Brahmacharya
The human form of life, especially male
form of life is very rare and it is the best suited form for the path of self
realization. Who can afford to miss this golden opportunity to go back home
back to Godhead ? when we are youthful, we are like a freshly blossomed rose
flower with due drops and our life can be completely perfected by utilizing our
youthful body, fresh mind and powerful speech in Krishna's service thoroughly.
Anything in this world has a nature to deteriorate. So our youthful bodies will
also gradually wither away by the power of inevitable time.
When we are young brahmacaris, it is
important to know how we should maintain purity of thought, word and deed so
that we can use this useful instrument - human body to the best efficiency.
Given below are some interesting and important points or information that I
have gathered, which, I am sure will inspire those who are interested in
leading the life of a sincere brahmacari life in Krishna consciousness :
PRESENT
DAY DEGRADATION
Man with his boasted intellect, has to
learn lessons from birds and animals. Even animals have more self-control than
men. Lions, elephants, bulls and other powerful animals have better
self-control than men. Lions cohabit only once in a year. After conception, the
female animals will never allow the male animals to approach them till the
young ones are weaned and they themselves become healthy and strong. Man only
violates the laws of nature and consequently suffers from innumerable diseases.
He has degenerated to a level far lower than that of animals in this respect.
Even the most virulent poison is no
poison when compared to lust. The former defiles one body only, whereas the
latter adulterates many bodies in successive births. People talk of
brahmacarya, but practical men are rare indeed. The path becomes smooth for a
man of iron determination, patience and perseverance. Mere idle talk is of no
use whatsoever. We have had enough of idle talkers in the field and on the
platforms. Example is better than precept. There is no victory more glorious
than mastery over our own mind and senses. When we are self-controlled, we
sleep peacefully and awake enthusiastically. We know happiness and contentment.
Self-mastery means conquering the body and subduing the restless mind. Until we
control the body and mind, we are subject to the slavery of cruel taskmasters,
such as lust and ignorance. He who rules his own mind and senses has no need
for crown. He is a real superman. It is harder to control oneself than to rule
the world. Indeed, he who has conquered himself has already conquered the
world. To be self controlled we must be well established in renunciation.
Temptations must be resisted, evil thoughts subdued, and base desires rejected.
Only then will we have peace and joy.
WORKING
OF THE SEX IMPULSE
The attraction towards women in men is
born of Rajas. That unknown attraction and happiness in their company is the
seed of the sex impulse. This attraction, which is like a bubble in the
beginning, later on assumes the form of a formidable, uncontrollable wave of
strong passion or sexual appetite. Beware. Generate the spiritual wave of
devotion through Japa, Satsanga, Vichara and kill this attraction in the bud.
Lust is powerful. It carries a flowery
bow equipped with five arrows, namely,
Mohana, Stambhana, Unmadana, Soshana and
Tapana - fascination, stupefaction, intoxication, emaciation and burning.
Mohana -
one arrow causes fascination in young
men when they see a
beautiful form.
Stambana -
Another arrests their attention
Unmadana -
The third intoxicates them.
Soshana -
The fourth arrow causes intense
attraction towards the form.
Tapana -
The fifth arrow inflames and burns their
heart. It pierces
the cardiac chambers deeply. No one on
this earth, nay,
in all the three worlds, has the power
to resist the
potential influence of these arrows.
Cupid makes intellectual persons, great
orators, ministers and research scholars, doctors and barristers as pleasure
deer or pet dogs in the laps of young ladies.
A sexual act produces a SAMSKARA
(impression in the subconscious mind or
CHITTA)
This Samskara raises a VRITTI (thought
wave in the mind)
The Vritti again causes a Samskara.
Enjoyment thickens the VASANAS.
From the bed of Samskaras and Vasanas in
the mind, emanates KALPANA
(imagination) through SMRITI (memory).
Then comes ATTACHMENT.
.Even in a blind man who is a celibate
who has not seen the face of a woman, the sexual impulse is very strong Why?
This is due to the force of Samskaras or impressions of previous births which
are imbedded in the subconscious mind. Whatever you do, whatever you think, are
all lodged or printed or indelibly impressed in the layers of the Chitta or
subconscious mind. These impressions can be burnt only by Krishna
consciousness. When the sexual Vasana fills the whole mind and body, the
Samskaras assume the form of big Vrntis or wolf and torment the poor blind man.
It is easy to control the conscious
mind. But it is very difficult to control the subconscious mind. You may be a
brahmacari or a sannyasi. Mark how the mind conducts itself in dreams. The sex
impulses, ambitions and low desires are all ingrained in you and deep-rooted in
the subconscious mind. Destroy these dirty impressions by sincere chanting. A
man who is established in mental Brahmacharya can never have even a single
thought of evil in dreams. He can never have a bad dream. There is a lack of
VICHARA or VIVEKA in dream. That is the reason why you get bad dreams, even
though you are pure in the Jagrati state through the power of VIVEKA and VICHARA.
When the impurities emerge from the
subconscious mind and come to the surface of the conscious mind with formidable
force, do not try to resist them. Do not think of evil qualities much. Just
repeat the Hare Krishna mantra and try to hear it attentively. There is no
other way, no other way, no other way.
You may grow old, your hair may turn
gray, but your mind is ever young. The capacity may vanish, but the craving
remains. Cravings are the real seeds of birth. These craving-seeds give rise to
Sankalpa and action. The wheel of samsara is kept revolving by these cravings
Nip them in the bud. By sincere devotion through chanting, root out these
craving-seeds which are laid deep. You will have to dig them out properly in
various corners and burn them beyond resurrection.
How To Gauge Your Own Mental Purity
· If a feeling arises in the mind of a
brahmacari,
· The company of a woman during times of
ailment
· If there is a desire to talk, play and
joke with her,
· If there is a desire to took at young
beautiful girls,
· If the look is unholy and unchaste,
· If there is a desire in the mind when
there is pain in the body for touch by the hands of females,
Remember that lust is still lurking in
his mind. There is deep sexual craving. This should be destroyed. The old thief
is still hiding. Such a Brahmacari must be very careful. He is still within the
danger zone. He has not attained the state of purity. Even in dreams there
should not arise in the mind any craving for the touch of a female and the
company of a woman. One's purity can be gauged by one's experiences in dream.
If one is entirely free from any sexual thought in dreams, he has reached the
state of purity. Self-analysis and introspection are indispensable requisites
to determine the state of one's mind.
Eradication Of Lust Is No Easy Task
Just as the fox hides itself within the
bush, so also, this lust hides itself in the substratum and corners of the
mind. You can detect its presence only if you are vigilant. Intense self
examination is very necessary. Just as powerful enemies can be conquered only
if you attack them from all sides, so also, you can keep the powerful senses
under control only if you attack them from all sides, from within and from
without, from above and from beneath. Chanting, hearing, rendering menial
service, singing bhajans, dancing in harinam, taking darshans, discussing in a
assembly of devotees - all should be regularly done to redirect the lust from
matter to Krishna.
Safeguard yourself against the error or
foolishly imagining that you have succeeded in getting rid of lust by the mere
fact of having lived a single life for a number of years or experiencing a
little feeling of serenity or purity. Temptation or Maya may overcome you at
any moment. Eternal vigilance and rigorous Sadhana are very essential. Just as
a machine-gun is necessary to kilt a powerful enemy, so also, constant,
vigorous, powerful Sadhana is necessary to annihilate this powerful . You must
not be puffed up with pride for your little achievement in celibacy. If you are
put to test, you will hopelessly fail.
It is easy to tame a wild tiger or a
lion or an elephant. It is easy to play with the cobra. It is easy to walk over
the fire. It is easy to devour fire and drink the waters of the ocean. It is
easy to uproot the Himalayas. It is easy to get victory in the battlefield. But
it is difficult to eradicate lust. Lust cannot be conquered except by the grace
of the Lord. Mere human effort alone will not suffice. The divine grace is
needed. God helps those who help themselves. Constant Japa and meditation for a
long period are necessary to direct the sex energy into the spiritual channel.
Extreme patience, constant vigilance, perseverance and rigorous Sadhana are
necessary to eradicate the sexual impulses and attain perfect purity in
thought, word and deed.
Brahmacarya or purity can be attained
only through constant striving. It cannot be achieved in a day or a week. It is
doubtlessly powerful and deadly enemy. But your most powerful friend is the
Lord's Name : Chant Hare Krishna and be happy.
A rebellion of the sexual impulses takes
place when you attempt to control them. Constant Japa meditation for a long
period is necessary to direct the sex energy into the spiritual channel.
Extreme patience, constant vigilance, perseverance and rigorous Sadhana are
necessary to eradicate sexual impulses and attain perfect purity in thought,
word and deed.
LUST IN MEN AND WOMEN
A mild desire becomes a strong passion
by frequent repetition or frequent enjoyment. The whole mango tree with all its
branches, leaves and fruits is contained in a subtle form in the seed. It takes
time to manifestation. Even so, the Vasana of lust lurks in the mind when you
are a boy, manifests at 18, fills the .whole body at 25, work havoc from 25 to
45 and then gradually declines. Various forms of wrong-doing and mischief are
committed by human beings between 25 to 45. This is the most critical period of
life.
Women are more emotional; males are more
rational. Though females are more passionate, yet they have more power of
restraint than males. After enticing men, they keep quiet. The real culprit is
man only. He is aggressive. It is he who tastes the 'forbidden fruit' first. He
goes out of control and loses his intellect, power of understanding and
judgment when he is under the grip of passion and becomes the spotting lap-dog
of woman. When once man falls into the trap or net spread out by woman, there
is no escape for him. The scorpion has the venom in its tail, the cobra in its
fangs, the mosquito in its saliva : woman has poisoned arrows in her eyes.
There are tongues and telegraphic instruments in the eyes of young passionate
ladies. They send their love shafts and love messages through their smiling
glances to passionate young men and thereby allure and bewitch them. Those
young men who have no discrimination are excited by those love messages and
become a prey to lust. They become pleasure-deer or sporting lap-dogs of
ladies, though they possess academic education and hold high position and
title. What a shame ! Reason, will, intellect vanish altogether. 0 aspirants!
do not be familiar with any woman. She cannot do any harm to a Viveki who is
always on the alert and who sees the Doshas of a woman and who is always
absorbed in remembrance of the Lord.
Misleading Descriptions of a Woman’s
Beauty
Sex is the distinction between male and
female. It is a mental creation. It is a KALPANA or imagination. There is no
sex in the five elements of which the body is composed. The human body is
nothing but a combination of the five elements. The sex idea is the jugglery of
Maya. For a devotee, the world is full of Krishna. For a passionate man, the
world is full of woman. He falls in love with a wooden post if it is wrapped in
a silken gown or a beautiful cloth with attractive borders and a petticoat.
Passion is a terrible curse. When a man is under the influence of passion,
excitement and the sex impulse or force destroy his understanding and reason,
overwhelm his mind and make him utterly helpless.
Have you ever paused and considered what
constitutes the 'beautiful' ladies
who excite lust in you ? A bundle of
bones, flesh, blood, urine, pus, perspiration, phlegm and other dirt ! Will you
allow such a bundle to become the master of your thoughts ? Will you exchange
your birthright of eternal peace and bliss for such a fleeting, filthy mess of
pottage ? Shame on you ! Was your will. your reason and your discrimination
given to you only for such an inglorious end ?
Poets have exaggerated the beauty of
ladies. They are misguided persons who put young men in the wrong path.
Descriptions like "face like the moon" "rosy cheeks and honeyed
lips" are false and imaginary. Where is the beauty in the dead body, in
old women, in sick ladies ? It is the ornaments, silken clothing with fanciful
borders, dressing of the hair with golden hairpins, flowers, application of
powder to their faces, lipstick to the lips and unguent to their eyes that lend
a temporary decoration and artificial glittering to the women. Deprive them of
their face-powders, their ornaments and gaudy dress and ask them to wear a
simple white cloth without any border. Where is the beauty now ? The beauty of
the skin is a delusion only.
Poets describe in their fanciful,
passionate moods that honey flows from the lips of a young, beautiful lady. Is
this really true ? What do you actually see ? The stinking pus from the sockets
of the teeth that are affected with dreadful pyorrhea, the nasty and abominable
sputum from the throat, and foul saliva dribbling on the lips at night do you
call all this as honey and nectar ? And yet, the passionate, lustful and
sex-intoxicated man swallows these filthy excretions when he is under the sway
of excitement ! Is there anything more revolting than this ? Are not these
poets culpable, when they have given such a false description, when they have
caused great havoc and damage to passionate young men ? Behind the shining skin
there is the raw flesh. Behind the smiles of a young lady are hidden frown and
anger. Behind the rosy lips lie germs of diseases. Just imagine for a moment
that her skin is removed. You will have to stand by her side with a long stick
to drive away crows and vultures. Physical beauty is superficial, illusory and
fading. 0 passionate man ! Do not be deluded by external appearances. Turn to
the eternal beauty of the Supreme Lord and sell off your heart to his beauty !
Passion Blinds The Intellect
Nobody has been benefited in this world
by this Maya. People weep in the end. Ask any grown-up householder whether he
finds even an iota of happiness in this world. The fly runs towards the fire or
lamp thinking that it is a flower and gets burnt up. Even so, the passionate
man runs towards a false beautiful form thinking that he can get there the real
happiness and gets himself burnt up in the fire of lust.
Just as silkworm entangles itself in its
self-woven cocoon, so also, you have entangled yourself in the meshes of your
own unlimited material desires. Tear the meshes by the sword of dispassion and
fly high with the wings of devotion and knowledge.
DISASTROUS EFFECTS OF SEXUAL INDULGENCE
Sensual enjoyment is attended with
various defects. It is attended with various sorts of sins, pains, weaknesses,
attachments, slave mentality, weal will, severe exertion and struggle, craving
and mental restlessness. Worldly persons never come to their proper senses
although they get severe knocks, kicks and blows from different corners. The
strolling street dog never stops from visiting the houses even though it is
pelted with stones every time.
Eminent doctors of the West say that
various kinds of diseases arise from the loss of semen, particularly in young
age. There appears :
· Boil on the body,
·
Acne or eruptions on the face,
·
Blue lines around the eyes,
·
Sunken eyes, pale face with anemia,
·
Loss of memory, loss of eye-sight,
shortsightedness,
·
Discharge of semen along with urine,
·
Enlargement of the testes, pain in the
testes,
·
Debility, drowsiness, laziness,
gloominess,
·
Palpitation of heart,
·
Dyspnoea or difficulty in breathing,
·
Phthisis, pain in the back, loins, head
and joints,
·
Weak kidneys, passing urine in sleep,
·
Fickle mindedness, lack of thinking
power, bad dreams,
·
Wet dreams and restlessness of mind.
Mark carefully the evil after-effects
that follow the loss of seminal energy ! Persons are physically, mentally and
morally debilitated by wasting the seminal power on so many occasions for
nothing. The body and mind refuse to work energetically. There is physical and
mental lethargy. Those who have not observed the vow of celibacy become the
slaves of anger, jealousy, laziness and fear If you have not got your senses
under your control, you venture to do foolish acts which even child will not
dare to do. When a man becomes furious he behaves improperly. He does not know
what he is exactly doing as he loses his power of reasoning and discrimination.
He will do anything he likes. He will insult even his guru and other
respectable persons. It behooves, therefore, that the aspirant who is trying to
develop good behavior must preserve the vital energy. Preservation of this
divine energy leads to the attainment of strong will power. good behavior,
spiritual exaltation, and Sreyas eventually.
The energy that is wasted during one
sexual intercourse is tantamount to the energy that is spent in physical labor
for 10 days or the energy that is utilized in mental work for 3 days. Just see
how precious is the vital fluid, semen ? When Veerya is not used, it is all
transmuted into Oj'as Sakti or spiritual energy and stored up in the brain.
Wet
Dream & Voluntary Copulation- A
Vital Difference
A sexual act
shatters the nervous system. The whole nervous system is shaken or agitated
during the act. There is excessive loss of energy. But it is not so when
emission occurs during the dreaming state. In a wet dream, it may be the
outflow of the prostatic Juice only. Even if there is loss of the vital fluid,
there is not much draining. The actual essence does not come out during wet
dreams. It is only the watery prostatic Juice with a little semen that is
discharged during nocturnal pollutions. When nocturnal emission takes place,
the mind which was working in the inner astral body suddenly enters the
physical body vehemently in an agitated condition. That is the reason why
emission takes place suddenly.
