Celibacy & spirituality

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

 

Those were tremendous inputs by Selvaratnam, Pieter and Vinay. To others I say

that one should hold on to the highest ideals whatever the difficulties. In the

corporate world too we see that CEO's who succeed aim for the sky from the very

beginning.

 

Regarding ladies and spiritual life we have the nuns of the Sarada Math as

examples who live strict celibate lives. The last time I visited their

headquarters at Dakshineswar my mother commented, " See how radiant these ladies

look, one would not achieve such beauty even with daily visit to the beauty

parlours. How calm they seem and the peace they radiate! " Need I say more?

 

Traditionally it is believed in India that the housewives derive all the

benefits of their husbands spiritual efforts. Today while the husbands are less

keen on spirituality it is the ladies of the house that have kept the daily

routine of pujas and festivals alive. Clearly they understand the need for God

better, given the natural qualities of piety and compassion they possess. Do we

not feel the play of the same positive forces in the mails of our sisters in

this group?

 

Jay, I personally don't believe that a person can progress very far in the

spiritual field without celibacy. For the sincere seeker passions drop off as he

nears his goal and becomes more and more absorbed in his Ishta. Sexual activity

or thoughts become very painful for him when that happens. Once purity is

experienced impurity becomes very bitter indeed. Moreover the subtle nuances of

the scriptures and the experiences of the realised ones cannot be comprehended

without exceptional mental clarity, a result of strict brahmacharya.

 

However Sri Ramakrishna has been a wee bit liberal to his householder devotees,

" You can enjoy once in a while, " he used to joke at times, " playfulness with

ones own wife is not a sin " . But to those disciples, householder or otherwise,

who were very close to him, he was never heard to yield. The following

conversation between M, a householder, and Thakur (from my memory) would make

it clear;

 

SRK : " One should never give in to passions " .

M : " What if the wife objects? What if she threatens to commit suicide? "

SRK : " Let her!, It is better for her to die than become a thorn in her husbands

life "

M sat stunned, thoughtful and unable to speak.

SRK: (A little mellowed) " If the devotee is sincere, all obstacles are removed,

all are appeased " .

M appeared relieved.

 

I would request those who speak against celibacy to try to sincerely practice it

for some time. After they get a taste of the benefits, (less worries and

tensions, calmness, ability to tackle difficult situations, improved memory) I

am sure they will change their views.

 

Let us not leave everything to fate and God. That was never Swamiji's advice.

With self effort and the resultant grace one can change everything. The whole

world is hankering for peace. Peace never comes with the enjoyment of desires,

running after sex, wealth, name and fame. Renunciation is the way to peace. If

you continually repeat the word Gita, it becomes Tyagi, Tyagi, Tyagi. Renounce!

Renounce!! Renounce!!!

 

Sincere Love & Regards to all my friends,

Jagannath.

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Haribol!

I have tried celibacy in marriage as taught. My wife

now suspects either (1) I'm not interested in her

anymore (She feels sex is required for a woman to be

appreciated) or (2) I'm cheating on her. And in a

sense I am, since my secret lover is God.

-Stephen

 

> Their prophets discouraged celibate life-styles.

> Then we have the

> uncompromising teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

> promoting celibacy:-

> 'Marriage should not be used as a licence for lust -

> after the birth of one

> or two children the couple should revert to a

> celibate life-style.'

 

 

=====

What man makes let man prescribe. What God makes let God prescribe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Stephen,

 

The swami at our Vedanta center has said that celibacy should be

practiced only when both partners agree. Is your spiritual practice

of celibacy causing your wife suffering? As contradictory as it

might seem, sex could be practiced with dispassion or as a selfless

offering. ew

 

 

On 5/24/04, you wrote:

 

>Haribol!

>I have tried celibacy in marriage as taught. My wife

>now suspects either (1) I'm not interested in her

>anymore (She feels sex is required for a woman to be

>appreciated) or (2) I'm cheating on her. And in a

>sense I am, since my secret lover is God.

>-Stephen

>

>> Their prophets discouraged celibate life-styles.

>> Then we have the

>> uncompromising teachings of Sri Ramakrishna

>> promoting celibacy:-

>> 'Marriage should not be used as a licence for lust -

>> after the birth of one

>> or two children the couple should revert to a

>> celibate life-style.'

>

>

>=====

>What man makes let man prescribe. What God makes let God prescribe.

Domains ñ Claim yours for only $14.70/year

>http://smallbusiness.promotions./offer

>

>

>

>Sri Ramakrishnaya Namah

>Vivekananda Centre London

>http://www.vivekananda.co.uk

>