BRAHMACHARYA IS NOT CELIBACY
Why brahmacharya is always linked with celibacy
Is celibacy the most suitable English word describing brahmacharya?
Celibacy is not the right word to understand brahmacharya. Celibacy is defined as the absence of sex, state of unmarried by several religious views. brahmacharya is not just absence of sex or one who is not married cannot follow the practice of brahmacharya .if brahmacharya was an absence of sex it can be called as continence .total awareness of the absolute and the intention of any act is brahmacharya. One can be married and still remain on the path of brahmacharya. When I’m totally aware of the absolute truth even in my married life .the responsibility towards that married life would be seen as abiding the duties of Brahma
Celibacy can be correctly defined as an attitude of the self which is made of (mind +intellect). When these two medium work accordingly for the highest truth to obtain of the absolute self can be put as the understanding of celibacy which closely relates to the understanding of brahmacharya. The purpose of practising celibacy to keep a person focused on the purpose of life, the things that instil a feeling of peace and contentment.
Brahma is beyond the duality
Brahmacharya comes from the understanding where one doesn’t lead to any an object or subjective experience for the self but for the absolute self and devotes all the acts towards Brahma to attain Brahma. Brahma is the universal principle which is existing in each and even in nonexisting as a nonexistent force. Brahma is beyond the duality. Brahma is universal consciousness and when each consciousness move’s along with universal conscious it is seen to be on the path of brahmacharya .moving along in the consciousness with consciousness .brahmacharya is following the conducts of BrahmaHow correct we can know the understanding of brahmacharya.
we will never be able to define it exactly because it’s the universal principle and we can’t describe the infinity from finite mind .what I understand after looking at the aspects of nature and the tradition and several scriptures it more of an effect than the cause,. It is a natural phenomenon, which occurs after following the discipline awareness. We cannot forcefully do it or stop something we have to move along with consciousness and remembering this whole act is for the Brahma by the Brahma. I am the one who is enjoying the play but not in the play through being in the play .these three aspects is seen as Brahma
Creator+ sustainer+ liberator = Brahma
Brahmacharya is more of an effect than the cause
The cause is the practice, which is constantly remembering the total awareness for highest reality, absolute truth, the divine presence in every act when these principles are followed brahmacharya appears as an effect from this practice. The remembrance is the cause and effect is brahmacharya .the practice of brahmacharya is walking or moving in the total awareness of absolute reality
Is celibacy not indulging in sex?
Celibacy is not just controlled the force of indulging the sexual emotions but a lot more than to be controlled. we perceive things through senses these senses have all various information to the mind and then the intellect will guide the action to be implemented accordingly .any pleasure activity for the senses or the desire which comes through the deluded view of senses need to be restrained. When these senses are directed inwards for the self then light of absolute start glowing within. Self is covered with the deluded view of senses which doesn’t allow our self to reflect on my absolute self who wrongly identifieswith these senses. We have several kinds of pleasures which are temporary these pleasures which are temporary needs to be permanent and one who tries to go over the senses and directs them within comes to the reality of permanent pleasure. A blissful state appears. It is more than restrain the sensual pleasure or lust, even anger, greed, pride.
Bhagavad Gita talks these evil tendencies take the one to the hell .it is the gateway for going into the hell if we get absorbed in these evil hands of sensory pleasure
Brahma is sex
Sex is not bad but the obsession towards is bad, being tangled in that desire is seen as hell. It’s a natural need like food and breath. If we stop eating food we won’t survive we will go mad same way if we have that part to be used it is used to being used otherwise it will become rotten but the fact is how we use that is more important, the intention and purpose of using those limbs are important. The sexual organ is also given by Brahma so even I use these organs for Brahma not for myself, not for my selfish desires but being total aware in the act and surrendering it for Brahma not for the self. Not using is vaguely and loosely being fully aware in that act.
Obsession towards sex is seen not total awareness .is not the absolute truth. It is often deluded by the pleasure from it .intellect is not able to hold the aspects of mind and later senses take away the self into sensory pleasures and hide the absolute self in a particular emotion and lock the self.More emphases on sexual desire
Celibacy (sexual absence) sex is seen as a strong emotion force flowing inside and outside all of us .this is a natural need for all us .we cannot just ignore this or escape from it .we have to be intellect smart enough to understand and come over the whole aspect of sensory feeling and guide it to inwards to the self to grow .we human gets wrongly identified in this temporary pleasure and goes more strong into the turbulence of emotions and sensory pleasure. Which is seen as the animal nature or behaviour .we are still not human we think we are but we have not evolved from this animal mindset, animalistic behaviour.
Several enlightened being has overcome this need and experiences the deeper truth of self which is covered by several aspects of emotions, feelings, thoughts, desires, senses and etc .more importance is given to the sexual desire because it has a very stronger impression on the mind. Significant is given to control that first then the other strong emotions .putting one conscious on that first in order to go deeper into that practice will only incorporate after clearing that first state. One can only be able to reflect deeper when the tornado gets calmer. The surface would be clearer when the ripples as desires go away; the force of doing an act goes away for revealing and merging with the absolute.