The night discharge may not stimulate
the sexual desire. But a voluntary copulation, in the case of a sincere
aspirant, is highly detrimental to his spiritual progress. The Samskara created
by the act will Le very deep; and it will intensify or strengthen the force of
the previous bad Samskaras that are
already imbedded in the subconscious mind and will stimulate sexual desire, it
will be like pouring ghee in the fire that is slowly getting extinguished. You
should completely give up copulation. Night
pollution or discharge is of two
kinds - Physiological and Pathological. In physiological pollution you will be
refreshed. You should not be afraid of this act You should not mind if the
discharge of semen is very occasional. This may be due to heat in the body or the
pressure of loaded bowels or bladder on seminal bags. This act may not be
attended with evil thoughts. The person may not be aware of the act during the
nights.
Whereas, in pathological pollution, the
act is accompanied by sexual thoughts. Depression follows. There is
irritability, languishment, laziness, inability to work etc. Occasional
discharges are of no consequence, but frequent nocturnal illusions cause
depression of spirits, debility, dyspepsia, loss of memory, severe pain in the
back, headache, burning of eyes, drowsiness and burning sensation at urination
or during flow of semen.
Wet dreams and spermatorrhoea may be due
to various causes like Constipation, a loaded stomach, irritation-producing or
wind producing food, impure thoughts and long self abuse done in ignorance.
Most of the diseases take their origin
in overeating. The evening meal should light and eaten before 6 or 7 p.m. If
possible don't take anything other than milk and fruit at night. No solid or
liquid should be taken after sunset. When you take milk, mix ginger essence in
it. Or boil crushed ginger with milk before drinking the milk. A loaded bladder
is the cause of Wet dreams. Before retiring to bed, answer the calls of nature.
To relieve constipation the use of enema is most essential.
THE
VALUE OF SEMEN
The vital energy, the Veerya which
supports your life, which is the Pranas, which shines in your sparkling eyes,
which beams in your shining cheeks, is a great treasure for you. Veerya is the
quintessence of blood. One drop of semen is manufactured out of 40 drops of
blood. Note here how valuable this fluid is !
According to Ayurveda, semen is the last
Dhatu that is formed out of food. Out of food is manufactured chyle. Out of
chyle comes blood. Out of blood comes flesh. Out of flesh comes fat. Out of fat
conies bone. Out of bones comes marrow. Out of marrow comes semen. These are
the Sapta dhatus that support this life and body. Semen is the last essence. It
is the essence of all essences.
Just as sugar is all-pervading in
sugarcane, butter in milk, so also semen is
pervading the whole body. Just as the
butter milk is thin after the butter is removed, so also, semen is thinned by
its wastage. The more the wastage of semen the more is the weakness. In the
Yoga Sastras it is said :
Maranam Bindu Patanat Jivanam Bindu
Raksanat
Falling of semen brings death,
preservation of semen gives life. It is the hidden treasure in man. It imparts
Brahma-Tejas to the face and strength to the intellect.
Modern
Medical Opinion
Eminent European medical men also
support the statements of the Yogis of India. Dr.Nicole says : "This vital
fluid of man carried back and diffused through his system makes him manly,
strong, brave and heroic. If wasted, it leaves him effeminate, weak and
physically debilitated and prone to sexual irritation and disordered function,
a wretched nervous systeiri, epilepsy, and various other diseases and death.
The suspension of the use of the generative organs is attended with a notable
increase of bodily and mental and spiritual vigor."
Dr.E.P.Miller says, "All waste of
spermatic secretions, whether voluntary or involuntary, is a direct waste of
the life-force. It is almost universally conceded that the choicest element of
the blood enters into the composition of the 'spermatic secretion. If these
conclusions are correct, then it follows that a chaste life is essential to
man’s well being.”
MEANING
OF BRAHMACARYA
Brahmacarya literally means Achara or
conduct that leads to the realization of the Absolute truth. It means the
control of semen, the study of the Vedas and contemplation on God. The
technical meaning of Brahmacharya is self restraint, particularly mastery of
perfect control over the sexual organ or freedom from lust in thought, word and
deed.
The Eight Breaks In Brahmacarya
1. A Brahmacari should avoid looking at
a woman with lustful eye.
2. He should not have the desire to
touch her or go near her with evil intention.
3. He should not play, cut jokes or
converse with her.
4. He should not praise a woman's
qualities within himself or before his friends.
5. He should not speak to a woman in
secrecy.
6. He should not think of women at all.
7. He should not have a carnal desire to
have sexual enjoyment.
8. A
Brahmacari should, without fail, avoid sexual intercourse.
9.
