Message of Brahmacharya

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Brahmacharya is purity in thought, word and deed. Brahmacharya

includes the control of not only the sex or reproductive Indriya but

also other Indriyas. This is the definition of Brahmacharya in a

broad sense. Brahmacharya is of two kinds viz., physical and mental.

Physical is control of the body and mental is the control of evil

thoughts. In mental Brahmacharya even a lustful thought will never

enter the mind. Freedom from all sexual thoughts in waking as well as

dreaming states is strict Brahmacharya.

 

The vital energy, the Veerya, which supports your life, is a great

treasure for you. It is the quintessence of blood. Brahmacharya is

truly a precious jewel. It is the most effective medicine or nectar

which destroys diseases, decay and death. This Atma or immortal soul

is verily the nature of Brahmacharya. Atma resides in Brahmacharya.

 

Veerya is the essence of life, thought, intelligence and

consciousness. When the Veerya is once lost, it can never be recouped

in your lifetime by your taking any amount of Badam, nervine tonics,

milk, cream, Makaradhvaja, etc. This fluid, when preserved carefully,

serves as a master-key for you to open the doors of elysian bliss or

the realms of God or Atma and for all sorts of higher achievements in

life. By Brahmacharya alone the Rishis of yore have conquered death

and attained the immortal abode of joy and bliss.

 

You cannot have health and spiritual life without Brahmacharya.

Brahmacharya is the key-note of success in every walk of life.

Brahmacharya serves as a gateway for bliss beyond. It opens the door

of Moksha (emancipation). Siddhis and Riddhis (psychic powers) roll

under the feet of a Brahmacharin. Who can describe the majesty and

glory of a Brahmachari? Brahmacharya or spotless chastity is the best

of panaceas. There is nothing in this world that cannot be attained

by a celibate. He can move the whole world.

 

Sensuality destroys life, lustre, strength, vitality, memory, wealth,

fame, holiness and devotion to the Supreme. Death is hastened by

letting out vital energy from the body. Life is saved and prolonged

by preserving it. Those who have lost much of their Veerya or the

vital energy become easily irritable and lazy. They easily succumb to

any disease. They meet with premature death.

 

Have you realised, my dear friend, the importance and glory of

Brahmacharya? Have you recognised the true significance of

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

precious energy that is acquired through various means with great

difficulty is wasted daily?

 

What do we find in these days? Men, women, boys and girls are drowned

in the ocean of impure thoughts, lustful desires and little sensual

pleasures. It is highly deplorable indeed. Many college students have

personally come to me and narrated their pitiable lives of gloom and

depression brought about by heavy loss of semen through unnatural

means. Persons are physically, mentally and morally debilitated

because of the want of Brahmacharya or because of wasting the seminal

power. Such persons become easily irritable for little things. They

fall a victim to various diseases and premature death. I appeal to

the parents, the teachers and the professors to instruct and guide

their children in Brahmacharya at the proper time and save them.

Through them the country is saved. Youths are the future hope of the

country. If they are inspired the whole nation is inspired and

elevated.

 

It is quite possible for a man to practise celibacy albeit there are

various sorts of temptations and distractions. A well-disciplined

life, study of Scriptures, Satsanga, Japa, Dhyana, Sattvic diet,

daily self-analysis, practice of sadachara, and the three kinds of

Tapas and such other spiritual discipline, pave a long way in the

attainment of this end.

 

The practice of celibacy is not attended with any danger or any

disease or any undesirable result, such as the various sorts

of 'complex' which are wrongly attributed by the Western

psychologists to it. They have no practical knowledge of the subject

on hand. They have got a wrong ill-founded imagination that the

ungratified sex-energy assumes various forms of complexes in

disguise, such as, touch-phobia, etc. It is a morbid state of mind

due to excessive anger, hatred, jealousy, worry and depression

brought about by various causes.

 

Householders who are moderate in their sexual enjoyment, who are free

from animal passion, who are desirous of progeny to keep up the line

only, are also Brahmacharins. This is also Brahmacharya Vrata. As

soon as a son or daughter is born, the wife becomes his mother.

 

Do not look at obscene pictures. Do not speak vulgar words. Do not

read novels that excite passion and produce ignoble, undesirable

sentiments in the mind. Shun bad company. Do not go to Cinemas. Give

up onions, garlic, hot curries, chutnies and spiced dishes. Take

wholesome, bland Sattvic food. Transmute the sex-energy into

spiritual energy (Ojas) by sublime thoughts, practice of Japa, Kirtan

(singing God's Name), Vichara or Atmic enquiry, Pranayama (restraint

of breath), Sirshasana, Sarvangasana, study of Gita, Upanishads and

other religious books. Have Satsanga-association with Mahatmas,

Yogins and Sadhus. You will be established in Brahmacharya. There

will be sublimation of sex-energy.

 

Glory to Brahmacharya! Glory to Brahmacharins who are veritable gods

on earth! May you all attain immortality by leading a life of

Brahmacharya or ideal divine life while remaining in the world!!

 

(Source: Essence of Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda)