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Celibacy(Brahmacharya):QuotesfromSpiritualScripturesandInternet
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Celibacy(Brahmacharya)

Wednesday,13February2013

QuotesfromSpiritualScripturesandInternet
1. TheChandogyaUpanishadsays,Onlythosewho(observe)brahmacharyawillattainto
Brahman(SupremeReality).Forthemthereisfreedomtoactastheywishinallthe
worlds.Now,whatpeoplecallyajna(sacrifice),thatisreallybrahmacharya.Whatpeople
callworship(Ishta),thatisreallybrahmacharya.WhatpeoplecallVedicsacrifice,thatis
reallybrahmacharya.ForonlythroughbrahmacharyadoesoneunderstandtheAtman(the
Self).(8.4.3,8.5.12)
2. ThePrasnopnishadstressesthesamepoint.Whensixhighlyevolvedaspirantsapproach
sagePippaladaseekingtheHighestBrahman,theRishitellsthem,Stayhereanotheryear
observingausterity,brahmacharyaandfaith.Thenyoumayaskquestionsasyouplease
and,ifIknow,Iwillsurelyexplainalltoyou.(1.2)
3. SrimadBhagavatamhasthistosay,Thehighestformoftapas(austerity)isthe
abstinencefromsexualityandnotintheperformanceofbodytorturingrites.Heroismliesin
theconquestofonessensual,lustfulnatureandnotinmerecombativeness.AndTruthis
seeingGodineverythingandnotmerefactualspeech.(1.11.18.43)
4. IntheBhagavadGita,LordKrishnaexhortsspiritualaspirantstobefearless,serene,
restrainedinmindandestablishedinthevowofcontinenceandmeditateonHimtoreach
thegoal.(6.14).HesaysthatapersonaspiringtoentertheImperishablePrincipleshould
leadalifeofcontinenceandasceticism.Suchapersonisassuredofliberationatthetime
ofdeath.(8.1112).SriKrishnaalsowarnsaboutthepitfallsofprogressivedegenerationif
onedoesnotcontrollustandanger.Itislust,itisanger,bornofRajoguna,insatiableand
promptingmantogreatsin.Knowthistobetheenemyinmansspirituallife..Knowledge
isovercastbythiseternalfoeoftheaspirantafterknowledge.Therefore,controllingthe
sensesatthebeginningitself,slaythisfoulenemy,thedestroyerofallknowledgeand
realization.(3.3741)
5. SwamiYatiswarananda,aformerVicePresidentoftheRamakrishnaOrder,says,Inthe
higherformsofChristianity,BuddhismandHinduism,greatstresshasbeenlaidonthe
observanceofperfectbrahmacharyainthought,wordanddeed.YoufinditintheSermon
ontheMount,intheVinayaPitakaofBuddhismandintheUpanishads,intheGitaand
intheBhagavatam.Asociallyacceptedformofmorallifealoneisnotenoughforaspiritual
aspirant.Hemustattainperfectioninmoralvirtues,especiallybrahmacharya.
6. Knowthatinthisworldthereisnothingthatcannotbeattainedbyonewhoremainsfrom
birthtodeathaperfectcelibateInoneperson,knowledgeofthefourVedas,andin
another,perfectcelibacyofthese,thelatterissuperiortotheformerwhoiswantingin
celibacy.TheMahabharata
7. Awisemanshouldavoidlustasifitwereaburningpitoflivecoals.Fromthecontact
comessensation,fromsensationthirst,fromthirstclingingbyceasingfromthat,thesoul
isdeliveredfromallsinfulexistence.LordBuddha
8. AndthosestudentswhofindthatworldofGodthroughchastity,theirsisthatheavenly
countrytheirs,inwhateverworldtheyare,isfreedom.ChhandogyaUpanishad
9. Thesesexualpropensities,thoughtheyareatfirstlikeripples,acquiretheproportionsofa
seaonaccountofbadcompany.Narada
10. Sensualitydestroyslife,lustre,strength,vitality,memory,wealth,greatfame,holinessand
devotiontotheSupremeGita
11. ItisonlytravelingonthewavesofcelibacythatonereachesthelevelofNirvikalpa
Samadhi.TheawakeningofKundalinicanonlyhappenifwehavecelibacyunderabsolute
control.Theawakeningoftheisbesetwithpracticingabsolutecelibacyforacontinuous
periodof12years.Mahavirapracticedcelibacyforacontinuousperiodof12years.
GautamaBuddhafollowedandabsolutecelibacywasalsopracticedbyJesusChristfor
reachingthestatustheyfinallyachievedinlifebecominganenlightenedone!The
practiceofabsolutecelibacydirectlyleadstowardsgainingenlightenmentwithinthislife.
BrahmacharyaVratadoesnotmeansexualinactivity.Itmustbepracticedmentallytogain
purityofthoughtsothatabsolutecontroloverthefivesensesandthemindcanbe
establishedwithshallleadonetowardsattainingthestageofNirvikalpaSamadhi.
12. TheYogaSutrapacksmanythingsintoeachofitsverses,butreservesaseparateverse

