Brahmacharya. Jesus, Sankara, Jnana Deva and

Samarth Ramdas were all Brahmacharins.

 

Have you realized, my dear friends, the importance of Brahmacharya?

Have you recognised, my dear brothers, the true significance and

glory of Brahmacharya? How can you expect to be strong and healthy if

the energy that is acquired through various means with great

difficulty and at great price is wasted daily? It is impossible to be

strong and healthy unless males and females, boys and girls, try

their level best to keep up Brahmacharya or the vow of celibacy.

 

Even among electrons, there are bachelor electrons and married

electrons. Married electrons manifest in pairs. Bachelor electrons

exist singly. It is these bachelor electrons only that create

magnetic force. The power of Brahmacharya is seen in electrons also.

Friend, will you learn some lessons from these electrons? Will you

practice Brahmacharya and develop power and spiritual force? Nature

is your best teacher and spiritual guide.

 

Through Brahmacharya get over the miseries of mundane life and attain

health, strength, peace of mind, endurance, bravery, material

progress, psychic advancement and immortality. One who has a perfect

control over the sexual energy attains powers unobtainable by any

other means. Therefore, dissipate not thy energy in sensual

pleasures. Conserve thy energy. Do noble deeds and practice

meditation. You will soon become a superman. You will commune with

God and attain Divinity.

 

 

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