Practice of brahmacharyapractice of brahmacharya

By

SRI SWAMI SIVANANDA

A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION

First Edition: 1934

Eighth Edition: 1980

First Revised Edition: 1988

Second Reprint: 1993

(5000 Copies)

World Wide Web (WWW) Edition : 1997

WWW site: http://www.SivanandaDlshq.org/

This WWW reprint is for free distribution

© The Divine Life Trust Society

ISBN 81-7052-067-3

Published By

THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY

P.O. Shivanandanagar—249 192

Distt. Tehri-Garhwal, Uttar Pradesh,

Himalayas, India.

CONTENTS

PUBLISHERS; NOTE

PRAYER FOR PURITY

SECTION I. THE PHENOMENON OF SEX

THE PRESENT-DAY DEGRADATION

The world is all sexy

Spiritual Sadhana is the answer to sex attraction

Brahmacharya—the need of the hour

THE WORKING OF THE SEX IMPULSE

The flowery bow of Cupid

The Samskaras in the subconscious mind

How to gauge your own mental purity

Eradication of lust is no easy task

INTENSITY OF THE CRAVINGS IN DIFFERENT PERSONS

Passion in children, the youth and the aged

Sexual thought in sages, spiritual aspirants and householders

Lust in men and in women

SEX IS IN IMAGINATION

Beauty is a mental concept

Misleading descriptions of a woman;s beauty

Passion blinds the intellect

THE DISASTROUS EFFECTS OF SEXUAL INDULGENCE

Wet dream and voluntary copulation—A vital difference

Youth with bloodless faces

THE VALUE OF SEMEN

Modern medical opinion

Mind, Prana and Veerya

SECTION II. THE GLORY OF BRAHMACHARYA

THE MEANING OF BRAHMACHARYA

The eight breaks in Brahmacharya

Physical Brahmacharya and mental Brahmacharya

A common complaint

THE GLORY OF BRAHMACHARYA

Secret of health and longevity

Celibacy promotes concentration

IMPORTANCE OF CELIBACY IN SPIRITUAL LIFE

Celibacy in the different religious orders

Brahmacharya—the foundation of spiritual life

BRAHMACHARYA FOR HOUSEHOLDERS

What is Brahmacharya in married life?

When the wife becomes the mother

Living a life of spiritual partnership

WOMEN AND BRAHMACHARYA

Brahmacharinis—ancient and modern

Loose life is not freedom

A call to spiritual life

BRAHMACHARYA AND THE EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM

A vital drawback in the present educational system in India

Duty of teachers and parents

SOME IDEAL BRAHMACHARINS

Hanuman

Sri Lakshmana

Bhishma

SECTION III. TECHNIQUES OF SEX SUBLIMATION

SUPPRESSION AND SUBLIMATION

From sex energy to spiritual energy

The secret of sex sublimation

Total sublimation is difficult, yet not impossible

TO MARRY OR NOT TO MARRY

Is celibacy possible?

A foolish argument of the Epicureans

Nature of the love between husband and wife

To be a celibate? Or to be a householder?

The Akhanda Brahmachari

THE DANGERS OF PROMISCUOUS MIXING

Havoc played by mental images

The forbidden fruit—God;s test for the spiritual aspirant

STOP THAT LUSTFUL LOOK!

Mind the feeling behind the look!

How to counter impure thoughts

THE ROLE OF DIET IN SEX CONTROL

Sattvic food

Forbidden food

Mitahara or moderation in diet

Fasting—a purificatory exercise

WET DREAMS AND SPERMATORRHOEA

Difference between physiological pollution and pathological pollution

Causes and consequences

A warning against evil sex habits and outbursts of anger

Importance of proper food and evacuation

Get up before 4 a.m.

Take to the Name of the Lord

The benefits of a hip bath

Some helpful suggestions

SOME POWERFUL AIDS TO THE PRACTICE OF CELIBACY

Control of the palate

Avoid bad company

Watch the thoughts

Seek Satsanga or good company

Cultivate Viveka and Vairagya

A note of clarification

A vow is a great help

Will culture and auto-suggestion

Change the Drishti or angle of vision

HATHA YOGA TO THE RESCUE

Siddhasana

Sirshasana

Sarvangasana

Matsyasana

Padangushthasana

Instruction on Asana practice

Mula Bandha

Jalandhara Bandha

Uddiyana Bandha

Nauli Kriya

Maha Mudra

Yoga Mudra

Easy and comfortable Pranayama

Bhastrika Pranayama

Hints on Pranayama practice

Vajroli Mudra

SOME ILLUSTRATIVE STORIES

The power of lust. The example of Jaimini

Passion;s hold over man;s mind. Socrates and his disciple

Lust increases with enjoyment. Raja Yayati

Dawn of Viveka and Vairagya. Yogi Vemana

Beauty lies in imagination. The story of Hemachuda

Physical beauty is no beauty. Story of a prince

Being busy is the best way to control lust. Story of a ghost

SELECT SAYINGS ON SEX AND CELIBACY

SECTION IV. A SYMPOSIUM

COMMENTARY ON SWAMI SIVANANDA;S 8TH SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTION

Perpetuation of the Species

Power of Brahmacharya

Duties of Householders

Brahmacharya in Modern Society

Advantages of Brahmacharya

Books on Brahmacharya

THE PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE OF BRAHMACHARYA

The Four Great Purusharthas

The Twofold importance of Dharma

Conservation of Energy in the Context of a Spiritual Life

Sex Energy-A Manifestation of Para Shakti

The Human Body Compared to a Mansion

How to Rise Above Sex

Voluntary Self-restraint Is No Suppression

BRAHMACHARYA—AN OUTLOOK OF CONSCIOUSNESS

How Our Energy Gets Diverted and Dissipated

Conservation of Energy for Brahma-Sakshatkara

The Individual—A Pressure Centre

Stresses and Strains—Their Cause and Cure

The Havoc Wrought by the Externalizing Senses

Desire—A Metaphysical Evil

Varnashrama—An Aid to Free Ourselves from the Grip of Nature

MARRIAGE: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

BIRTH CONTROL

Instructions for Householders

Population Should Be Checked

Danger of Artificial Means

PUBLISHERS; NOTE

Instincts and appetites form a part of all life on earth. Sense impulses and

biological urges are common to animal and man alike. Sex is one of the

prominent, most important and absolutely essential aspects of human, animal as

well as plant life. Sex is an integral part of life—human, animal and plant.

While this aspect of life is regulated by nature in plants and by instinct in

animals, in man it is left to his common-sense, intelligence and his developed

reason to control and regulate the same. The vast and ancient scriptures of

the world offer human society specific rules and regulations in this respect.

With regard to India, as a nation, our forefathers followed the do;s and

don;ts of the Dharma Sastras in meticulous detail and this, in large measure,

contributed to their health, longevity and spiritual welfare.

But alas, in the present-day world, and more particularly among the educated

class, in all walks of society and in all age groups, norms of conduct laid

down by the scriptures are flouted with so much impunity that we see, all

around us, the number of physical, mental and moral wrecks increasing every

day. One reason for this sad state of affairs is modern man;s ignorance of his

own scriptural treasures.

Swami Sivananda came on the Indian scene, in the early thirties, to blast this

ignorance of the people by offering the hoary wisdom of the ancients through

the media of his simple English writings. It is well known that spiritual

treatises apart, the great Master, whose love for mankind knew no bounds,

wrote a number of books concerning health, hygiene and medicine. One such book

was "Practice of Brahmacharya" which dealt mostly with the subject of

celibacy, and where celibacy was not possible, a regulated sex life. This book

has been popular with the public.

This apart, the Swamiji;s thoughts on the subject of sex and sex sublimation

are also to be seen here and there spread over his voluminous writings. In the

present volume, all of Swamiji;s thoughts and instructions on the subject of

sex and celibacy have been gathered up from "Practice of Brahmacharya" and

elsewhere, and thoroughly edited, with a view to offering the public, and

especially to the younger generation, a working guide to the vital subject of

sex sublimation. This has been done as an act of loving service to modern

youth who are often left groping in the dark by an irresponsible society.

These days we often hear about "juvenile delinquency," but this juvenile

delinquency itself is the result of adult irresponsibility. The youth of the

world craves for guidance which is often not forthcoming from the parents,

teachers or society.

It is hoped that this book of holy Master Swami Sivananda will fill the

above-mentioned lacuna and offer the youth of the world the knowledge and

guidance which they so richly deserve in a vital area which affects their

physical, mental, ethical and spiritual well-being.

We pray that the blessings of the holy Master may pour on all those who may

chance to go through the following pages and open up a new chapter in their

lives. May all be healthy, happy and spiritually blessed. Loka Samastha

Sukhino Bhavantu!

8th September, 1988.

—THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY

PRAYER FOR PURITY

O loving Lord of Compassion! Hey Prabhu! The Soul of my soul, the Life of my

life, the Mind of my mind, the Ear of my ears, Light of lights, Sun of suns!

Give light and purity. Let me get established in physical and mental

Brahmacharya. Let me be pure in thoughts, word and deed. Give me strength to

control my Indriyas (senses) and observe the Brahmacharya Vrata. Protect me

from all sorts of temptations of this world. Let all my Indriyas be ever

engaged in Thy sweet service.

Wipe out the sexual Samskaras (impressions) and Vasanas (subtle desires).