If he breaks any of the above rules, he
violates the vow of Brahmacarya. Though the first seven kinds of Maithuna do
not cause the actual loss of semen, yet the semen is separated from the blood
and it tries to escape when opportunity arises, either in dreams or in other
ways. In the first seven kinds, man enjoys mentally. Lustful look, lustful
thinking, wet dreams are all failures or beaks in Brahmacarya. Be chaste in
your look.
Give up Drishti Dosha or lustful look. A
lustful look itself is a break in Brahmacarya. There is internal discharge.
Veerya is separated from the system. Only by vigorous chanting of Hare Krishna
can we overcome the lower propensities.
Physical
Brahmacarya And Mental Brahmacarya
It is very necessary that you should be
pure in mind if you wish to be a Brahmacari. Mental Brahmacarya is more
important. You may succeed in physical Brahmacarya, but you must succeed in
mental Brahmacharya also. Thought is the real act. An evil desire is tantamount
to adultery. The desire is more than the act.
When you cannot control the lustful
thoughts, at least control the physical body. Physical Brahmacarya must be
strictly practiced at first. Control the body when the sex impulses troubles
you. Mental purity or mental Brahmacarya will gradually manifest.
If the mind is not rendered pure by
Sadhana, mere mortification of the external senses will 'not produce the
desired effect. Although the external senses are mortified, their internal
counterparts, which are still energetic and vigorous, revenge upon the mind and
produce intense mental disturbance and wild imagination.
GLORY OF BRAHMACHARYA
Brahmacharya 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 to the spiritual world if added to
devotional service. Even Rishis, Devas, Gandharvas and Kinnaras serve at the
feet of a true Brahmacari.
'Brahmacharyena Tapasa Deva Mrityum
upagnataa' The Vedas declare that by Brahmacarya and penance the Devas have
conquered death. The great Hanuman, Bhisma, Lakshman are practical examples
Just as the oil comes up in a wick and
hum:, with plowing light, so also, the
Veerya or semen Hows ip by the practice
of Sadhana and is converted into
Tcias or Ojas. The brahmacari shines
with Brahmic aura in his face.
Brahmacharya is me blossomed flower of
life around which the bees of strength. patience, knowledge, and purity wander
about humming hither and thither. By the practice of Brahmacharya longevity,
glory, strength, vigour, knowledge, wealth, undying fame, virtues and devotion
to the truth increase.
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;
Brhamacharya is the greatest strength. Brahmacharya can undo all inauspicious
signs",
When there is purity, the rays of the
mind are not dissipated. Focusing of the mind becomes easy. Concentration and
purity go together. Although a sage is a few words only, a deep impression is
produced in the minds of the oarers. This is due to his Ojas Sakti which is
conserved by the preservation of semen and its transmutation.
A true Brahmacari in thought, word and
deed has wonderful thought-power. He move the world. If you develop strict
celibacy, VICHARA SAKTI (power of enquiry)
and DHARANA SAKTI (power of grasping
and holding the Truth) will develop. Continence increases infinitely the power
of retentive memory. The strict celibate has keen and acute memory even in old
age.
Lakshmana followed Sri Rama for the long
period to 14 years though he perfectly aware of the dangers of the forest.
Lakshmana was pure in thought, word and deed. He led the life of an ideal
Brahmacari during the 14 years of exile. He never looked at the face or body of
Sita. His eyes were ever directed towards her lotus feet only. When Sugriva
brought Sita's cloak and jewels - which while she was being carried away, she
had allowed to fall on the earth, seeing the monkeys on the mountain - Rama
showed them to Lakshmana and asked whether he recognized them. Lakshmana said :
Nahum Junami Keyurc Naham Janami Kankane
Nupuru Eva Janumi fvityarn Padabhi
vandanat
"I do not recognize the bracelets
or ear-rings; I know only the anklets, for I worshiped her feet alone".
See how Lakshmana revered Goddess Sita as mother'
SUPPRESSION
AND SUBLIMATION
In the practice of Brahmacarya what is
wanted in elimination of lust, but not suppression. Suppression of the sex urge
is not eradication. You can never be free of that which is suppressed. The
suppressed sex desire will attack you again and again and will produce wet
dreams, irritability and restlessness of mind. No method is as powerful as
redirecting all our lust towards Krishna. If Krishna takes over our heart, if
our heart is filled with Krishna thoughts, Krishna's books, Krishna's people,
Krishna's temples, Krishna's activities, Krishna’s service-Krishna,
Krishna,Krishna,Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna - in all tracks of
your mind, then you can not be troubled by material lust.