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Celibacy(Brahmacharya):QuotesfromSpiritualScripturesandInternet
forcelibacy.Thenthescripturegoesontorefertocelibacyagaininotherverses.THE
GREATAUSTERITYCelibacyisactuallyoneofthemajorausterities.TheYogaSutra
listsausterities(tapas)amongthethreebasicactionsofyoga.(Theothertwoactivities
ofyogaareSelfStudyandDevotiontotheLord.)Austeritiesaregivenfirstplaceinthe
Sutra.SoonetrulyinterestedinyogaandGodknowledgewillbeveryinterestedin
austerities.Theonlyotherausteritythatisonaparwithcelibacyismeditationitself.
>Effectivetraditionalausteritiesincludecelibacy,fasting,solitude,silence,pranayama,
holdinganasana,andmeditationitself.Anotherausteritythatneedstobementioned
today:Restrainingyourselffromplayingfashionsaddhuanddressingyourselfupin
religiousgarbtogetattentionandnotoriety.Thatwouldbeaworthwhileausterityforsome.
Butamongallausterities,sexualcontinenceisarguablythemostimportant.Itinaugurates
profoundchangesinthephysicalandastralbodiesoftheaspiringyogi.Chastity
dramaticallyimproveshisconcentrationandmeditation.Itfoundsthestorehouseofhis
meritandaccumulatesshakti,sometimescalledojas.
13. TheHathaYogaPradipika,akeyfourteenthcenturytext,saysthosewhopractice
brahmacharyaneednolongerfeardeath.
14. IntheMahabharataagain,youwillfind,intheSantiParva:Manyarethebranchesof
Dharma,butDamaisthebasisofthemall.
15. Kabir:munkachaltatanchaletaakaasarvasvajaaya.(Theonewhofollowstheleadof
hismindlooseseverything).
16. TheonewhohasconqueredsexualpassionhasconqueredthewholeworldSrimad
Rajchandra(aGujaratisage,aspiritualcounsellortoMahatmaGandhi)
17. BhagavadGitaswarning:

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Importantdiscussiononbrahmacharya
(celibacy)
Positivethinkingandgoodbehavior
SwamiVivekanandaQuotes

Thinkingaboutsenseobjects
Willattachyoutosenseobjects
Growattached,andyoubecomeaddicted
Thwartyouraddictions,itturnstoanger
Beangry,andyouconfuseyourmind
Confuseyourmind,youforgetthelessonofexperience

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Forgetexperience,youlosediscernment
Losediscernment,andyoumisslifesonlypurpose.