Hath yogic view of brahmacharya
Brahmacharya = moderate diet + control over senses + renunciation
These three aspects make the perfect brahmacharya .one that is following these three acts is brahmacharya
1. The discipline of ahara (food): Food is Brahma; everything comes out of this food and also goes back as a food. Every aspect in the universe is seen as the force of Brahma. Brahma is all-pervasive; Brahma is in all knowing .through the help of ahara we get prana, by the help Samana the nutrient value supplies to several parts of the body with help of vayana. Which is the force moving and supplying energy all over the body? Apana acts the excretory, sweet, urine, which later develops the Udana to function which is related to the emotions thoughts, feelings speech. So the food that we eat we will become that .now if I eat not for the self but for feeding the Brahma that absolute truth
2. Control over senses: We often get deluded in our sense. Our senses deceive us from the reality and making our project in a false or escape the way of the self. The main practice becomes to inwards this sensual experience and grows in the aspect of Brahma in order to attain Brahma
3. Renunciation: Renouncing the worldly affair. As the dirt and water don’t affect the beauty of lotus same as the self should not get affected by the world affairs and clots and knots. The self should bloom like the lotus that blooming is seen as the aspect to light on Brahma. Following the discipline of Brahman.
Brahmacharya as ashram
In brahmacharya ashram all boys learn to control their senses, control their six rip us or vices and became morally high and emotionally stable. All the lessons help them to build their character and impart them necessary lessons so that they became self-reliant
The later stages of life were garhastra(lead family life), vanaprastha (go to the forest for meditation) and sannyas (salvation).
This process should be brought back to build a child who is the future of the society. The more a child is high on moral and character, the better is the society. This vitality can be preserved and enhanced so that it can be used in further stages of life when the body is becoming old and weak.
The knowledge of the self is also understood by several brahmacharya that’s why we have this in the form of Vedas. It can only come to those who desire and preserve this vitality .knowledge was imparted on them because of the disciplines behaviour in moving along in total awareness
Patanjali view on brahmacharya
Brahmacharya - pratiṣṭhāyāṁ - vīrya - lābhaḥ (pys 2.38)
When moderation to pursue spiritual evolution (brahmacharya) is firmly established (pratiṣṭhāyāṁ), vitality (vīrya) is obtained (lābhaḥ).
Patanjali is more focused on developing on the vitality. The essence of the whole union of (body +mind +intellect) which brings self-closer to true self. Moderation leads to vitality, vigour and courage (lābhaḥ). When energy is not leaking out of our system, we are able to preserve energy and channel it to whatever life project we are working on. Too much social activity, for example, can be exhausting. Whereas having the perfect number of friends (there is no exact number, we need to figure that out for ourselves) is very invigorating and fulfilling.
Moderation of any activity done for spiritual evolution brings the vitality of the absolute self .patanjali also focuses on being moderate in all the projects, ideas, belief, rituals, food, water, thoughts and etc. When there is no moderation there will imbalance in the nature of the self. Trigunas will not allow being steady and looking within the self. Satva is moderation. Satva is the key to increase this vitality
Virya is devolved by the ojas present in the body. ojas is developed through the food what we eat not just the food for the mouth or tongue but also we consume food from our eyes, from our ears, from other senses and when we are in total harmony in the movement of the cosmos or moderate in consuming this food helps to enhance and maintain the ojas level in the self.
Ojas the divine essence
Ojas means vigour. The fluid of life. The essence of the (body +mind intellect). Just as ghee (clarified butter) is refined from butter, which is refined from cream, which is refined from milk, so Ojas is refined from progressive transformations of our bodily tissues. Source of creating ojas is from the food what we consume by all senses. Prana (air) and Tejas (fire) help accordingly to complete the function of generating the ojas. These three has a link with the guna to prana is vata, Tejas is Pitta and ojas is Kapha.
• The food we eat is firstly converting into Rasa.
• After Rasa formation, the remaining converts into Rakta. (plasma)
• After Rakta formation, the remaining converts into Mamsa. (blood tissue)
• After Mamsa formation, the remaining converts into Meda. (muscle tissue)
• After Meda formation, the remaining converts into Asthi. (fat)
• After Asthi formation, the remaining converts into Majja. (bone)
• After Majjas formation, the remaining converts into Shukra. (reproductive fluid)
After this whole process, the ojas is accumulated and increase the vitality of the self-. if one does not waste this creation unnecessarily and channelizes within for the self. Spiritual evolution is observed.
How to maintain brahmacharya
It is our good behaviour which enhances the ojas in our body. For example, Truth, Love, Devotion, Helping nature, Non-violence, Peaceful mind accelerates the positivity in the body and enhances ojas. Which brings the Virya in us. this Virya helps to maintain the concentrated state in the practice? This practice becomes the effect as brahmacharya
Intake of various foods (that increases ojas ) in the body like alma, shilajit, ashwagandha, holy basil, Guduchi and shatavari. Increases vitality and vigour in the body.
As satva guna possesses lots of positive energy and energizes an individual, It touches the spiritual aspects of life. More the satva in a body, purer it is. We should increase the intake of satva foods like Ghee, almonds, Dates, Sweet Fruits, Rice and Fresh Vegetables etc.
It takes a lot of commitment to write such a detailed examplification. Thank you Bhanu ji and I will find time to read it again. Its worth reading and re-reading.
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