Ignorant people adopt foolish methods to
kill the Indriyas. They fail eventually. Many foolish aspirants amputate the
organ of reproduction. They think that lust can be eradicated by such a procedure.
What a great foolish act ! Lust is in the mind. If the mind is controlled and
engaged in the Lord's service, what can this organ do ? Some swallow tons of
nux vomica to kill this organ. They fail in their attempts to be centered in
Brahmacharya. The state of their mind states remains the same, though they
become impotent by taking nux vomica.
Brahmacharya means control, but not
suppression of the sex desire or sex force. The mind should be rendered by pure
japa, kirtan and prayer and through such constant engagement like Maharaja
Ambarish. If the mind is filled with sublime divine thoughts the sex desire
will be devitalized or de-energized by the withdrawal of the mind. We must
develop devotion to the Lord and a burning desire to get out of this rotten
material world.
From
Sex Energy To Spiritual Energy
Ojas is spiritual energy that is stored
up in the brain. By entertaining sublime, soul-elevating thoughts through
sravanam, kirtanam, smaranam etc., the sexual energy can be transmuted into
Ojas Sakti and stored up in the brain. This stored up energy can then be
utilized for divine contemplation and spiritual pursuits.
Anger and muscular energy can also be
transmuted into Ojas. A man who has a great deal of Ojas in his brain can turn
out immense mental work. He is very intelligent. He has lustrous eyes and a
magnetic aura in his face. He can influence people by speaking a few words. A
short speech of his produces a tremendous impression on the minds of the
hearers. His speech is thrilling. He has an awe-inspiring personality. A
brahmacari is always careful to accumulate this divine energy by unbroken
chastity.
The
Secret Of Sex Sublimation
According to Yogic science, semen exists
in a subtle form throughout the whole body. It is found in a subtle state in
all the cells of the body. It is withdrawn and elaborated into a gross form in
the sexual organ under the influence of the sexual will and sexual excitement.
An Oordhvareta Yogi not only converts the semen into Ojas, but checks through
purity of thought, word and deed, the very formation of semen by the secretory
cells of the testes or seeds. This is a great secret. Allopaths believe that
even in an Oordhvareta Yogi, the formation of semen goes on incessantly and
that the fluid is reabsorbed into the blood. This is a mistake. They are in the
dark. Their Drishti or vision is concerned with the gross things of the
universe. The Yogi gets control over the astral nature of semen and thereby
prevents the formation of the very fluid itself.
The body of a man who is truly an
Oordhvaretas has the scent of a lotus. A man who is not a Brahmacari in whom
gross semen is formed may on the other hand smell like a buck goat.
The process of sex sublimation is
extremely difficult. It demands constant and disciplined Sadhana through the
seeds of Samskara will be fried in toto.
There is another sect called
"Dhiryaretas" or those persons, who, previously a prey to lustful
thoughts and deviated from Brahmacarya, later take to the practice of strict
celibacy. Such a person, if he practices strict celibacy for 12 years, can
acquire superhuman powers. Medha Nadi or Buddhi Nadi is formed in him. By means
of this he can have retentive memory of anything as long as he lives. By
observance of unbroken Brahmacarya in thought, word and deed for a period of
full 12 years, one is bestowed even with the vision of God, if one aspires for
it. He can solve the most abstruse and complicated problems easily. But, this
kind of observance should commence before the 32nd or the 34th year.
ROLE
OF DIET IN SEX CONTROL
Sattvic
Food
Cheru. Havis Annam, Milk, Wheat, Barley,
bread, ghee, butter, dried ginger, green gram, potatoes, dates, plantains,
curd, almonds and fruits are all Sattvic articles of food. Cheru is a mixture
of boiled white rice, ghee, white sugar and milk. Havis Annam is also a similar
preparation. This is very useful for spiritual aspirants. Milk is a perfect
food by itself, containing as it does, the different nutritive constituents in
a well balanced proportion. This is a ideal food for brahmacaris.
Fruits are great energy producers.
