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That World of Brahman belongs to those who realise It by means of

continence (brahmacharya)-for them there is freedom in all the worlds.

 

Sama Veda, Chandogya Upanishad

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In the discussion that is taking place on the list

we can see two aspects that need to be better understood.

 

(a) Is it really the preservation of physical 'semen' that is important

or is that just the physical consequence of the severe mental discipline

one imposes? Women cannot preserve 'semen' and yet they too

can be firmly established in celibacy.

 

(b) Can one really gain spiritual experience without celibacy?

Swami Ashokananda says something like: The Sex act is so

physical and so intense that it strongly shackles us to the idea

that we are the body. While spirituality is the process of

distancing ourselves form this idea of being the body/mind

complex. We are the spirit and that is something that has to be

experienced. While the sex act confirms to us that we are the body.

 

jay

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Dear Friends,

 

--- Vivekananda Centre <vivekananda

wrote:

 

SNIP

 

> In the discussion that is taking place on the list

> we can see two aspects that need to be better

> understood.

>

> (a) Is it really the preservation of physical

> 'semen' that is important

 

SNIP

 

> (b) Can one really gain spiritual experience without

> celibacy?

 

One can most definitely " gain " spiritual experience

without the practice of celibacy. I know this for a

fact. There is a " spiritual essence or energy that is

present in the sexual fluids. And it is the power of

this " essence " that allows us to actually experience

the Supreme Brahman, hence the presence of the

" lingam/yoni " in nearly every Hindu Temple.

 

But it is not necessary to be celibate to attain this

experience. This I know. In fact, natural functions,

shouldn't be prohibited; but moderated. What is

necessary is to discard rules, ideas, and

preconceptions and take up whole hearted, unwavering

devotion to your spiritual ideal. And this devotion

needs to be accompanied by effective spiritual

practice. Cry to God with a longing heart and you

will most definitely experience the object of your

devotion.

 

SNIP

 

Warmest regards,

 

michael

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Om Namah Sivaya

 

 

Dear Michael

 

You said :

" There is a " spiritual essence or energy that is

present in the sexual fluids. And it is the power of

this " essence " that allows us to actually experience

the Supreme Brahman, hence the presence of the

" lingam/yoni " in nearly every Hindu Temple. "

 

 

You are definitely wrong here.If you really what to

understand the real reasons why we worship

Siva-Linga, please read the followings:

 

 

"

The Siva-Linga

 

A Symbol Which Points To An Inference

 

The popular belief among foreigners is that the

Siva-Linga represents the phallus or the virile organ,

the emblem of the generative power or principle in

nature. This is not only a serious mistake, but a

grave blunder. In the post-Vedic period, the Linga

became symbolical of the generative power of Lord

Siva. Linga is the differentiating mark. It is

certainly not the sex mark. You will find in the Linga

Purana:

 

Pradhanam Prakritim Tatcha Yadahur-lingamuttamam

Gandhavarnarasairhinam Sabda-sparsadi-varjitam.

 

The foremost Linga which is primary and is devoid of

smell, colour, taste, hearing, touch, etc., is spoken

of as Prakriti (Nature).

 

Linga means a mark, in Sanskrit. It is a symbol which

points to an inference. When you see a big flood in a

river, you infer that there had been heavy rains the

previous day. When you see smoke, you infer that there

is fire. This vast world of countless forms is a Linga

of the omnipotent Lord. The Siva-Linga is a symbol of

Lord Siva. When you look at the Linga, your mind is at

once elevated and you begin to think of the Lord.

 

Lord Siva is really formless. He has no form of His

own; and yet, all forms are His forms. All forms are

pervaded by Lord Siva. Every form is the form or Linga

of Lord Siva.

 

A Powerful Aid To Concentration

 

There is a mysterious power or indescribable Sakti in

the Linga to induce concentration of the mind. Just as

the mind is focussed easily in crystal gazing, so also

the mind attains one-pointedness when it looks at the

Linga. That is the reason why the ancient Rishis of

India and the seers have prescribed Linga for being

installed in the temples of Lord Siva.

 

Linga Represents The Formless Siva

 

Siva-Linga speaks to you in unmistakable language of

silence: “I am one without a second. I am formless.”

Pure, pious souls only can understand this language.

 

A curious, passionate, impure foreigner of little

understanding or intelligence says sarcastically: “Oh!

The Hindus worship the phallus or sex-organ. They are

ignorant people. They have no philosophy.” When a

foreigner tries to learn the Tamil or Hindi language,

he first tries to pick up some vulgar words. This is

his curiosity-nature. Even so, the curious foreigner

tries to find out some defect in the worship of

symbols. Linga is only the outward symbol of the

formless being, Lord Siva, who is the indivisible,

all-pervading, eternal, auspicious, ever-pure,

immortal essence of this vast universe, who is the

undying soul seated in the chambers of your heart, who

is your Indweller, innermost Self or Atman and who is

identical with the Supreme Brahman.

 

Sphatikalinga—A Symbol Of The Nirguna Brahman

 

Sphatikalinga is also a symbol of Lord-Siva. This is

prescribed for Aradhana or worship of Lord Siva. It is

made up of quartz. It has no colour of its own, but

takes on the colour of the substances which come in

contact with it. It represents the Nirguna Brahman or

the attribute-less Supreme Self, or the formless and

attributeless Siva.

 

The Mystic Sakti In The Block Of Stone

 

For a sincere devotee, the Linga is not a block of

stone. It is all radiant Tejas or Chaitanya. The Linga

talks to him, makes him shed profuse tears, produces

horripilation and melting of heart, raises him above

body-consciousness, and helps to commune with the Lord

and attain Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Lord Rama worshipped

the Siva-Linga at Ramesvar. Ravana, a learned scholar,

worshipped the golden Linga. What a lot of mystic

Sakti there should be in the Linga!

 

May you all attain the formless Siva through the

worship of the Linga, the symbol of Lord Siva which

helps concentration of mind and which serves as a prop

for the mind to lean upon, in the beginning, for the

neophytes. "

 

By Sri Swami Sivananda

 

 

 

 

Sri Ramakrishnaya Namah

Vivekananda Centre London

http://www.vivekananda.co.uk

 

 

 

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This was an excellent explanation of Sivalinga. Unfortunately, it's not only

Europeans who have misunderstood the meaning of this very important symbol in

the Hindu religion, but Indians too, even some among them priests, have

accepted their viewpoint. Could the sender of message tell me who exactly this

" Sri

Swami Sivananda " is, and where does this reference occur?

Umesh

 

 

 

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Ramakrishna , umeshgulati@a... wrote:

> Could the sender of message tell me who exactly this " Sri

> Swami Sivananda " is, and where does this reference occur?

> Umesh

 

Umesh,

 

Not sure if someone answered your question or not, but check out

these two sites for more info on the great Swami.

 

http://www.divinelifesociety.org

http://www.dlshq.org/home.html

 

There is a wealth of information on the Swami and his ashram.

 

Jai Ma!

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