18. ABuddhistsutra
Wemoanforrest,alas!but,restcanneverfind
Weknownotwhencewecome,nowwherewefloataway.
Timeandagainwetreadthisroundofsmilesandtears
Invainwepinetoknowwhitherourpathwayleads,
Andwhyweplaythisemptyplay
Rise,dreamerfromyourdream,andslumbernotagain!
19. InoneplaceGandhijisaid,Iwanttothink,butthoughtsdonotcome.RamanaMaharshi
readthisstatementandsaid,HehasAtmaJnana.Anordinarymanstrugglestocontrol
histhoughtsandfails,whereasaJnanihastopersuadehimselfinordertoengagein
thoughts.
20. Thoughtsarethelastthingstoovercome.Solongasthoughtsarethere,AtmaJnanais
notthere.Thoughthastodieanaturaldeath.Whenthemindbecomesunmind,thenone
doesntseedualitywhatsoever.Solongasthemindisthere,dualityisthere,because
thoughtisinduality.YouthinkOFsomeobject.Thereforeyourmeditationisnotreal
meditation.Themeditationhastostopbuthowdoesitstop?Onlythroughmeditation.
Throughthoughtalonethoughtlessnesscancome,andthenyouseethefutilityofthought.
Thatistheway.Solongasthereisthought,thethoughtitselfisrealandthethingsof
whichitthinksarealsoreal.Whenyouthinkofsomethingitisrealforyou.Ofhowmany
thingsdowethink?Thewholeworldisdependentuponthoughtonly.
21. RamkrishnaParamahansasays,Fortheonewhoobservesthestateofcelibatefor12
years,thechannel(medhanadi)becomesactive.Duetothis,theintellectbecomesvery
sharpandthepersonbecomestalented.Hisintellectcancomprehendthesubtlevery
easily.OnlywiththehelpofsuchsubtleintellectoneseeGod.
22. SwamiVishnudevananda(discipleofSwamiSivananda).Thisenergyisverydifficultto
conquer.EverysageandsaintandYogiintheHimalayashashadproblems.Itisnot
onlyyouwhohasthisproblem.BecausetheygointotheHimalayancaves,doyouthinkit
meanstheproblemgoesaway?Itmultipliesrather.Sodontworryaboutthisfeeling.
Sublimateit.Eachtime,repeatyourMantraandifthisfeelingcomeseventhen,offeritas
anofferingtoGod.Ifanyonesaysthathehasconqueredsex,heisnottruetohimselfnor
truetotheworld.Ittakestillthelastbreath.YouneverknowwhenMayawillattackyou.
Evenifyouareahundredyearsold,itstillcanovercomeyourthinking.
23. Christwasknownasacelibate.Hisstatement,Someareeunuchsforthesakeofthe
KingdomofHeavenveryplainlyreferstocelibacy.ItalsoreferstotheKingdomofHeaven
withinthatisattainedthroughcelibacy.(Thekingdomofheavenisinsideyou,Hesays
elsewhere.)ChristspeaksbeautifullyofcelibacyagaininHisParableOfTheThree
Brides.Onebrideusesuptheoilinherlampandisthusunabletoreceivethe
bridegroomofChristConsciousness.
24. Loveandlustareasfarasunderasaflowergardenisfromabrothel.HenryDavid
Thoreau
25. Thephysicistwhoestablishedthethreelawsofmotion,IsaacNewton,putastoptoany