Annihilate lust from my mind. Make me a true Brahmachari, Sadachari and

Oordhvareta Yogi. Let me be chaste in my look. Let me always walk in the path

of righteousness. Make me as pure as Swami Vivekananda, Swami Dayananda,

Bhishma Pitamaha, Hanuman or Lakshmana. Forgive. Forgive all my Aparadhas

(offenses). I am Thine. I am Thine. Trahi, Trahi. Protect, protect.

Prachodayat, Prachodayat. Enlighten, enlighten. Guide me. Om. Om. Om.

Dedicated to the Youth of the World

SECTION I. THE PHENOMENON OF SEX

1. THE PRESENT-DAY DEGRADATION

There is a great illusion in front of man. It troubles him in the form of

woman. There is a great illusion in front of woman. It troubles her in the

form of man.

Go wherever you like—Amsterdam, London or New York. Analyze this world of

phenomenal experience. You will find only two things—sex and ego.

The sex instinct is the greatest urge in human life. Sex energy or lust is the

most deep-rooted instinct in man. Sex energy entirely fills the mind,

intellect, Prana, senses and the whole body. It is the oldest of the factors

that have gone into the constitution of the human being.

A man has a thousand and one desires. But the central strong desire is the

sexual desire. The fundamental desire is the urge for a mate. All hang on this

central basic desire. The desire for money, the desire for a son, the desire

for property, the desire for houses, the desire for cattle and other desires

come later on.

Because the whole creation of this universe is to be kept up, God has made the

sexual desire very, very powerful. Otherwise, many Jivanmuktas would have

cropped up quite easily, just as graduates from universities. It is easy to

get university qualifications. It demands a little money, memory, intelligence

and a little strain. But it is an uphill climb to obliterate the sexual

impulse. He who has completely eradicated lust and is established in mental

Brahmacharya is Brahman or God Himself.

This world is nothing but sex and ego. Ego is the chief thing. It is the

basis. Sex hangs on the ego. If the ego is destroyed by Vichara or enquiry of

"Who am I?", the sex idea takes to its heels by itself. Man, master of his

destiny, has lost his divine glory and has become a slave, a tool, in the

hands of sex and ego on account of ignorance. Sex and ego are the products of

Avidya or nescience. The dawn of knowledge of the Self annihilates these two

enemies of Atman, the two dacoits who are plundering the helpless, ignorant,

little, false Jiva, the illusory "I".

Man has degraded himself to a great degree by becoming the puppet of passion.

Alas! He has become an imitative machine. He has lost his power of

discrimination. He has sunk into the most abject form of slavery. What a sad

state! What a lamentable plight indeed! If he wishes to regain his lost divine

state and Brahmic glory, his whole being must be transformed, his sex desire

must be completely transmuted by sublime divine thoughts and regular

meditation. Transmutation of the sex desire is a very potent, efficacious and

satisfactory way to realize eternal bliss.

The world is all sexy

Passion reigns supreme in all parts of the world. The minds of people are

filled with sexual thoughts. The world is all sexy. The whole world is under a

tremendous sexual intoxication. All are deluded and move in the world with

perverted intellects. No thought of God. No talk of God. It is all fashion,

restaurants, hotels, dinners, dances, races and cinema. Their life ends in

eating, drinking and procreating. That is all.

Passion has introduced new fashions not only in London, Paris and Lahore, but

even in Madras amongst the Brahmin girls of orthodox families who apply Cherry

Blossom Powder and Hazeline Snow to their faces, instead of the sacred

turmeric powder, and dress their hair like the French girls. This sort of vile

imitation has crept into the mind of our boys and girls in India. The sacred

percepts and teachings of our ancient sages and Rishis have been totally

ignored. What a lamentable state! They will accept anything as true only if a

Johnson or a Russel brings something by way of the theory of evolution,

motion, atom, relativity or transcendentalism. Shameful indeed! Their brains

are all clogged with foreign particles. They do not have the brain to absorb

anything good in others. There is a miserable degeneration in the present

young men and women in India. This is the age when they cannot walk even a

short distance without a Rickshaw, a car, a tram, a bicycle or a carriage.

What an awful artificial life! Bobbing of the hair amongst the ladies in India

has become a severe epidemic and has invaded the whole of India. This is all

due to the mischief of passion and greed.

Young men of the present day indiscriminately imitate the West and this

results in their own ruin. Men are swayed by lust. They lose their sense of

righteousness, and of time and place. They never discriminate between right

and wrong. They lose all sense of shame.

Read the history of the crimes—robbery, rapes, kidnapping, assaults,

murders—that come up for trial before the Sessions Courts. Lust is at the root

of all this. It may be lust for money or lust for carnal pleasure. Lust ruins