Bananas, Grapes, Sweet Oranges, Apples, Pomegranates and Mangoes are wholesome
and nutritious. Dry fruits such as grapes, raisins, dates and figs, sweet fresh
fruits such as bananas, mangoes, sapotas / chikoos, melons, limes, pineapples,
apples, wood apples, sugar and sugar-candy, honey, sago, arrowroot, milk,
butter and ghee of cows, tender coconut water, pistachio nuts, Toor Dhal, Ragi,
Barley, Maize, Wheat, rice of red paddy whose bran is only partly removed and
all preparations from any of these grains, and White Pumpkin are Sattvic
articles for keeping up Brahmacarya.
Forbidden
Food
Hot curries, Chutnies, Chillies, Sour
curd, Over-ripe and Unripe fruits and Salt are not at all beneficial. Onions
and garlic are worse than meat.
Salt is the worst enemy. Too much salt
exites passion. Even if you do not take salt separately, the system will derive
the necessary quantity of salt from other foodstuffs. All foodstuffs contain
salt. Giving up salt helps you in controlling the tongue and thereby the mind
and all the other Indriyas.
All kinds of Peas and beans, both fresh
and fried, black gram, Bengal gram, sprouted grains, mustard, al! sorts of
chillies, asafoetida, lentils, brinjals, lady's finger, cucumbers, Malabar
nightshades, both white and red, bamboo shoots, papaw fruit, drumsticks, all
varieties of gourd such as white gourd, snake gourd, radish, things fried in
oil or ghee, pickles of ai! sorts, fried rice, sesame seeds, tea, coffee,
cocoa, all kinds of vegetables, leaves, roots, fruits that create wind or
indigestion etc., should be avoided as they are either Rajasic or Tamasic by
nature. Lemon juice, rock salt, ginger and white pepper can be used in
moderation.
Mitahara or Moderation In Diet
Mitahara is moderation in food. Take
wholesome Sattvic food half-stomach Fill a quarter with pure water. Allow the
remaining part free. This is Mitahar Brahmacharis should always take Mitahara
only. They should be very care about the night diet. They should never overload
the stomach at night Overloading is the direct cause for nocturnal emissions.
A glutton can never dream of becoming a
Brahmacari. The tongue must be controlled first. Then it will be easy to
control the passion. There is intimate connection between the tongue and the
organ of generation. Tongue is the organ is organ of knowledge. It is born of
the Rajasic portion of the Water-tanmatra. They are sister organs as the source
is the same. If the tongue is stimulated with Rajasic food, at once the
reproductive organ also gets excited. The food of a Brahmacari must be simple,
bland, spiceless, non-irritating and non-stimulating. Moderation in food is
very necessary. Stuffing the stomach is highly deleterious.
Fasting
- A Purificatory Exercise
Fasting controls passion. Fasting
destroys sexual excitement, it calms the emotions. It controls the Indriyas
also. Fasting controls particularly the tongue which is your deadly enemy. When
you fast, do not allow the mind to think of delicious dishes, because then you
will not derive much benefit. Fasting overhauls the respiratory, circulatory,
digestive and urinary systems. It destroys all the impurities of the body and
all sorts of poisons. It eliminates uric acid deposits.
The chief object in fasting is to
practice Dhyana rigorously during that period as all the indriyas are calm. You
will have to withdraw all the Indriyas and fix the mind on Krishna through
chanting His holy names.
Avoid excessive fasting. It will produce
weakness. Use your commonsense. Those who are not able to observe a full fast
can fast for 9 or 12 hours and can take milk and fruits in the evening or at
night. During fasting the internal digestive organs such as the stomach, the
liver and the pancreas take rest. All their diseases take their origin in overeating.
Diseases that are pronounced incurable by allopaths and homoeopaths are cured
by fasting. Manu, the Hindu law giver, prescribes in his code the remedy of
fasting for removal of the five capital sins also.
It is better to drink a large quantity
of water, either tepid or cold, according to temperament and inclination,
during fasting. It will flush out the kidneys and remove the poison and all
sorts of impurities in the body. In Hatha Yoga it is termed as Gata-Suddhi or
purification of the flesh-pot, the physical body. You can add half a
teaspoonful of Soda Bicarbonate to the water.
Those who fast for 2 or 3 days should
not break their fast with any solid food. They should take some kind of fruit
juice, either sweet orange juice or pomegranate juice. They should sip the
juice slowly. You can take an enema daily during fasting.