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Celibacy(Brahmacharya):QuotesfromSpiritualScripturesandInternet
andallsexualactivitythroughouthis84years.Oneofhistorysgreatestthinkersdidgive
someinsightintohissexlife(orlackthereof)inamessagetophilosopherJohnLocke,
accordingtoNewtonbiographerJamesGleick.Thewaytochastityisnottostrugglewith
incontinentthoughtsbuttoavertthethoughtsbysomeploy,orbyreading,orbymeditating
onotherthings,GleickquotesNewton.
26. ThosewhowastethefluidaretyrannizedbyKal[thenegativepower].Thosewhowaste
thefluidloseall.ThosewhowastethefluidsuffergreatlyHewhowastesthefluid
alwayssuffers.HewhowastesthefluidgetsintoextremetroublesHewhodoesnot
controlthefluidisdegraded.Byselfcontrolonegetseverything.fromPranSangliof
GuruNanak
27. Justaftertheact,boththepartnersfeelextremedrainageofenergy,stillnoone
understandstheimportanceofcelibacy.SaintKabir
28. Brahmacharyaisundertakenbytheyogitheoneseekingtotocompletelystillhis
mindsoastoexperiencetheDivinitydirectlywithin.Theyogiseeksto
eliminateallvrittis,orfluctuationsofconsciousness.Vrittisincludethoughts,memories,
andsensations.Thinningthementalandbodilyvrittisisthemostdifficulthuman
attainmentandbringshimsurelytosamadhiunionwithGod.Theyogiseesrightaway
thatsexthoughtsandthrillsarejustanothervritti,andoneofthegrosseronesatthat.The
vitiatingeffectofsexualincontinencemakesoneunabletoconcentratewell,orbearthe
strainofyogicmeditation,ortoholdthetranscendentalperceptions.Celibacyandsex
restraint,ontheotherhand,improvesconcentrationdramatically.Itisthusfuelof
concentrationandmeditation.
29. Thefirstthingyoudo,whenyoubecomeamonk(seriousspiritualaspirant),isto
takeavowofcelibacy.Thuscelibacyisboththebestentrylevelausterity,andalsoa
necessarycompanionofthewholetrip.Alongwithmeditationandthedevotional
attitude,celibacyisoneausteritythatbringsrapidresults.Accordingtotheyogic
scripturesandtheexperienceofsaints,brahmacharyaisessentialtotheattainment
ofsamadhi.Andsamadhiistherealgoalofmeditation,yogaandspiritualpractices.
30. Alloftheprofoundspiritualtraditionspointtodesireastheenemyofspiritual
enlightenment.Inthegreatparadeofdesires,sexualdesireisthepreeminentleader.Itis
evenresponsibleforbringingeachnewembodiment.(Beingsarerebornfromtheastral
planeprimarilybecauseoflust.)
31. Oneoftheimpactsofsinistoveilthewaytohigherlife.Thisiswhythedivine
masterssuchasBuddha,Christ,andSankaraalwaysdemandedcelibacyforanaspirant
rightfromthebeginning.Sexualsinhasahugeimpactinconfusingtheseeker,andveiling
thepathtoGod.Onelacksthemerittoevenhearoftrueoreffectiveteachings.Sexual
immoralityevenpreventsonefromhavinganelegantandprosperousmateriallife,letalone
thehigherlifeofsaints.Ontheotherhand,celibacygeneratesmeritforthebetteringoflife,
thecreationoffavorablecircumstances,andeventheunveilingoftheDivineMystery.
32. IntheBhagavadGitathedivineincarnationKrsnastatesthatlustcoversupamans
wisdomanddiscriminativefaculties,andcompareslustandangertothesmokethat
coversupthelightofaflame,thenturnsandcompareslusttoaninsatiablefirethat
destroysman.ArjunaasksKrishnawhymencontinueinastateofevil:
Nowthen,bywhomled,doesaman,OdescendantofVishnu,practice
sinfulness,asthoughunwillingandimpressedbyforce?
Itislust,itisanger,bornofthequalityofrajas.Knowthistobethegreat
devourer,greatsin,andtheenemyonearth.Asbysmokefireisenveloped,
andthelookingglassbyrust,asthewombenvelopesthefetus,sobylust
discriminativeknowledgeisenveloped.Envelopediswisdombythisconstant
enemyofthewiseintheformofdesire,whichisinsatiableasaflame.
BhagavadGita3:3638
33. CELIBACYASTECHNICALNECESSITYBeyondprovidingthesimplemeritthat
leadsonetohighersecrets,andbeyonditsproofofdevotion,celibacyhas
hugetechnicalimplicationsinmeditationandthegainingofsamadhi.Themeditator
andyogiisattemptingaverydifficultfeat:thatofreversinghislifeforcebackupthespine
insteadofdown,openingupperceptionofthehigherReality.Thesexdriveitselfisthe
greatlocomotiveenginepullingthelifeforcedownthespineandoutthesenses.Without
slowingthejuggernautoftheoutgoingsexdrive,thereislittlehopeofreversingthe
outgoingsensesandaccomplishingyogicpratyahara.Whenthespiritualmanpursues
celibacyorevensexualrestraint,hegivesablowtothenoseoftheforemostdesire
demonkeepinghimboundtotheworldillusion.Thewiseyogiinsteadfirstpools,then
reversesthatenergy,actuallyutilizingitastheengineofenlightenmenttopullthelife
forceupthespine.Butyoucannotdothisunlessyoubegintorestrainit.Perfectionisnot
necessaryforthedevelopmentofsubstantialprogress.Eventheattempttorestrain
yourselffromsexthrillsbringsgreatmeritandnewspiritualprogress.Graduallythesex
energybecomeslikearocketshipliftingyoueasilytothehigherstates.Sostoredup
sexualenergy,alongwithdevotion,powerstheflighttosamadhi.
34.

IntheJnanaSankaliniTantra,Shivasays,TorturingthebodyisnoausterityBrahmacharyaisthebestausterity.
Amanofunbrokencontinenceisnomanbutagod.

35. Iwouldlikeyoutobefreefromconcern.Anunmarriedmanisconcernedaboutthe
LordsaffairshowhecanpleasetheLord.Butamarriedmanisconcernedaboutthe
affairsofthisworldhowhecanpleasehiswifeandhisinterestsaredivided.An
unmarriedwomanorvirginisconcernedabouttheLordsaffairs:Heraimistobedevoted

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Celibacy(Brahmacharya):QuotesfromSpiritualScripturesandInternet
totheLordinbothbodyandspirit.Butamarriedwomanisconcernedabouttheaffairsof
thisworldhowshecanpleaseherhusband.CorinthiansI7.3234
36. Everysingletimewesatisfyourlustydesiresitislikeaddingfueltothe
fire.Gratificationofsexdesireawakensmoresexdesireeverysingletime.Itisvery
addictiveandassoonasyougiveintotheaddictionitbecomeshardertostop.Itislike
alcoholismanddrugaddictionyouhavetostopitaltogetherbecauseeverysipofliquoror
experienceofthedrugbearsthetremendousdangeroffallingbackintotheaddictionwith
evenmoreforcethanbefore.
37. Lustisaweirdthing.Ithangsalurebeforeyouasifitisunlimitedhappiness,butwhen
wetryforit,weseemtobeadvancingtowardsthat,whichmakesusmoreagitated.Then
suddenlyitisallgoneandweseethathappinessisnowoutofgraspandfaraway.Yetit
seemedasifwemisseditonlybyawhisker,sowetryagaintogetit,thinking,Thistime
Iwillgetit.Againmayapullsthelurebeforewecangetitandagainwenoticeithasgone
fartheraway.Thewholecyclerepeats.
38. Sohalflust,quarterlust,1%lust,or0.0001%lustlustislust.
Makingithabitualislikeopeningthedoortoit.Butevenifwegiveoneatomofspace,it
willmakewaysoonandforceustooccupythedoor.Likethecamelwhichsneakedintoits
ownerstent.Atfirsthegaveonlyenoughroomforitshead,butitusedthatroomtobarge
inwithsomuchforcethattheownerhadtogivemoreandmoreroom.Eventuallyhehad
togivesomuchroomthatheeventuallyleftthetentandhadtostandinthehotsun!Soin
thelustmatteritseitherzeroor100%,nothinginbetween.
39. BrahmacharyenaTapasaDevaMrityumupagnata.TheVedasdeclarethatby
BrahmacharyaandpenancetheDevashaveconquereddeath.HowdidHanumanbecome
aMahavir?ItiswiththisweaponofBrahmacharyathatheacquiredunsurpassable
strengthandvalour.ThegreatBhishma,thegrandfatherofthePandavasandthe
Kauravas,conquereddeathbyBrahmacharya.ItisonlyLakshman,theidealBrahmachari,
whoputdownMeghanada,themanofinestimableprowess,theconquerorofthethree
worlds,thesonofRavana.EvenLordRamacouldnotfacehim.Itisthroughtheforceof
BrahmacharyathatLakshmanwasabletodefeatthatinvincibleMeghanada.Thevalour
andgreatnessofemperorPrithvirajwasduetothestrengthofBrahmacharya.Thereis
nothinginthethreeworldsthatcannotbeattainedbyaBrahmachari.TheRishisofyore
knewfullywellthevalueofBrahmacharyaandthatisthereasonwhytheysangin
beautifulversesaboutthegloryofBrahmacharya.SwamiSivananda
40. Thescripturesdeclareemphatically:AyustejoBalamVeeryamPrajnaSreescha
Yashastatha,PunyamchaSatPriyatvamchaVardhateBrahmacharyayaBythepractice
ofBrahmacharya,longevity,glory,strength,vigour,knowledge,wealth,undyingfame,
virtuesanddevotiontothetruthincrease.
PostedbyS.K.Engat14:12

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